Judith Grey (nee Wilson) pictured our two ‘local’ winners Sarah Cunningham (Miss Enniskillen) and Emma Carswell (Miss Devenish)
FERMANAGH looks set to have no representation in this year’s Miss Northern Ireland competition after no local girls turned up to the Enniskillen heat.
On Tuesday last week the Devenish Bar played host to the Enniskillen leg of the prestigious competition, with the title of Miss Enniskillen and Miss Devenish up for grabs.
Despite a number of local girls signing up to take part, not a single Fermanagh competitor appeared. Instead the Fermanagh flag will now be flown by 20 year-old Sarah Cunningham (Miss Enniskillen) from Ballyrobert, County Antrim and 21-year-old Emma Carswell (Miss Devenish) from Gilford, County Down.
The county has a strong tradition in the competition with Kirsty Stewart taking home the title in 2004 and Judith Grey (nee Wilson) winning back in 2008.
Former Miss Northern Ireland Judith Grey, who attended the Miss World competition in South Africa, was one of the judges on the night and said it was a great night despite the lack of local representation.
“I think there were a few girls (from Fermanagh) who wanted to enter, but didn’t turn up on the night. I think they were a bit nervous. Sometimes, I know I did it, people prefer to go to a heat that is far away, because maybe they don’t want people knowing they’re entering. It’s hard to know what the reason is. They were great girls though that did attend and the heat was a great success. It’s just one of those things that there seemed to be more girls from up the country.”
Representative of ACA models, Joleen Stewart said: “It was great to be back at The Devenish Lounge again this year, and what a brilliant night had by all. Enniskillen never disappoints with the calibre of girls who enter, once again it was a fabulous night and a huge congratulations to the winning girls and a big thank you to all who came along.”
Although the two Enniskillen winners, both students at Ulster University, do not have any direct link to the county they have fond memories of the county due to family holidays and visits to the Marble Arch Caves.
The Therapie Miss Northern Ireland competition is still open to entrants with heats taking place across the country. Further heats are scheduled for Maghera, Dungannon and Cookstown amongst other areas. For further details of all heat locations and dates please visit www.missnorthernireland.co.uk