Former Cork student competing in Miss World competition in India 

A FORMER Cork student has jetted off to India to take part on the Miss World competition. 

Ivanna McMahon was crowned Miss Ireland in 2022 and will be representing her country at the 71st Miss World Festival which takes place until March 9 across venues in India.

Ivanna has already been spotted as a contender for the world crown by international pageant experts to follow in the footsteps of previous Irish Miss World, Rosanna Davison.

The 29-year-old, from Co Clare, studied medicine at University College Cork and graduated in 2020. 

She completed an internship at Cork University Hospital in cardiology and neurology, before going to University Hospital Tralee to work in surgery.

She worked in the GP Scheme at Tralee General Hospital during the pandemic, and during her reign as Miss Ireland she went to South Africa to lend her medical expertise as a doctor for a few months.

Ms McMahon has represented the Dyslexia Association of Ireland (DAI) and spoke at a briefing for Oireachtas members, describing her lived experience with dyslexia, outlining her journey to understand and embrace it as well as the challenges she faced through the Irish school system and becoming a doctor.

Ivanna is also a fluent Irish speaker, as well as a talented harpist, wowing guests at the Miss Ireland Diamond ball with a performance of Cosmic Love by Florence and the Machine on the electric harp.

She started playing the harp at the age of 13 and has played with the National Irish Harp Orchestra and toured Germany and Austria.

She also plays six other instruments including the drums, harmonica, fiddle, bodhrán and tin whistle, and won all Ireland championships for drums and harmonica.

Established in 1947, Miss Ireland has been the launch pad for many eminent, successful, and inspiring women in Ireland.

Over the last few years,  the Miss Ireland Franchise has raised over €400,000 for various charities including Laura Lynn, Temple Street, Alzheimer’s Ireland, Pieta House, The Cari Foundation and The Julian Benson CF Foundation.