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Meet the Northern Ireland teenager with Down's Syndrome crowned Ultimate Beauty of the World.

Kate Grant, 19, took part in the pageant on Saturday in Portadown and was blown away when she was named the Ultimate Beauty of the World in the teen section.

Overjoyed mum Deirdre, from Cookstown , told Belfast Live it was an example of how her daughter was breaking through barriers in the beauty world and beyond.

"Kate actually did a documentary called Role Model, which was broadcast on BBC1, about her ambition to be a model," said mum-of-four Deirdre.

"She was then asked by the director of the Ultimate Beauty of the World beauty pageant to take part. The way it works is that if you have a connection to Italy you can take on the role of representing Italy.

"Kate took on the role of representing Northern Ireland. There are three sections, junior which is 3-12, teen which is 13-20 and senior which is 20+. The contestants do fundraising and this year the charity was Make A Wish Foundation.

"At the time Kate had gone viral with a post on Facebook last October and she had been on the radio chatting about her ambitions to be a model and there was a lot of negative feedback because she has Down's Syndrome.

"A lot of doors were closed in her face, it was not positive."

But from this, the organiser of Belfast Fashion Week, Cathy Martin, got in touch and Kate took to the catwalk during one of the events last year.

Then the opportunity for the pageant came up and initially Deirdre was hesitant about putting her daughter forward for it.

However, when she delved further she found that money raised by the contestants would be going to the Make A Wish Foundation.

"I said to my daughter and she said she would like to do it because she had her wishes come true by being a model during Belfast Fashion Week and she would love some other child's wish to come true," said Deirdre.

So Kate geared up to take part in the pageant and last weekend went on to take the crown in the teenage category.

"Kate has Down's Syndrome but has such a big heart and she got to know the children taking part and would reassure them if they were nervous," said Deirdre.

"She put them at ease, she was there to calm them."

She added: "I never in my wildest dreams expected her to win and then she was given the Ultimate Beauty Ambassador award and I thought it was great, she would not be disappointed.

"When they called third and second and then Kate's name I almost hit the floor, I was so overwhelmed. They said Kate stole everyone's heart, she was so outgoing and confident, she represented that pageant."

The Ultimate Beauty of the World contest took place at the Seagoe Hotel, Portadown, on Friday, July 27, and Saturday, July 28.

Kate, a former pupil of Sperrinview Special School, is now in seventh heaven after her win and hopes to do more modelling in the future.

Deirdre said: "It is such a big achievement, some of the young people had not met anyone like Kate who has a disability and they said it was good for them to meet Kate and it was a learning curve for themselves.

"Kate stands for inclusion for people with disabilities. She is in seventh heaven now but she soon came down with a bump when she realised she still had to do her chores.

"She is going to keep pursuing it. She is breaking through barriers and the perception people have of people with disabilities."

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