'Dream come true' for inspiring Miss Derry 2023 Shannon Hutcheon

The newly crowned Miss Derry 2023 has described being given the opportunity to represent her country on the Miss World stage is an 'absolute dream come true'.

Shannon Hutcheon (24) was born and raised in Derry and is 'extremely proud to be a Derry Girl'.

Last month she was crowned Miss Derry 2023 and is one of twelve women selected to compete for Miss Ireland 2023.

Shannon has said she is 'honoured' to be the only representative from Northern Ireland that is competing in Miss Ireland and hopes to do both sides of the border proud, representing her city, county and province with the respect it deserves.

The Ulster University student graduated with a 2:1 degree in International Travel and Tourism Management and is currently working in the award-winning Elite Aesthetic Treatment Clinic as their Reception Manager.

Speaking on her crowning, Shannon said: “My degree and career have taught me valuable information and crucial life skills, that I am bringing with me into the Miss Ireland competition.

“I love to travel and love the ethos of the Miss Ireland and Miss World competition, so being given the opportunity to compete to represent my country on the Miss World stage is an absolute dream come true. A dream that I am determined to chase with all my heart and soul.

“I previously lacked confidence in myself, but by being dedicated, enthusiastic and working hard, I know this dream is within my reach. I have met so many lovely delegates so far and cannot wait to spend more time with them on the run up to the grand final.

“Being crowned Miss Derry and competing for the title of Miss Ireland is by far my proudest achievement to date.

As Miss Derry 2023, Shannon wants to continue raising as much awareness and funds as possible for her chosen charity, PIPs Suicide Prevention Ireland Charity.

“This is a charity close to my heart because our city is widely known for high mental health and suicide rates. Many of us have known someone that has or does suffer from mental health problems or known someone who has decided to take their own life.

“PIPs mission is to help individuals, families and organisations who have been affected by mental unwellness, which has affected me personally.

“In July, I held my first fundraiser as a Miss Ireland preliminary finalist - The Big Pageant Party, in The Thirsty Goat, along with my teenage sister Brooke, who has just handed over her Miss Teen Crown & Glory UK title last month.

“We held a raffle, which so many local businesses supported including, BPerfect, Xtreme Bounce, Insanity Tan, Noted Ireland and so many more. We also had entertainment from the wonderful local talent Robyn Diamonds, hosted games and received support from so many pageant girls from across the country, as far as Belfast and Monaghan.

“I am extremely thankful to say we raised over £640 for our charities, bringing our overall charity total to £5,000.”

Shannon began competing in pageantry in 2018, when she competed in Miss Earth Northern Ireland, held in Derry.

Charity and community work have always been close to her heart since she was a little girl.

“When Miss Earth NI was in my hometown and raising money and awareness for The Playtrail, it gave me the perfect reason to push myself out of my comfort zone and further than I ever had before. I was awarded with the ‘Beauty with A Purpose’ award, which was awarded to the girl who has raised the most money and awareness for the chosen charity and I was in fact, the girl who had raised the most, in Northern Ireland’s history at Miss Earth.

“From the moment I stepped foot on The Waterside Theatre stage, I knew I had caught ‘the pageant bug’. I became close friends with one of the judges from that competition who was Miss Crown & Glory Ireland at the time, who went on to win Ms Crown & Glory UK further that year, and decided to follow in her footsteps.

“In 2019 I competed in Wales and was crowned Miss Crown & Glory UK, where I raised £565 for their chosen charity Abbies Army; a charity raising funds and awareness for DIPG – an incurable type of brain cancer, primarily affecting young children. Remarkably, this charity was set up by Abbie’s parents, in memory of Abbie, who sadly passed away at just six years old.

“Furthermore, my little sister Brooke, who had won Junior Miss Shining Light in its first year, raising awareness and funds for mental health, decided to join me, coming first runner up in 2019 and as mentioned above, won her own UK title in 2022 after the pandemic. I unexpectedly held my UK title for three years, from 2019-2022, due to Covid restrictions, but I knew my heels were not hung up yet. After an extremely challenging and long reign, I had one more goal that I could not shake from my mind. Miss Derry and Miss Ireland.”

The current Miss Ireland, Dr. Ivanna McMahon, from Munster, will be competing at the 71st Miss World, which this year is being held in Srinagar, India in December.

Shannon concluded: “Hopefully I will be following Ivanna, who has left some pretty big shoes to fill, as the 76th Miss Ireland in 2024.

“I know if given the opportunity, I will use my year to promote the system and secure other finalists from Northern Ireland to compete next year, continue working hard with charity work at the forefront of my reign, continue to travel all across Ireland and the UK with my title and show that even the tiniest of nations are a force to be reckoned with.

“We may be a small island, but together we can make waves that are felt across the world – that is my mission as your Miss Derry 2023.”