Meet the Longford woman representing Ireland at Miss International contest

Hannah Kathleen Hawkshaw will be presenting Ireland, as well as Longford, at this year's Miss International contest in Tokyo.
The contest is run by the International Cultural Association of Japan for the purpose of "friendship and good relations with all nations" and the contestants are expected to be goodwill ambassadors for their country, promoting peace and cross-cultural integration.

On Monday, Hannah embarked on her journey to Japan for the competition which officially kicks off today Wednesday, October 30.

Over the two-week contest, Miss International Ireland 2024, Hannah, will take part in preliminary interviews and competitions, go on cultural excursions, and meet with different officials from Japan all before the grand final on Tuesday, 12 November.

Speaking to the Longford Leader, the business woman, storyteller and volunteer shared her excitement for the upcoming competition, her family links in Longford, and the important responsibility of representing Ireland in Tokyo.

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Hannah laughed: "I have links to Longford and Athlone because I have a very big family in the heart of Ireland. My grandmother is actually based in Kenagh. Her name is Annie Smyth and she has a very big family."

Hannah added: "Obviously Irish people are so rooted in family values so I really appreciate my links to Longford."

As the official delegate representing Ireland at the contest, Hannah intends to utilise her role to promote cultural diplomacy, critical educational initiatives, and the cultural component via integration as part of the Radical Love Social Project. This project is a social initiative created to bridge the gap between charitable initiatives and donors who wish to help.

Hannah says her mission is "to be a bridge between people doing good and those who wish to help." She says that her personal experiences led to the birth of the Radical Love Project, "a community driven initiative connecting people who care with causes that matter." The project's efforts have directly addressed a range of important issues relating to poverty, education as well as clean water and sanitation.

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She recently met with UNESCO in Paris to highlight issues of poverty, education and the importance of partnership in reaching these goals.

Speaking about the significance of flying the flag for Ireland, Hannah said: "It's a big responsibility because obviously when we go on stage, of course it's a beauty pageant, but we're not just representing ourselves. We're representing the values of our country and the ethos that each of us bring as a result of our heritage.”

She added: "It's been a big mission for me to really focus on showcasing Ireland and promoting Ireland."

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For Hannah, an important aspect of this is storytelling which she said is so powerful here in Ireland: "that's really the heart of my whole campaign because I'm a singer and I love using stories as a medium for social impact."

Hannah expressed her enthusiasm and pride in representing the country on the international stage, saying that over the course of the two weeks in Tokyo she will take part in a range of activities "all promoting cross cultural integration and fostering understanding between nations."

Hannah recently met with the Lord Mayor of Dublin who has endorsed her campaign and now she is seeking support from Ireland as she flies the tricolour in Japan.