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That Irish smile!
By Esther Williams
Three weeks ago, Rosanna Davison was in the US and Canada taking part in a 23-hour 'Telethon' to raise funds for children's hospitals. She got very little sleep during that time.

To say that her life has changed over the course of the last four months is an understatement. Since the 19-year-old won the coveted title of Miss World in December 2003, the first Irish woman to do so, she has gone from being a university student to an international celebrity.

Looking at that 1000-watt smile, it is quite easy to understand why she won the crown, edging out an impressive list of 105 participants from around the globe. Any of the top twenty, especially the last five could have won - they did so well, she recalls. "For me it was luck and perhaps the confidence and how I projected myself that worked in my favour."

The daughter of well-known singer Chris De Burgh (of Lady in Red fame), Rosanna is not an amateur on stage. Since her early years she has danced and loved ballet. Watching her father on stage and the advice she took from him certainly helped, she says.

How did Ireland react to her historic win? There was great excitement in Dublin when they heard the news, she smiles. The Lord Mayor held a civic reception in her honour and she met with the President of Ireland. She will now work with more charities. "I am also in a better position to support my personal charity - for those with spinal injuries," she says.

There is a certain amount of pressure that goes with being the 'most beautiful woman in the world'. How does Rosanna handle it? "I try to retain normalcy when I am at home." However each time she goes out with friends in Dublin City, people come up to greet and congratulate her. "It is all very positive. I feel very flattered and I find it quite easy to deal with since I have a strong family to support me."

She had a wonderful childhood, she recalls, attending schools that gave her ample opportunities to do horse riding, music and ballet. She was the athletics captain in her 5th and 6th year and represented her secondary school in the prestigious All-Ireland finals. A former Dundrum South Dublin athlete, she competed in hurdles and high jump until a few years ago. Her whole family also loves water sports and travels abroad, to Australia and Canada, making an annual visit to Mauritius too, she says.

On the academic side, she is fascinated by history - learning about events that happened thousands of years ago and applying it to everyday life. It is this coupled with her interest in the world around her, how people interact that made her select archaeology, sociology and history of art at University.

It was not in her grand plan to become a beauty queen. She was at a Dublin shopping centre last July when a girl came up to her and asked to take part in a regional competition saying that if she won she could qualify for the Ms. Ireland contest. "I never dreamt of doing something like this," Rosanna laughs. Mostly at the urging of her friends she applied and forgot all about it. The next thing she knew she had a call asking her to participate and "the rest is history!"

Among her most memorable moments was her month in China, touring sites like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, particularly the opportunity to go into the pit to see the terracotta warriors of Xian, which she had learnt about in her archaeology studies in college. "It was all so amazing."

Asked what has made her the person she is today, she talks of her mother's serious riding accident a decade ago. Although she had a miraculous recovery she is still confined to a wheelchair. "It made me appreciate my family more and not take things for granted. My two younger brothers and I grew up to take responsibility and it made us closer as a family.”

This could be Rosanna's biggest year but what happens when it all ends? "I may be craving for normalcy by then," she laughs. But seriously, she hopes to fit in both - continue her studies and work for charities while doing a little bit of modelling. Being a former Miss World counts, she figures.

Is there a flip side to being Miss World? "Jet lag, tiredness, living out of suitcases and gruelling schedules," she laughs. "The good work makes up for it all," she is quick to point out. "There is more positive than negative." Through her work she hopes to bring happiness to others, and she is secure in the knowledge that when she looks back on this year she will know that it was worth it. "I am very fortunate to be able to visit so many countries and make friends."

"There is a deeper side to being Miss World - to be able to raise funds and work for charities," she stresses. She has always loved children, having helped at a number of summer camps in the past, she says.

"In this position I have the best opportunity to be able to help and raise awareness about sick and handicapped children. Children are our future and we need to give them hope and the right to live," she adds.

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