I Hope to Do That More in the Future.

Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh, the 25-year-old Co Westmeath woman crowned the 2026 International Rose of Tralee, has said she hopes to make more public appearances without her wig in future. She shared her experience of alopecia during Monday's TV broadcast of the competition, talking on stage about a selection of wigs before removing the one she was wearing to show her hair loss. "Everyone has seen me, but there are so many like me who, to be honest, I take inspiration from, she said on Wednesday, the morning after winning the contest.

I hope to do that more in the future. Ní Choiligh lost her hair at 15 and said she had never been to a hair salon before participating in the Rose of Tralee Festival. However, her prize package includes 12 months of hair and make-up styling from the Kerry College of Further Education.

"The girls are so well-versed in hair styling that they were able to style my wigs for the TV night. I really enjoyed that, she said. "When I was losing my hair, I was too young to go to a salon.

Both women who styled my hair had styled wigs before, I am very blessed. So it was really nice to be pampered with all the girls. Ní Choiligh said she was "shocked" to hear her name announced as winner and was "very proud" to represent women who live with hair loss.

"I saw the messages coming in the group chat and it's amazing because some of these women I have not even met in person. So, like, my biggest supporters I haven't even met or are from other parts of the world, and it's amazing, she added. "It's a lot right now but I just can't wait to see them all and show how proud I am of all of us.

Although going through hair loss at such a young age was challenging, Ní Choiligh said she would not change it, as it has made her the person she is today. "The thing that I have gone through and the things that make me, I wouldn't change it for the world. I don't want my hair to grow back because... if I could change time and make it so that I didn't lose my hair... I wouldn't have it any other way because it made me resilient, it made me strong, it made me connect with other women who are also all those things, she said.

"I think it's something that really shaped me. In terms of her plans for the next 12 months, she said she was uncertain but wanted to "embrace everything that comes my way. I do want to highlight more of the festival aspect of it because you see so much on telly and social media, but I have been involved now with the tour, and the parade and everything that goes on in between and I think that's something that is a credit to Tralee.