Pamela Uba

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Pamela Uba
Born2 July 1995
South Africa
NationalityIrish[1]
Occupation(s)Actor, model, Miss Ireland
Known forfirst black woman chosen to represent Ireland for the Miss World 2022 competition
TitleMiss Ireland 2021

Pamela Uba is a Nigerian-Irish actor, model and beauty pageant titleholder. She grew up in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo.[2][1] As Miss Ireland 2021, she was selected to represent Ireland in the Miss World 2022 beauty pageant.[3][4] Uba is the first black woman to win the Miss Ireland competition and represent Ireland for the Miss World competition.

Background

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Pamela Uba was born in 1995 in South Africa to Nigerian parents.[5][6] She moved to Ireland when she was 8 years old and grew up predominantly in Mayo and Galway.

Career

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Uba earned her undergraduate degree in medical science at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, before graduating with a Master's degree in clinical chemistry from Trinity College Dublin.[1] She worked as a medical scientist at University Hospital Galway.[3][7][4]. She started to pursue a career in acting and attended the full time program at Bowstreet Academy, Ireland’s national screen acting school run by celebrity acting coach Gerry Grennell.

Modelling and pageant title

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In 2019, Uba won the Ladies Day prize at the Galway Races. In 2021, Uba won the Miss Ireland title. The 26 year old Miss Galway claimed the national title ahead of 29 other contestants at the Miss Ireland final, which took place in Cavan. She was crowned by three former titleholders. Uba is the first black woman to represent Ireland for the Miss World competition. After winning the Miss Ireland title Uba was "trollled and bullied online", but was also "overwhelmed with the support" of most people.[8] Having herself grown up in direct provision, in October 2021 she became an ambassador for Dídean, "a social enterprise which provides alternative housing for residents in Direct Provision".[8]Uba finished in the top 40 of the Miss World 2021 competition.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Murphy, Stephen (9 September 2021). "Pamela Uba: First black Miss World Ireland reveals she's suffered racism and bullying since win". Sky News. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Three Mayo Misses crowned with glory at Miss World Ireland 2021". The Connaught Telegraph. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b O'Loughlin, Ciara (7 September 2021). "Frontline worker and former direct provision resident Pamela is first black Miss Ireland". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b McGlynn, Michelle (7 September 2021). "From direct provision to frontline worker to Miss Ireland: Pamela Uba is a role model for all". Irish Examiner.
  5. ^ Brennan, Martha (9 September 2021). "Miss Ireland Pamela Uba: 'The direct provision system needs to be revamped'". Irish Examiner.
  6. ^ "Pamela Uba went from Hillbrow resident — to Miss Ireland". TimesLIVE.
  7. ^ Ingle, Róisín. "Miss Ireland 2021: 'I am so grateful I can show girls that colour does not hold you back'". The Irish Times.
  8. ^ a b Okoh, Joseph (14 October 2021). "History-making Miss Ireland proud to 'pave the way'". RTE News. Retrieved 14 October 2021.