A nine-year-old Cork girl has become an overnight star in Australia after winning the country's leading child pageant competition.
Aisling Murphy was crowned 'Ultimate Grand Supreme,' the most coveted title in the highly-competitive world of children's beauty contests, at Universal Royalty's Sydney event last Saturday.
The rising starlet, who won €700 (Aus$1,000) and beat 45 other youngsters for the title, has already been snapped up to do modelling work and TV commercials since her win.
Her mother Stephanie, 28, described her daughter's achievement as "a dream come true" as she stole the show at the glitzy US-themed pageant.
Last week Stephanie admitted she had spent in the region of €50,000 in the past three years on preparing her daughter for 17 previous pageants, including €1,700 on an emerald-green dress for the Sydney contest.
But the proud mother, who recently emigrated to Queensland with husband Ger and son, Cian, five, insisted every cent had been worth it, as she watched her daughter realise her pageant dreams.
She said: "This is the best day in Aisling's career and we couldn't be happier. She's worked so hard for this and she's going to get so much work out of her win. She's already been snapped up to do TV commercials back in Townsville in Queensland, where we live."
Pageant 'veteran' 'Miss Aisling' also appeared in a second Sydney pageant, dubbed 'Follow Your Dreams' on the same day, coming first in the formal wear contest and winning a 'Theme Supreme' title.
But Stephanie said winning the Universal Royalty pageant - which will be staged in Ireland for the first time next month - was their main ambition as it is the pinnacle of child pageant contests.
She also said Aisling would have little time to celebrate, as she would be back in rehearsals this week preparing for her appearance in the Irish Universal Royalty event at a secret Irish venue on September 21.
Stephanie, who's spending a further €10,000 - which includes flights to Ireland - on entering Aisling into the controversial contest, added: "Winning back home in Ireland would be the ultimate dream."
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