Miss Universe Ireland 2018 finale was held on 2nd August 2018, and at the conclusion of the finale Grainne Gallanagh emerged as the winner and was crowned the new Miss Universe Ireland by her predecessor Miss Universe Ireland 2017 Cailín Áine Ní Toibín. Grainne will now go to Thailand to represent Ireland in Miss Universe 2018, finale whereof will be held on 16th December 2018.
Grainne is a science graduate and a nurse by profession. She enjoys working with others and helping those in need. Female health and empowerment are particularly important to Grainne. She believes in using her voice and Miss Universe Ireland platform to raise awareness about women’s health. She hopes to open her own health clinic one day that will establish new community standards for modern medicine and help. Grainne loves that Miss Universe is not just about beauty and believes in utilising the platform to promote female health.
Her court at the finale included -
First runner-up - Aoife Ruttledge
Second runner-up - Cathy Costello
Third runner-up - Rebekah Shirley
Fourth runner-up - Melanie Edel Delaney
Other candidates who made it to Top 10 were Sophie Wilkins, Niamh Frain, Delia Marron, Aishah Akorede and Anna Cahill. Rebekah Shirley also won the special award for Miss Photogenic, while Miss Congeniality title went to Sarah Lavin.
(Photo Courtesy: Miss Universe Ireland Official FaceBook)
A total of 28 Irish beauties competed for the title of Miss Universe Ireland 2018 and the remaining candidates (other than the eleven listed above) were Lauren Cowley, Chelsea O'Toole, Megan O'Malley, Hannah Kathleen Hawkshaw, Michaela O'Hara, Maria Cremin, Megan Ruth Bullard, Naomi Alison Ryan, Aisling Frawley, Emma Roarty, Molly Sullivan, Elana Rose Archer, Destiny Vaughan, Christina Alcázar Deverell, Eleanor Whyte, Courtney Kate Farrell and Chloe O’Loughlin.
Ireland has so far never won any Miss Universe title till date. However, Ireland did win one Miss World title in 2003, when Rosanna Davison was crowned Miss World 2003 at the finale of the pageant held in China. Last year, Cailín’s performance was good as she managed to secure a place in Top 16 finalists of Miss Universe 2017 at the finale held in Las Vegas, USA.
Will Grainne be able to better her predecessor’s performance and go on to win the maiden Miss Universe title for Ireland?