Australian pageant win for Cork girl Aisling, 9
Aisling Murphy was crowned Ultimate Grand Supreme, the most coveted title in the highly-competitive world of children’s beauty contests, at Universal Royalty’s Sydney event on Saturday.
The rising starlet, who won e700 (Aus $1,000) and beat 45 other youngsters for the prestigious award, has already been snapped up to do modelling work and TV commercials since her win. Her mother Stephanie, 28, described the win as “a dream come true” and “life-changing,” as Aisling stole the show at the glitzy, US-themed pageant.
Last week Stephanie admitted she had spent in the region of e50,000 in three years on preparing her daughter for 17 previous pageants, including e1,700 on an emerald-green dress for the Sydney contest.
But the proud mother, who recently emigrated to Queensland with husband Ger and son Cian, 5, insisted every cent had been worth it.
She said: “This is the best day in Aisling’s career and we couldn’t be happier. She’s worked so hard for this and she’s going to get so much work out of her win. She’s already been snapped up to do TV commercials back in Townsville in Queensland, where we live.”
Pageant ‘veteran’ ‘Miss Aisling’ also appeared in a second Sydney pageant, dubbed Follow Your Dreams on the same day, coming first in the formal wear contest and winning a ‘Theme Supreme’ title. But Stephanie said winning the Universal Royalty pageant — which will be staged in Ireland for the first time next month — was their main ambition as it is the pinnacle of child pageant contests.
She said Aisling would have little time to celebrate, as she would be back in rehearsals this week for the Irish Universal Royalty event at a secret Dublin venue on Sep 21.
Stephanie, who’s spending a further e10,000 — which includes flights to Ireland — on entering Aisling into the controversial contest, added: “Winning back home in Ireland would be the ultimate dream.”
