Orla, Victorija and Emma in Miss Ireland grand final

SLIGO is well represented at this year’s Miss Ireland with three contenders vying for the crown .

The three competitors represent different titles under the local flag.

Orla Quinn, 25, is Miss Sligo. She is a mobile support specialist for Bank of Ireland who has a keen interest in fashion and is a fluent Irish speaker. Viktorija Baklastova, 22, is a student at the Technical University of Dublin where she currently studies international business and French. She is competing as Miss Sligo Town.

She is also a past pupil of Scoil Ursula and a former student at the Ursuline College.

Emma Doyle, 18, is a part-time singer who hopes to soon study psychiatry and mental health nursing. She is a Tubbercurry native and is taking part as Miss South Sligo.

Orla Quinn was named Miss Sligo in 2020 and qualified automatically as a finalist, while Viktorija and Emma came through semi-final heats to progress to the grand final.

Speaking at the time about the prospect of reaching the final, Viktorija said that her participation was a “spontaneous decision” and that if she made it this far she would use her platform for an important cause – the Peter McVerry Trust.

“Everyone deserves a home and issues around housing is something I would like to use that platform for.”

Emma, also speaking to the Sligo Weekender earlier this year, said that she was encouraged to give it a go as an opportunity to get out of her “comfort zone” and said that the support she had already received ahead of her success at the semi-final was overwhelming. The Miss Ireland final takes place on September 5 at Killua Castle in Co. Westmeath in what will be a spectacular outdoor show.

The winner of Miss Ireland 2021 will receive a lucrative agency contract and a host of prizes including jewellery, gowns, a professional photo shoot, beauty and hair products. The person chosen as Miss Ireland 2021 will then go on to represent her country and take part in the 70th Miss World festival in Puerto Rico in December.

RIGHT: Miss Sligo Orla Quinn, Miss Sligo Town Viktorija Baklastova and Miss South Sligo Emma Doyle.