Kilkenny woman to compete in Miss Universe

Kilkenny woman and former Loreto student Faiza Kanjaou been named as a finalist in the Miss Universe Ireland 2024 competition.

The daughter of low-income immigrants, Faiza has made the Marble City home, reaching great academic and employment heights since arriving in Ireland at a young age.

However, achieving academic accolades was far from easy for Faiza with her parents' encouragement and her own determination to grasp the English language key to her subsequent success.

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With the help of a dedicated team of teachers in Loreto Kilkenny, Faiza achieved top grades in the classroom, securing a prestigious All-Ireland Scholarship in 2017, awarded to disadvantaged students with the best Leaving Cert points nationwide.

The Miss Universe contestant remained focused and accepted a place at Trinity College a short time later where she continued to reach great academic heights.

At 23, she graduated from a dentistry program with first class honors in surgery and a masters in oral reconstructive surgery and implantology, becoming the first qualified doctor in her family.

"My story is one of resilience, determination, and the belief that one’s background does not define one’s future," Faiza told Kilkenny Live.

"I want to use this platform for a greater cause, because I want to make a difference, no matter how small," she added.

"I have chosen to support Anti-Slavery International, a human rights organization dedicated to fighting modern-day slavery, as part of my participation in the Miss Universe competition. This cause is deeply personal me, as my ancestors were victims of slavery in Morocco. I had also met survivors of modern-day slavery during my training and their stories inspired me to support this cause," Faiza said.

"My involvement in the pageant is a testament to my multifaceted talents and my desire to make a meaningful difference in the world. My journey from humble beginnings to a career in oral surgery, and now to the international stage of Miss Universe Ireland, is truly a story of hope and empowerment," she concluded.