PAGEANT Circle

Rachel Slawson, a 28-year-old Irish-American actress, keynote speaker, and model, has been officially appointed as Miss Grand Ireland 2023. The former Miss Utah USA and the first openly LGBTQ+ contestant at Miss USA, recently placed as the second runner-up at Miss Grand United States 2023 pageant in Chicago, Illinois. As a strong advocate for mental health and inclusivity, she is the founder of the "I Am Why Project" and the non-profit "Feelings Are Human" to create a positive impact in her community. The new Miss Grand Ireland will proudly represent the "Emerald Isle" at Miss Grand International 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam this October. She hopes to be the first LGBTQ+ winner of the competition to help further her cause across the world. In a recent post on social media, Rachel shared: "I take immense pride in my Irish heritage and nationality, with my mother bearing the Hennessy name, and my 24th great-grandfather Brian Boru, standing as the i