A Co Antrim woman is hoping she can impress judges as she bids to be crowned this year's Rose of Tralee.
Aileen McAllister is representing Dubai in the annual festival which is returning to Tralee, Co Kerry this year for the first time since the Covid pandemic.
The Ballymoney native has been living and working as a primary school teacher in Dubai since 2019 and has been selected to represent them in this year's competition.
Read more: Meet the Derry Rose representing her home city at this year's Rose of Tralee
Speaking to Belfast Live before departing on a jam-packed tour of Ireland before reaching Tralee for the festival which runs from August 19-23, Aileen told of her excitement at taking part in the competition.
"I'm so excited by it and just taking it all in my stride and enjoying the opportunity. It was actually on my bucket list to do a road trip of Ireland this summer so it worked out well, she said.
"My first memories of the Rose of Tralee were down in Donegal where my mum is from and it would have always been on in the summer when we were down visiting, it was always something we looked out for. A few years back when I was finished teaching a few girls I met at St Mary's [University] went for the Antrim Rose and Tyrone Rose so I've known a few roses in the past so I thought myself it would be something amazing to do."
Aileen was selected from 11 other entrants in Dubai and impressed the judges with her interview as well as her Irish dancing skills which she has been bringing to the Middle East in the form of her own fitness class.
"I started an Irish dancing fitness class in Dubai called ReelRobics so I've done that for almost two years now and even now that I'm home at the minute, one of the first girls who came to my classes is now fully trained as an instructor so she is taking them while I'm away.
"That sort of music is so infectious it makes you want to dance so that's what I want to do when I'm out there as well is to give people that same feeling, it's just about bringing people together and making friends. Irish dancing is a competitive world and I've grown up for maybe 11 years competing in it and it is tough but with 'ReelRobics', it's just come along, wear your trainers, there's no expense involved and just have the craic. It appeals to all ages too and we get people from all over coming to the classes, I can make it as simple or as complicated as they want.
Aileen says she has also been showing her young pupils the traditional Irish dance which they have enjoyed.
"I teach in an Emerati school and if I have the chance I take my own kids in the class for a wee brain break and we would dance and they do they love trying to do it and they love showing me their Emirati style shoulder bobbing, it's a lovely meeting of cultures."
With a packed itinerary for almost two weeks in the lead-up to the main selection nights, different outfits for each event can come at a huge cost, but Aileen has been environmentally friendly with her wardrobe choices.
"It's hard work you do have to graft for it [sponsorship], some counties do have sponsors lined-up for roses every year but coming from Dubai I'm kind of split because I come from Co Antrim, I've family in Donegal and I'm representing Dubai but I've been lucky to get some good sponsors, there's a girl Shannon O'Kane who has taken over a bridal shop in Coleraine and she has sponsored my TV dresses for me which is great.
"But I actually did a lot of shopping in charity shops and got a few dresses for £5 which were maybe worth £100 so I was really lucky, they're such lovely dresses and shoes too, I've got a good bit of my tour wardrobe from charity shops and then I'm also re-wearing dresses from my graduation and weddings so I'm happy to re-wear ones I have as well."
The 28-year-old isn't letting nerves get in the way of her TV debut and plans to just enjoy the entire experience to its fullest.
"I don't get really stressed out or think too deeply into things so I'm happy to go with the flow on the night. I suppose there is no real way of preparing it's about your personality so you just have to be yourself and hopefully the judges see that. If I think too much about it I will get nervous so I'm just going to enjoy it.
"Promoting Ireland as well is a great part of the experience, being an ex-pat abroad it's nice connecting with the Irish community out there and bringing people together. I have friends in lots of different parts of UAE now that I wouldn't have met otherwise, so that's what it's all about.
"There is such a great Irish community out in Dubai, McGettigans [bar] is my main sponsor out there so I'd say they'll have it on and be supporting me on the night from over there."
The Rose of Tralee will air across two nights on RTE on August 22 and 23.
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