A Galway model has been selected to represent Ireland in the upcoming Miss International beauty pageant – the latest jewel in her ever-growing crown.
25-year-old Katherine Gannon will jet off to Toyko in the coming weeks to participate in what is now the world’s oldest beauty pageant.
Katherine has previously held the titles of Miss Ireland Galaxy and World Supermodel Ireland but this will be her first time competing in one of the “Big Four” international pageants.
“Miss International has been the thing I have wanted to do more than any other modelling job. It’s massive for me that I’m finally getting to go; I didn’t think I would but I’m so looking forward to it. I feel like I’m nearly too lucky,” said Katherine, who is from Rosscahill.
That pageant has been running since 1960, with it always being held in Japan and up to this point has never had an Irish winner.
There will be over 100 countries represented from every corner of the world looking to win the beauty contest that is radically different from the bulk of beauty pageants.
“I suppose a lot of it is to do with personality. They are looking for things which aren’t just looks based, they would like it if you were intelligent, that you’ve done charity work and interested in culture as opposed to just a pretty face.
“I really like that because I don’t think looks are the most important part of it. It’s not just based solely on appearances and they take their values very seriously,” explained Katherine.
The NUIG graduate – who has a Masters in Counselling Psychology – has only recently returned from a stint in Montreal, where she was taking part in the North American reality television show, The Fashion Hero.
The show is due to air in spring 2017 and has been described by her as “one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
“I had an absolutely amazing time with everyone there and I made such close friendships and it was so hard saying goodbye to everyone once the show was over because they are like family to me,” Katherine stated.
This was the second time she has partaken in the show, finishing second overall in the programme’s first season – and Katherine revealed considerable differences between her two appearances.
“It was very different. The first series I had my phone and stuff, this time was a lot stricter and more intense. I had the best time but it was really intense,” she said.
“I was so tired and it was so hard but at the same time everyone became really close because of it. I suppose I was out of my comfort zone as well and I’m definitely still out of my comfort zone now.
“For example, I would have never gone without makeup before the show, but to be honest I haven’t really wore makeup since I came home. I have only worn it for about two days and I used to wear makeup religiously, so it’s helped me massively in that regard.”
The highly-successful model plans on using her new found crown to continue her previous work with numerous charities that are close to her own heart.
Speaking of her plans for the rest of the year she said: “I’m going to try and work more with the charities I want to promote especially now that I have a title again. When I was Miss Galaxy I did loads for the Irish Society of Autism because I have a brother with Autism. That in particular was a charity I wanted to work with.”