Officially the world's loveliest girl, Ms Rosanna Davison arrived back in Dublin yesterday fresh from victory at the 2003 Miss World competition in China.
Despite the hour-long delay of her flight from London, where she made one of her first official appearances at the British Comedy Awards last night, the 19-year-old was radiant and collected as she stepped from the aircraft to be met by her parents, Chris de Burgh and Ms Diane Davison, and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Royston Brady.
Dressed in a black satin mini-skirt, black and white striped shirt and stiletto shoes, Ms Davison posed for photographs wearing her Miss World gold crown, encrusted with crystal, turquoise, topaz and aquamarine.
Although there was no public reception at the airport, Ireland's first Miss World winner was warmly greeted by airport workers and taxi-drivers as she sat side-saddle on a Garda motorcycle, flanked by two burly members of the force.
She told reporters she was very happy to be back in Ireland. "I've been dreaming about coming home since I left China, but I was so happy to be out there," she said.
Unlike Ireland's first Miss World entrant, who withdrew in 1951 on discovering there was a swimsuit section to the pageant, Ms Davison said winning that competition was "a great moment" and she was proud to have won for her country.
When asked what she hoped to achieve during her year, she said she hoped to change people's opinions about beauty pageants and help support charities.
Likely to earn €20,000 per public appearance, Ms Davison said she "liked to think" she would give some of the money to charity.
Chris de Burgh, who has just completed a new album which will be released next year, said suggestions that the competition had been rigged were "offensive and an insult" to Rosanna and the judges.
"There were 10 judges, and I only knew one. If I could manage to nobble nine judges, I'd have to be God himself," he said.
Cllr Brady said he was delighted Ms Davison was coming home a "world beater".
"Rosanna will be a great ambassador for Dublin and Ireland, but predominantly Dublin, I hope," he said.
Ms Davison was escorted from Dublin Airport by Cllr Brady, who took her on an open-top carriage tour around St Stephen's Green before a civic reception at the Mansion House. She will meet the President, Mrs McAleese, at Áras an Uachtaráin this morning.
