Participants from all over the North took part in the annual Shining Light pageant at Derry's Everglades Hotel on Saturday April 1.
This is the third year of the Shining Light pageant in the city with the aim to raise as much awareness and funds for this year's chosen charities- PIPS Suicide Prevention and NEWPIN NI.
In the last two years, The Shining Light Pageant has raised over £30,000 for local charities including Foyle Search and Rescue and ME4MENTAL.
Mental health illnesses affect one in four people and the pageant puts mental health at the core of the competition. Ahead of this year's pageant, the organisers wrote: "Our city has been blighted with losses and it is our aim to host this pageant as a way of giving back to those that help those in desperate need of support."
Director, Jennifer Taylor, who was crowned Mrs Ireland 2018, knows first hand the struggles that mental health can play in day to day life, having been diagnosed with depression and anxiety 10 years ago.
It is Jennifer's hope that Shining Light will give many girls, women and men the platform to speak about Mental Health and regain lost confidence by taking part in the event.
Writing after the event, Jennifer said: "Congratulations to all who were crowned. Can't wait to see you all work those titles and crowns for the next year and raise even more awareness and funds for Mental Health.
"Thank you to all our finalists, outgoing Kings and Queens, audience members, helpers, supporters, and everyone involved in this colossal event, I appreciate each and every one of you and hope to see you all back again next year."
The Grand Final saw judges Effy Murphy, Gerard Doherty, Amy Doherty, Mary Mullally, Shannon Hutcheon and Joy Kelly witness an incredible day and evening as finalists competed for the title in the 17 main categories.
The winners this year were:
Mini Miss - Meadow Moore
Little Miss - Avril McIvor
Little Mr - Ollie Murphy
Junior Miss - Mia Kerr
Miss Teen - Aife Cummings
Miss - Kerrie Ní Dhúnáin
Mrs - Ashleigh Featheringham
Exquisite - Chanel Morrow
Classic - Toni L Matthews
Mr - Barry McGovern
Virtual Shining Light - Siobhan O'Neill
Junior Charity Queen - Casey and Jodie Lee Hegarty
Junior Mental Health Queen - Brooke Bradley
Senior Female Charity Queen - Martina Harkin
Senior Female Mental Health Queen - Arlene Hegarty
Mr Charity King - Patrick Harkin
Mr Mental Health King - Keith Wright
Speaking to Derry News, Mental Health King winner Keith Wright- who also won two sub categories, Continuity and Publicity- said that the whole experience was amazing from start to finish, "It was a brilliant day, he said.
"Everyone did such an incredible job and we have all left the events with new friends, new skills and confidence and a brilliant experience.
"I would never have imagined doing something like this but I am so grateful that I did."
The event aims to aid finalists in meeting new friends, learning new skills and being able to speak about their experiences and be role models for others.
The pageant organisers added: "Miss Shining Light is an inclusive pageant; height, weight, age, health or other conditions that may have affected or changed a potential finalist's life, is not a restriction.
"The aim of Shining Light is to empower people and whilst finalists are "judged," all finalists will be able to avail of training, support and opportunities up until, during and after the competition. The subject of Mental Health is at the core of everything the competition stands for."
