A Co Donegal woman will highlight the mica defective block problem in the final of the 2023 Miss Earth pageant in Vietnam tomorrow.
Layla Doherty, 22, is representing Ireland in the annual international pageant which places an emphasis on environmental awareness, conservation and social responsibility.
Ms Doherty wants to promote sustainable building practices, as her home in Ballyliffin is "destroyed from mica".
Speaking to RTÉ News from Vietnam, she said: "They start to look like settling cracks and over time they deteriorate into massive holes in the walls and the blocks can only be described as Weetabix.
"At the minute, the Mica Action Group is trying to fight for a 100% redress scheme because this wasn't our fault and no one can afford the price of a new house.
"With the current scheme and cost of living, families in Donegal are still left having to pay thousands of euros to fix and slow down their crumbling homes. It’s a very frustrating and upsetting situation to be in."
Ms Doherty is studying Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Science at ATU Donegal.
She has been taking part in preliminary pageant competitions in Ho Chi Minh City since the end of November.
"I feel that this is extremely important because it's my generation that has to make the change," she explained.
"We're the ones that are going to grow up in this world and we have so much education at our disposal, we would be crazy not to use it and implement change.
"When I have such an amazing platform, I will give it to the people that have done nothing but back and support me. I come from the best community in the whole wide world and it is their determination and courage that has inspired me the whole way through," she added.
The finals of Miss Earth World take place tomorrow.
The winner will serve as the pageant's ambassador to environmental protection campaigns worldwide.
"It still hasn't hit me yet that I am representing our beautiful country," Ms Doherty said.
"It is my greatest honour and privilege to be able to showcase Ireland and represent all the amazing people in it. I hope I just make you all proud and I am going to do my absolute best."
