First in history, a teenage from Northern Ireland with Down’s syndrome became the winner in a global beauty pageant

News24xx.com -  A teenage model from Northern Ireland has become the first person with Down’s syndrome to win the crown in a global beauty pageant. 

Kate Grant, 19 years old beat 40 other candidates from across the globe to win the Teen Ultimate Beauty Of The World competition held in Portadown.  

After winning she said she wanted other people with special needs to know ‘the true meaning of beauty is who you are, not what you look like’. And she said that after winning the pageant, Kate will go for children being treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

"Kindness, compassion and inner ­sparkle, that’s the ultimate beauty," Kate added. 

"If the judges saw that in me, then I’m happy."

She will also be involved in photoshoots throughout the year and be called back as a judge and mentor to other young women at next year’s final. 

She told as quoted from The Mirror, "My dream has come true. And that dream is to get a chance to inspire young people who have Down’s syndrome and other special needs to believe in themselves."

The beauty pageant has three age categories for children, teenagers, and people over 20. And it is open to anyone regardless of weight, height or marital status and supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a charity that helps fulfill wishes to children with life-threatening conditions. 

During the contest, Kate was interviewed with a panel of judges before modelling a number of themed outfits on the catwalk. The fashion-loving teenager is no stranger to modelling after first taking it up aged 13 before being picked to take part in Belfast Fashion Week.

But her mother Deirdre says it has not always been easy for Kate to enter the world of modelling, due to her Down’s syndrome.

 

 

 

 

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