A hopeful spent her teens caring for her sick mum and grandmother – while studying to be a special needs assistant.
Longford Rose Marie Brady, 20, told the Irish Mirror: “My mum, Rose, was 52 when she was diagnosed with pneumonia in the lining of her lungs.
“My nana had cancer and she passed away two years ago.
“I grew up with my granny all my life, it came as second nature to look after them both.
“I was in that area too, that nurturing side. It was lovely to give back, because my nana Bridget had looked after me all my life.
“We watched the Rose of Tralee every year together and so I wish she was alive to see this.”
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Rose Karen Cashman opened up about the gruelling time her family endured waiting for her sister to get a liver transplant.
The beauty joined a Tipperary Crystal gathering of International and Irish Roses in Dublin ahead of the Rose of Tralee Festival on August 26 and 27.
Karen, 27, said: “When Emer got a serious infection in 2016, it was touch and go. For two years, we were waiting for the next big infection, it was tough.
“Every cough, every temperature, you worry she could die but she’s come out the other side, thanks to her donor. Emer got a phone call last year to get her liver transplant and thank God she’s OK.”
Primary school teacher Karen, originally from East Cork, campaigns for donation to take precedence in policy.
She explained: “It’s presumed everyone will donate their organs but when you get your driving licence you can choose whether you want to do so.
"It’s been implemented in a few countries already and going forward hopefully it will come into Ireland.”
Melbourne Rose Jordan Balfry is on a mission to empower women to love their bodies no matter what their shape.
The 28-year-old said: “I think women come in all shapes and sizes, I’m all about body neutrality.”
The blonde beauty said she had an unhealthy relationship with her body image in her twenties.
She said: “In my mid twenties, I’ve been through my own journey of putting myself under pressure to look a certain way, and I’ve come out of that now.
“I think healthy can come in any size.
“I was overly consumed with my physical appearance as to who I was as a person and that led me to the Rose of Tralee as the inherent message is personality versus looks.”
