It will be a proud moment for a Castlebar woman when she represents Mayo at the 2023 Miss Ireland competition.
Cynthia Sakala says she is still “over the moon” after being chosen as Miss Mayo earlier this month.
“I still can’t believe it. The support here is just insane, all the kind messages and kind words I’ve gotten have honestly been so lovely,” Cynthia told the Western People.
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, but she has always had a passion for beauty pageantry competitions.
“I’ve always loved pageants and the Rose of Tralee and what goes with it. I saw an advert on social media in April to apply for Miss Ireland and applied. I was accepted as a participant and selection was on August 27 and I didn’t get through that night, but I had a Zoom call a few days later and that’s when I got through,” Cynthia said.
“The following week was the launch of Miss Ireland and that’s where we got our county titles and where I was crowned as Miss Mayo.”
The Miss Ireland competition will take place on Saturday, November 4, at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport, and Cynthia is counting down the days.
“Roll on the final, I can’t wait. It’s only myself and Miss Roscommon who are representing the West. All the girls who are competing are so nice and the loveliest ladies ever.
“There’s a common misconception that people think that pageants are pitting women against each other, but the friendships I’ve made with these girls over the last few weeks are friendships that will last a lifetime,” she said.
“Miss Ireland’s charity partner is the Julian Benson Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation. We will be raising money to create a home-from-home for CF patients.”
Cynthia would like to thank to her sponsors, Instaglam in Castlebar, for their continued support.
