Local student into Miss Ireland finals

Local student into Miss Ireland finals

11 April 2012 - by BY CIARA COLHOUN

A BEAUTIFUL Loughinisland student may have unexpectedly launched a modelling

career after reaching the finals of Miss Ireland.

Twenty year-old Caitlin Milligan is nervously preparing to take to the catwalk for this year’s Miss Ireland competition after sailing through the local heats to be named Miss Down.

Caitlin admits she was “totally shocked” to beat hundreds of other pretty hopefuls in the preliminary heats of the competition to be named overall winner for Miss Down last week.

The six foot brunette easily caught the eye of the judging panel with her beautiful face and figure — shown off during a series of rounds that included catwalk struts in blue jeans, bikini and formal dress — although judges were also impressed by her demeanour and attitude during the interview stages.

A student at Queen’s University, where she is reading Communications and Counselling, Caitlin told judges that she is also an accomplished violinist and previous leader of the South Eastern Orchestra.

She is also a hard worker and holds down two part-time jobs, including one as a care assistant.

Indeed, despite the excitement of being crowned Miss Down, Caitlin says she had little time for celebration as she had to be back at work the next day.

“I have always thought I would like to be a model and practised my walk in the house since I was 12,” she says.

“When I saw the competition advertised I entered online, never thinking I would hear anything back and when I heard how many girls had entered, in the region of 1,000, I never ever thought I would win.

“Apparently my face was hilarious when they announced me as the final winner. I was a wee bit shocked but I went straight back to work the next day so everything went right back to normal.”

Caitlin, who is the youngest of six children, says she is enjoying shopping with her mum Kathy to get prepared for the Miss Ireland finals, which will be held in Dublin later this month.

She said details of what will be expected of the finalists are being kept under wraps so she is preparing as best she can by keeping fit, taking care of her skin and getting some outfits ready.

“I go to the gym a lot anyway and I moisturise my skin every day, so nothing much has changed,” she said.

“I am very nervous about the whole thing though so I will get as prepared as I can.”

If Caitlin is named Miss Ireland, she will qualify for a place in the Miss World competition, which will be held in China in the early winter.