Newly crowned Rose of Tralee, New York's Róisín Wiley, says she feels "empowered" by her win at the international festival.
The 27-year-old, who lives in Manhattan and works in sales and marketing, was interviewed on RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland and told presenter Gavin Jennings about her mood the morning after the night before.
"I’m doing very well - I’m great," she said, before recalling her initial reaction when she was announced as the winner.
"I was absolutely shocked to hear my name. I don’t think it fully registered for a few minutes."
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When asked about the reaction amongst her fellow contestants and meeting her family afterwards, she said: "I haven’t really gotten to see the girls yet. I’ve seen them in passing.
"They have been just so unbelievably supportive. Every single one of them has said that they’re with me on this journey and we’re doing this together.
"So that’s really kind of brought me back down to Earth. It can be a bit overwhelming, but seeing them and knowing they’re going to be by my side, this has been very comforting.
"My parents are just as shocked as I am."
When asked why she won, Róisín was keen to include the other Roses.
"What I think is important for me over the next year is that I’m representing these 31 other women," she said. "I’ve gotten to know so much about them over the last two weeks.
"I’m going to spend the next year getting to know them and hopefully being a voice for them and the things that are important to all of us.
"I think I may have been chosen to represent us because of understanding that it’s not just about me, but about my full class of sisters."
And as for criticism of the contest who claim it’s outdated and that it judges women, she was eager to point out the positive effect it's had on her win.
"I would say that being a participant in this festival has empowered me more than anything I’ve ever done in my life. There is an element of judging, but in that process we’re told to really be ourselves.
"That will be the most important part of determining if you’re fit to wear the sash.
"I would say we’re judged off of who we are – and we’re all so proud of who we are, so I think it’s a fair way to go about the process."
