If you were blinded by the sight of glamorous women sparkling in golden outfits on Grafton Street this week, then you may have laid eyes on the next woman to represent Ireland on the international stage.

The search is on for the next Miss Ireland who will follow in the footsteps of Roz Purcell, Joanna Cooper, and Dancing with the Stars alum Aishah Akorede, and take part in the Miss Universe competition.

In 2026, the launch party theme was Golden Summer, with the hopefuls all getting the memo as they kick-started the lead-up to Miss Universe at Bewley’s Café.

Posing on Bewley’s balcony, the ladies proudly wore their black and gold sashes emblazoned with ‘Miss Universe Ireland Finalist 2026’ over their gold outfits.

While some went for sequins, others opted for shimmering ruffles, with each finalist hoping to impress and ready to take on the Miss Universe mantle.

The finalists come from all backgrounds, with some familiar faces among them, including race day style lovers, twins Davinia and Dawn Knight and Maksuda Akhter.

The current Miss Universe Ireland, Aadya Srivastava, 19, from Galway, was crowned Miss Universe Ireland last year by Miss Universe Ireland 2024, Sofia Labus, who is from Cork.

The winner of Miss Universe Ireland 2026 will receive an exclusive prize package along with the honour of representing Ireland on the world stage at the Miss Universe global final.

To get there, the finalists must compete for the national crown, impressing industry professionals across three categories: the swimsuit competition, evening gown, and interview.

At the final show, the top 10 will be revealed with their scores from preliminary rounds revealed, before the number is cut down to five for the final round, before Miss Universe Ireland 2026 will be named.

At this event, delegates from more than 100 countries will compete for the coveted title, and reigning Miss Universe, Fátima Bosch Fernández of Mexico, will crown her successor.

Speaking at the launch, Brendan Marc Scully, director of Miss Universe Ireland, said: ‘We are excited to officially begin another exciting chapter for Miss Universe Ireland, celebrating the ambition, individuality and achievements of women from across the country while continuing to build the Irish franchise on an international level.’

See more photos from the launch below: