Miss Ireland Finalist Heads to the Runway: Leah Daughton Galloway’s Journey From Kerry to High Fashion Dreams
Kerry, Ireland – With a heart rooted in compassion and a style inspired by the timeless elegance of the 1990s, Leah Daughton Galloway is stepping into the fashion spotlight with quiet confidence and bold vision. The Miss Kerry winner and Miss Ireland finalist is now channeling her transformative pageant experience into a promising modeling career with one that is already beginning to blossom on the global stage.
“I never imagined I’d be here,” Leah says with humility. “Growing up shy, I never had much confidence. But stepping into the world of pageantry showed me I’m capable of more than I ever believed.”
That pivotal experience competing in Miss Ireland wasn’t just about crowns or gowns. It sparked a deep internal shift. “It helped me break through barriers I placed on myself,” she shares. “It gave me the courage to step into modeling, content creation, and all the things that once felt far beyond my reach.”
Model With a Mission
Leah, who currently resides in the serene coastal landscapes of County Kerry, is not your typical fashion hopeful. By day, she is pursuing a degree in psychiatric nursing, a field she says reflects her deep desire to support those who are most vulnerable.
“There’s something sacred about being present for someone during their darkest moments,” she explains. “Mental health is just as vital as physical health. If I can help someone find hope, even a little, that’s what drives me.”
This deep empathy informs everything she does including her work in fashion. “To me, modeling isn’t just about looks but it’s about storytelling. It’s about helping others see themselves as strong and beautiful, especially if they’ve ever doubted that.”
The Purpose Behind the Passion
When asked what “purpose” means to her, Leah answers without hesitation: “It’s about growth. It’s about using your voice even if it shakes to help others feel less alone.” Through both her fashion journey and mental health advocacy, Leah is determined to uplift, inspire, and lead with heart.
Whether she’s walking a runway, creating content, or supporting patients on the front lines of care, Leah Daughton Galloway is proof that elegance and empathy are not mutually exclusive but rather, a powerful combination.
“I’m still growing,” she says. “But if I can step out of my comfort zone and find confidence, so can others. That’s my purpose now... to keep evolving, to give my all, and to never stop dreaming.”
Eyes on the Runway
Leah’s ambitions are sky-high but grounded in intention. Her ultimate dream? To walk the runways of Paris and New York Fashion Week. “Being in that world, surrounded by creativity and vision it would be surreal,” she says. “I’ve watched those shows all my life. To be a part of that legacy would be everything.”
Now signed with a modeling agency, Leah is steadily making strides toward that dream. “When I got signed, I cried,” she says, recalling the day she received the acceptance email after a nerve-wracking casting call. “It felt like the universe was telling me I was on the right path.”
Leah was sponsored into Paris Runway Official to have a full media team behind her as she takes to the runway and cast to over 75 runway shows a year with the worlds top designers. Brands like Calvin Klein, Ibiza Swim Week, New York Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week and designers who present in these shows will have their chance to cast Leah in the future.
Pageant Queen will head to the Runway - Leah.