Aimee Connolly: Interrailing was complete carnage — I'm surprised we all came home alive
Aimee Connolly, the founder of Sculpted by Aimee, shares her favourite travel memories
Beauty entrepreneur Aimee Connolly has come a long way from her days as a freelance makeup artist with big ambitions. Now the founder of Sculpted by Aimee, her self-funded cosmetics brand has grown into a multimillion-euro business, with her products even making a cameo in the new Bridget Jones movie. Between work trips, store launches, and well-earned getaways, travel has become a huge part of her life. Here, she shares her favourite moments overseas.
My mum took me to Disney Orlando, and I remember being in awe. The plane journey was the longest we’d ever done — the park seemed like a gigantic arena, and I remember feeling so much happiness and excitement. It was just the two of us, too, and mum herself was like a big kid there. It was really special and so much fun.
Interrailing with the girls around Europe is something we still reminisce about whenever we get together. It was our first proper trip abroad — we were 18 or 19, having just finished our first year of college, and were allowed to travel around Europe. It was so much fun but also complete carnage!
We had a hospital visit; one was on crutches, and many missed flights, trains, and wrongly booked accommodations. You could have made a movie out of it. Yet despite all of that, it was one of the best trips we’ve ever taken; we laughed so much and felt incredibly lucky to see so much of Europe at that age. We felt so independent, but I am also surprised and thankful that we all came home alive!
It was probably Sri Lanka — I was there only recently. There weren’t many people on my radar who had travelled there, so we only went off what we had read online about it. It was amazing.
The food and people were so lovely. We would go back in a heartbeat. It was such a broad trip filled with incredible mountains and beaches. It was a destination I hadn’t considered before and thoroughly loved.
London is a place I frequently visit for work, but I also have a lot of family there, so it feels like a second home. I love running around Hyde Park and spending time in Soho, our Carnaby store.
It feels familiar and is much bigger than Dublin, so there are always new places to see and food to eat.
My favourite city to visit is New York, I have memories of coming here with my mum on huge shopping sprees. As a teen, visiting iconic stores like Abercrombie & Fitch was the ultimate treat, as was going into Sephora to discover makeup brands we couldn’t get in Europe.
I love sightseeing, shopping, and eating, but walking around and taking it all in is my favourite activity.
Kenya is beautiful and remains one of my favourite family trips. We stayed at Diani Beach, a stunning area that is incredibly picturesque. We went on a safari there for the first time. It was truly one of the most remarkable experiences. I would love to go back one day and do it all again.
My favourite thing is exploring a new city, walking around, and taking in all the beautiful sights. I love seeing the new exercise classes the different cities offer, whether a new HIIT class or a circuit routine. Running around a new park is a great way to see the local area. Tasting the different cuisines is also a great experience in each location.
I don’t have a specific plan, but travelling to new destinations around the world is a must. It’s how I enjoy my time off. I love discovering new places and creating a memory or moment out of something. It’s my favourite gift to offer: An unforgettable experience.
I would love to venture to Australia or New Zealand and dedicate a long time to exploring everything; it’s what these cities deserve. So while there are no definite plans for my next travels, I have some places in mind that I’d still like to cross off my list. The travel bug will never leave me!
