Fionnghuala O’Reilly: 'I have to speak up for Black women'

As well as working with NASA, former Miss Universe Ireland Fionnghuala O’Reilly is now hosting a new CBS science show in the US. On a month-long visit home, she talks to Jennifer Stevens about racism and inclusivity in Ireland

In 2019, Fionnghuala O'Reilly made history as Ireland’s first biracial Miss Universe Ireland and the only NASA datanaut to ever compete at Miss Universe. Photo: Jason Flakes

When Pamela Uba was crowned Miss Ireland in September headlines both here and around the world heralded her historic victory. ‘Irish Beauty Pageant History Made’, read one, ‘Ireland’s first Black Miss Ireland’ read many more. And while Pamela’s victory is one to be celebrated there was one woman who was left feeling invisible by the headlines that she was reading and that her family was sending her.

Fionnghuala O’Reilly, whose dad is from Sutton in Dublin and her mother from San Francisco, was crowned Miss Universe Ireland in 2019. She was Ireland’s very first Black international pageant winner — something you may not know if you read recent headlines.