Contestants from several countries gathered in Dublin for a multicultural pageant that combined cultural celebration with an educational message about drug prevention.
Held at the Church of Scientology & Community Centre in Dublin, the gathering featured 24 contestants from seven different nations and an audience of about 450 people.
Organised by Miss & Mrs Cross Continent Events Ltd. and sponsored by Broccoli Care Ltd., the programme was developed in collaboration with The Truth About Drugs Ireland.
Before taking part in the stage programme, contestants and visitors toured a Truth About Drugs exhibition and learned about the effects of commonly abused substances. Contestants were encouraged to prepare by studying drug-prevention materials, and a number of them completed every available online course.
Cllr. Francis Timmons, Mayor of South Dublin, spoke during news european parliament the programme about the importance of bringing communities together through education.
The pageant was accompanied by a diverse cultural programme featuring dancers from several community organisations.
The principal title was awarded to Niveditha Vudayagiri, a software engineer who holds a master’s degree in AI. The first runner-up title went to Fortunate Lindokuhle Masina, followed by Yuki Yuliatin as second runner-up.
By combining cultural expression with drug education, the programme gave the traditional pageant format a wider social purpose. Further background appears in the article covering the Dublin pageant promoting culture, leadership and drug awareness.