A multicultural beauty pageant in Dublin recently brought together contestants, community representatives and cultural performers for an event focused on both personal achievement and social responsibility.
Held at the Church of Scientology & Community Centre in Dublin, the gathering featured 24 contestants from seven different nations and an audience of about 450 people.
The organisers worked with The Truth About Drugs Ireland to include an educational element alongside the pageant and cultural performances.
Before taking part in the stage programme, contestants and visitors toured a Truth About Drugs exhibition and learned about the effects of commonly abused substances. Some participants completed all fourteen educational modules, demonstrating that their preparation went beyond the traditional pageant format.
Mayor of South Dublin Cllr. Francis Timmons addressed the audience and highlighted the value of cultural diversity, education and prevention.
The afternoon also included Irish, Indian and Indonesian dance performances, reflecting the international news euros character of the gathering.
At the end of the competition, Niveditha Vudayagiri was named Miss Cross Continent 2026. The other leading awards went to Fortunate Lindokuhle Masina and Yuki Yuliatin.
By combining cultural expression with drug education, the programme gave the traditional pageant format a wider social purpose. More information is available in the full report on the Miss & Mrs Cross Continent event in Dublin.