Miss World riots made me grow up, says Lynda

IT was finally a chance for her to get down to official duties yesterday, but Miss Ireland, Lynda Duffy, still hasn’t forgotten the chaos of the Miss World competition in Nigeria.

The Galway student who was caught up in a violent religious conflict in west Africa revealed for the first time her doubts over the decision to hold the event there.

Two weeks after returning from competing in the month-long competition, She said of the organisers: “Sometimes you think they didn’t make the right decision.

At the same time, the 22-year-old marine science student said she believed Nigeria deserved the chance to host the competition.

She and the other contestants spent much of the time in the hotel, under tight security. She first knew of the riots from an Irish journalist and was kept informed by television.

Lynda does not regret her decision to remain in the pageant despite a boycott by the national winners of a number of countries.

They were protesting against the threatened death by stoning of a young woman who was accused of having sex outside marriage.

She was convicted by a court in an area in the north of the country that has adopted Islamic Sharia law.

More than 100 people were killed during riots following the publication of an article which suggested the prophet Mohammed would have married one of the contestants. The organisers then decided to move the contest to London.

“My family stood by me through all this. There was criticism from people. But everyone has their own opinion. I made my own decision to take part.”

Launching the fashion sales at Dublin’s Jervis Shopping Centre, Lynda said despite the controversy, it was a great experience. “I think it’s made me more independent, wiser. I have grown up a lot.”