Karen Koster says she’s never traded on her looks to get ahead on TV admitting when she got her Ireland AM job she had big boots to fill.
The Dubliner, 38, landed her dream role presenting the Virgin Media morning show last March covering for Ciara Doherty’s maternity leave.
And she impressed bosses so much she never left the couch.
Karen told Dublin Live: “I never traded on looks and have never considered that a factor, I think I’m a team player, I never mess around, I show up.
“I never really think about what people think of me, maybe when I first started Ireland Am I thought I had massive boots to fill, standing in for Ciara.
“I appreciate the work that everyone else does and having been a researcher, I know how tough it is to fill a four-hour show every day.
“For the person I’m meeting on the couch, this could be the only time they go on TV so I really want them to enjoy it and focus on them getting their chance to shine.”
Working her way up from making tea to researching and presenting Xpose after almost two decades at the station, Koster was ready to tackle harder news.
She said: “I didn’t underestimate the role and saw other presenters doing the job, I didn’t get the role back then when there were loads of different replacements over the years.
“Maybe if I don’t know the subject matter so well, at least I know how TV works.
“Hopefully I’ll look polished in the way I’m able to deliver, even if I’m not up on Brexit or Boris or whatever’s on the agenda for the day.”
The mum of three explained how motherhood has boosted her confidence, adding: “Maybe I wasn’t ready then and maybe I’m not ready now, so I just wanted to go in and be myself and I have more confidence.
“Since Ciara has come back it’s been incredible, I feel like I can be myself even more and don’t feel like I’m her stand-in.
“I feel like I’m her wing woman and we’ve developed a firm friendship.”
