After the Rose of Tralee, Derry Rose Cará Hamilton has her sights set on a very cool career path.

The 21-year-old fancies herself the next Dr Spencer Reid or Jason Gideon (Criminal Minds fans, if you know, you know).

Just weeks ago, Cará graduated from Liverpool John Moores University with a degree in forensic psychology and criminal justice. That’s no mean feat!

Speaking to EVOKE, Cará said: ‘I’m hoping after the madness of Tralee dies down and everything, to join the guards. I want to go on policing.

‘Then hopefully a few years down the line, move into more detective/crime scene investigating. That’d be the route I’d like to go down.’

Cará’s not following in anyone’s footsteps, she’s paving her own way. ‘I’ve always wanted to be in the police. I’m quite nosy, and every time I see the police I’m like, “I wonder what they’re up to…” It’s just always been something that I wanted to do.’

‘I love being able to take care of people,’ Cará continued. ‘Like having the role of keeping people safe, making them feel safe and comfortable in their own cities and towns, that’s something I’ve always wanted to do.

‘There are no family ties or anything, it’s just me starting the trend!’

Speaking about what the Rose of Tralee means to her, the 21-year-old said: ‘It does mean a lot to me. My granny was a huge fan and kind of raised my aunties and uncles watching it every single year.

‘Then my auntie kept on the tradition of watching it and signed me up. It means a lot to me in that way, because hopefully I’ll be doing her proud.’

‘And winning to me, I don’t even know, I haven’t even thought about that, it would be crazy,’ Cará fantasised. ‘I would just love to bring that back to Derry and hopefully get lots of other young girls involved because it’s such a great opportunity.

‘Not many people in Derry would know about it, and I would just love to bring that back to them, especially with the Irish culture and everything.

‘Growing up in Derry, the Irish language is a huge thing. We have an Irish-speaking mayor as well. So it would be great to bring a festival that’s about celebrating being Irish to Derry.’