Aimee Walker
Pamela Uba has become the first black woman in history to be crowned Miss Ireland.
The medical scientist and model arrived in the country as an asylum seeker from South Africa when she was just seven.
Opening up what it means to her to have won in an Instagram post, she said: “Words can’t even begin to describe how I’m feeling right now, or have been feeling for the past week leading up to the final. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions!”
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The Irish Times report that Uba grew up in direct provision – a system of asylum seeker accommodation used in Ireland as the eldest of six children.
During the pandemic, she worked on the NHS frontline at the University of Galway Hospital.
Opening up about how her Miss Ireland journey began, she added: “My journey began in March 2020, back when we all thought our lockdown would last two weeks, and what a journey it has been especially during a global pandemic!
“I remember watching @tirna_slevin win Miss Galway and knew then that this was a path I would walk one day.”
Although this should be an incredibly happy time for the 26-year-old, she recently took to Instagram and revealed she has suffered racial abuse since being crowned winner.
Speaking on her Instagram stories, she said: “It’s sad to say I did expect this type of behaviour. This is just a snippet of hurt people trying to hurt people.
“Well despite this minority of people, the impossible was achieved and will continue to be achieved.
“I am PROUD! I am BLACK! and I AM IRISH! I AM MISS IRELAND.”
Uba will go on to represent Ireland at the 70th Miss World competition in Puerto Rico this December.
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