Campsie woman gears up for Face of Ireland competition

20-year-old Juliana Ayton from Campsie is amongst three young women from the city who will compete at the National Grand Final at Moran’s Red Cow Hotel on October 13. The competition now in its sixth year and has quickly become one of the island’s most popular competitions for women over 18.

To even reach this stage has been no mean feat because just 30 entrants from an initial 32,000 have reached the finals chosen from centre all over Ireland. Juliana’s place at the Face of Ireland comes hot on the heels of her current reign as Derry Rose of Tralee.

Speaking to the Sentinel Juliana said: “My stint as the Derry Rose of Tralee meant I caught the bug of entering competitions like this. I see it as an opportunity to make friends across Ireland and to promote a more positove image of the city especially going into the City of Culture year.”

The yiung hopeful is obviously ambitious. Currently employed as nursery assistant at the recently opened Kidz Montessori School in her local ares Juliana’s ultimate aim is move into a self-employed career in fashion, music or events management such as wedding planning. The talented 20-year-old already also plies her trade as a singer at weddings and is set on taking a series of business courses to set her on her way. She says that her liking for the entrepreneurial syle of employment comes from her family who have been heavily involved in business through the years, with her mother being a former owner of the Waterfoot Hotel.

Asked about the nature of the competition itself Juliana said: “It’s not strictly a beauty competition. Like the Rose of Tralee, there is no swimwear round, it’s more about personality and being photogenic. It is nerve wracking. I have largely gotten over being nervous with being a singer, but I find speaking to an audience more nerve wracking than performing.”

The budding face of Ireland also extended her thanks to local sponsors, Derek and Joan Lynch, owners of Xtreme Fitness at Distellery Brae in the Waterside. The competition as well as attracting a raft of well known judges is offering a range of impressive prizes and has also secured major coroprate sponsorship from firms such as Europcar.

Juliana also said: “Another reason I entered the Face of Ireland is because I have always dreamed of going to New York on business, but to go and represent my country in the St Patrick’s Day parade would be a dream come true.”

There is also a more serious side to the event in that it is used as a platform for the promotion of charity work. This year’s event aims to highlight the work done by STOP, Solace cancer Support Unit. My Sister Zoe Appeal and GRASP (Greater Responsibility and Awareness in Suicide Prevention).

Juliana will also take the opportunity to promote awareness of diabetes as an ambassador for Diabetes NI since she herself has dealt with the condition for the past 14 years since the age of six.