In Miss Ireland’s 74-year history, there has never been a Black Miss Ireland– until now.
Twenty-six-year-old Pamela Uba became the first Black woman to represent the European nation in the upcoming Miss World Pageant in Puerto Rico in December. The Irish Times reported that the attractive scientist and part-time model captured the crown on Sunday night.
Uba expressed what being the winner meant to her.
“It means so much to me,” she told Irish Times. “I am so grateful I can show girls that color is not something that holds you back, and it doesn’t matter where you come from; the world is your oyster.”
“I can’t even describe how excited I am to represent my country on such a huge platform. I can’t wait.”
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Uba said she hopes that this accomplishment will help to show the world a more diverse Ireland. She’s admitted that there have been some incidents with racism, but most people support her.
“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.”
The beautiful yet brilliant champ is also working on her Master’s in clinical chemistry.
Uba’s journey to greatness hasn’t been easy. The pageant winner migrated to Ireland as a seven-year-old asylum seeker from Johannesburg, South Africa.
“I remember thinking it was strange that I couldn’t hear gunshot when I arrived,” she recalled. The eldest child of six siblings, Uba reflected on her arrival into a new country. She lived for a decade in Co Mayo after leaving Dublin. Although Uba was grateful for her new life, the vicenarian also spoke critically of Ireland’s process to integrate immigrants.
“People shouldn’t be made to stand still for years and years,” she said. “I was in it for 10 years, not knowing what was happening or when my life could start. People need to be able to live their lives. I hope Ireland continues to help people, but the direct-provision system needs to be rethought and possibly removed.”
The Irish direct provision system is “a system of “accommodation centers” run by for-profit hospitality and catering companies under contract with the Irish government.”
The system was established in 1999. It also provides direct room and board to asylum seekers. One of the drawbacks is the long road to citizenship. Many of the residents suffer from depression within six months of being in the program.
Uba, with the help of her church’s priest, got her Irish citizenship. She said she was “very proud.”
“I cried when I got my Irish passport.”
Now that Uba is representing Ireland, her dreams have come true.
We wish her the absolute best!
