South African expatriate, Pamela Ashley Uba, has made history by being the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Ireland in 2021. She became the country’s first black beauty queen to hold the title since the competition’s inception in 1947.
On Sunday, September 6, the twenty-six-year-old was named Miss Ireland 2021 after a lengthy 18-month wait as Miss Galway for the final contest, delayed by the pandemic. Pamela Uba arrived in Ireland from South Africa when she was seven as an asylum seeker. The eldest of six siblings, she is a medical scientist who has served as a frontline worker during the pandemic and a part-time model.
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In December 2021, Pamela Uba will represent Ireland at the 70th Miss World festival in Puerto Rico. According to Irish Times, Pamela said: “I can’t even describe how excited I am to represent my country on such a huge platform. I can’t wait.” As the first Black Miss Ireland, Pamela promises to use her title to represent a more diverse Ireland.
The beauty queen has been a victim of racism as she was trolled on social media after being crowned Miss Galway before the first lockdown in March 2020. “I’ve experienced racism, and it’s horrible to hear people telling me to go back to my country when I’ve worked so hard to make Ireland my home,” she says. According to her, being crowned Miss Ireland shows that regardless of the color of one’s skin or their place of birth, “the world is your oyster.”
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Overcome with the emotions of her achievement; the new and first Black Miss Ireland described it as a “surreal experience.” She took to Instagram to share a heartfelt post where she admitted that “it’s like a dream come true.” She went on to thank those who have helped her along the way. Besides being a medical scientist, Pamela is also an ambassador for Variety Ireland, which helps children with education.
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