Judith Wilson beat off competition from 24 other hopefuls to be named Miss Northern Ireland at a glittering ceremony held at Belfast's Europa hotel earlier this week.

The Ballinamallard beauty - who now lives in the Lisburn Road area of Belfast - will represent Northern Ireland in the Miss World competition which is being held in the Ukraine in October.

Judith (22) is the grand-daughter of Gordon Wilson, whose daughter Marie was killed in the IRA bomb blast at a Poppy Day service in Enniskillen in 1987.

The blast claimed the life of Judith's aunt Marie (20) but Gordon's campaign for peace in the face of his personal heartache and the forgiveness he bestowed on the bombers won him praise from around the world.

Judith was only a toddler when her aunt was killed but she said she hopes to carry on her grandfather's work as an ambassador during her year as Ulster's top beauty.

She said: "I know my grandad would have been very proud of me. He promoted peace and love in the midst of violence, rebellion and tragedy.

"I hope I can be as good an ambassador as he was and try and bring people together.

"During my year, I plan on promoting Northern Ireland as much as I can and telling people of the great positive changes here."

Judith revealed her loved ones have backed her in her quest to be crowned Miss Northern Ireland - particularly her boyfriend Gareth Grey (28) who runs the luxury ice-cream business Tickety-Moo.

The couple have been together for a year-and-a-half and she said: "He has been very supportive and he was delighted when I won."

Judith spent the last year working as a music teacher at Foyle and Londonderry College and hopes to return to teaching when her year as Miss Northern Ireland ends.

She said: "I was covering a year's maternity leave and have just finished so things have a way of working out for the best as I will very busy for the next 12 months. Being Miss Northern Ireland is a full-time job.

"I love music and children so I was very fortune to spend the last year combining two things I love."

Standing at five ft ten ins without heels Judith said that her motto in life has always been to "eat healthily and keep fit".

She said: "Women should have curves and they should show them off rather than try and makes themselves as thin as they can be. Besides, I think a woman's beauty comes from who she is and how she feels in herself."

When asked if she is high maintenance, Judith laughed and replied: "I don't think so but people I know may disagree."