needs. I became an ambassador for Variety Ireland, and when we were in lockdown, I did a campaign, supported by the ESB, to raise money to bring iPads to Direct Provision centres and create computer rooms where kids can do homework. I called the project “Make Education a Superpower” because I want kids to know that they don’t have to let their circumstances define them.’ She has received huge support from the Irish public, marred by some abusive trolling, with comments like “she should have been deported long ago” (on Twitter) and “a black woman doesn’t represent the prototype of Irish women” (Instagram). Uba’s reaction to this is ‘not to give people the satisfaction of engaging with their nastiness. I don’t bother reading online comments. Most people have been really positive, and why focus on negativity when there are much better things I could be doing.’ She applied for a short career break from Galway University Hospital to focus on Miss World – ‘when you’re dealing with patient samples, you need to give 100%; you can’t be distracted. I found I couldn’t do justice to my lab work and to Miss World, so I focussed on the immediate challenge. I’m conscious that in Miss World we are ambassadors for our countries, and I want to show the world that Ireland is evolving and becoming more multicultural and progressive and that Irish women are multi-faceted. I’m what the modern Irish woman looks like.’ Her plan is ‘to go back to work [in the lab] after Miss World’ but she is also ready for her life to take a different turn. She is currently authoring a children’s book ‘about Ireland and the different kinds of kids in Ireland’ and has recorded a number of songs and is taking acting classes. Whatever happens, her advocacy role will continue - she welcomes the new changes in direct provision and for migrants across Ireland: ‘They’re adjusting a lot of things that I wish had been adjusted in my time, like access to college and being able to work. It’s really positive and it came about because we talked about it. If you don’t talk about things, nothing changes.’ I want kids to know that they don’t have to let their circumstances define them The Miss World final is happening in-person in Puerto Rico on 16 March – ‘the day before St Patrick’s Day so I’ll have luck on my side!’ That’s the luck of the Irish, together with well-wishes of Trinity graduates everywhere.
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