Ireland — Pamela Uba, who is a South African native, is crowned as the 2021 Miss Ireland, making her the first-ever Black Miss Ireland in its 74-year history.6 years ago, Uba was just mistaken for a contestant by one of the judges while working at a Miss Galway event in a bar. Since then, the idea stuck to her and she aimed to join the pageant someday.
Fast forward to 2020, Uba became the titleholder for Miss Galway for 18 months. And finally, she won Miss Ireland in 2021, making her the first Black woman in history to win the title.
“It was a surreal experience and I’m so delighted. I couldn’t believe this actually happened,” Uba, who is 26-years old, told the Irish Independent. “Even being Miss Galway for a year and a half, it was a long time coming, I thought the pageant would never happen. I am so happy and the outcome is amazing.”
Moreover, her historic win came after she rose above several obstacles in her life. She was just 7-years old when she and her family moved from South Africa to Ireland. For 10 years, she had been living in direct provision. But she did not let that dictate her life. Instead, she strived to do more than what was expected of her.
Uba worked hard, with the help of her mother, to be able to go to college. She eventually graduated with a master’s degree from Trinity College in clinical chemistry.
Follow her on Instagram @Pamela.Ashley.Uba