The Miss Ireland 2017 crown is heading to the hills.
Miss Donegal, Lauren McDonagh, emerged triumphant in a field of 28 contestants to be crowned as Miss Ireland 2017 at a ceremony in Dublin on Friday night.
McDonagh (18) hails from Letterkenny and is currently studying Health and Social care while working part-time as a beauty therapist. As a result of her victory last night, she will now go on to represent Ireland at the Miss World contest in China in November.
Miss Cork, Tara O’Leary (20) and Miss Dublin North, Vanessa Boland (21), finished first and second runner-up respectively after deliberation from a judging panel made up of Miss Ireland Co-Organiser Sean Montague, top fashion stylist Sonja Mohlich, Miss Ireland 2015 Sacha Livingstone, Creative Director of Peter Mark Michael Doyle, former Miss Wales and first runner-up at Miss World 2012 Sophie Moulds, RTE’s Dancing with the Stars judge and agent Julian Benson and Vanity X Studio & Make Up Academy CEO Debbie McQuillan.
As the winner of Miss Ireland, Lauren McDonagh will receive a lucrative modelling contract and a host of prizes, including professional media training, luxury clothing, a professional photoshoot and beauty products from official partners Vanity X Make-Up, Baby B Browne Tan, So Amazing Fashions & Educo Health.
She will be flown to Sanya, China for an all-expenses-paid month-long trip as she takes part in the Miss World competition on November 17 and will return to China on Saint Patrick’s Day 2018 as an official guest and Irish ambassador for China’s celebrations.
Lauren will also be jetting off to Hong Kong later this autumn for the launch of So Amazing Fashion’s debut within the Asian market and as part of her role, she will also work closely with the Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice to raise much-needed funds and awareness.
Last year, €55,000 was raised for Irish charities by the Miss Ireland competition.
The Miss Ireland contest first took place in 1947 and you can see all 28 contestants for the final of this year’s competition here.
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