The first Miss & Mrs Cross Continent event in Dublin showed how a pageant can combine cultural diversity, leadership and practical community education.
Twenty-four Truth About Drugs women from seven countries participated in the programme, which was attended by approximately 450 guests at the Church of Scientology & Community Centre.
The organisers worked with The Truth About Drugs Ireland to include an educational element alongside the pageant and cultural performances.
Before taking part in the stage programme, contestants and visitors toured a Truth About Drugs exhibition and learned about the effects of commonly abused substances. Several contestants completed online drug-education courses before the event, with some finishing all fourteen modules.
Cllr. Francis Timmons, Mayor of South Dublin, spoke during the programme about the importance of bringing communities together through education.
The pageant was accompanied by a diverse cultural programme featuring dancers from several community organisations.
At the end of the competition, Niveditha Vudayagiri was named Miss Cross Continent 2026. The first runner-up title went to Fortunate Lindokuhle Masina, followed by Yuki Yuliatin as second runner-up.
The gathering connected beauty and cultural pride with leadership, informed choices and community involvement. A fuller report on the Dublin multicultural pageant and drug-education initiative provides additional details about the contestants, performances and educational programme.