A Castlebar woman was delighted with her achievement of finishing in the top ten of the modelling section of the 2023 Miss Ireland competition.
Miss Mayo, Cynthia Sakala, competed in the 76th edition of the event at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport Hotel on Saturday, November 4.
A 25-year-old law graduate from Dublin, Jasmine Gerhardt, was crowned 2023 Miss Ireland, and although Cynthia didn’t win, she was very proud of her achievement.
“It was me and nine other ladies who got the opportunity to model ball dresses. When they said Mayo, I was like, ‘What? Seriously?’, Cynthia told the Western People. “I couldn’t believe that I had made it in the top ten in the modelling round, so that was an achievement in itself.
“I was proud because they base it on your catwalk, your photoshoots, and all that, so I wasn’t expecting to make it.”
The 20-year-old is in her second year at St Angela’s College in Sligo, where she is studying to become a home economics and religion teacher, and she was thrilled with all the support she received from the people of Mayo. “The number of people that have wished me well, lit candles, came up to me in the street, and been in touch with me on social media is incredible. The whole county has gotten behind me and I’m forever grateful, and I owe it to the people of Mayo,” Cynthia said. “We’re a fantastic county and we really rally behind our own.”
Cynthia is still Miss Mayo until next September and she plans to make her impact known.
“You haven’t seen the last of me yet. I still plan on using my title to get involved with local communities, meet people and really promote the county on a national level. I did Miss Mayo with the hopes of meeting like-minded women who hold similar values and morals to me,” she said.
“I also wanted to empower myself and put myself out there, especially being a young Black Irish woman, and I felt I really achieved all that.”
As part of her first public outing as Miss Mayo, Cynthia will be attending a ‘Music Party’ fundraiser for Down Syndrome Ireland Mayo Branch at An Sportlann Bar, Castlebar on Friday, November 24. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite.