An Oxford University graduate is set to compete for the chance to essentially become an ambassador for Ireland for a year.

On May 25, Michaela Brady, an Oxford resident, will take part in the London Final for the Rose of Tralee.

The competition, held every summer in Tralee, County Kerry, welcomes women of Irish descent aged 18 to 30 from around the world.

Its namesake, the folk song 'The Rose of Tralee', sets out the criteria for the ideal Rose.

While she can be "lovely and fair", beauty is not the most important quality, but rather her sincerity, personality, and engagement with the community.

The competition is a celebration of Irishness and the global Irish community.

In the two weeks before the final, a Rose Tour takes place where competitors engage with communities in various regions.

In London, the tour included visiting Irish-owned locations, taking part in the Darkness into Light walk, a wellness chat, karaoke, and visiting the Irish Embassy.

Ms Brady, an Irish-American from New York, has her roots in Drogheda, County Louth.

She holds an MSc in Social Science of the Internet from Oxford University.

Currently, she is a civil servant, working on online safety, and also writes poetry, fiction and non-fiction, with several published works.

An active member of the Oxford Writing Circle, she also trains at Oxford Ice Rink twice a week and performs with the Oxfordshire Drag Collective.