Multicultural Pageant in Dublin Combines Cultural Celebration with Drug-Education Initiative

First Miss & Mrs Cross Continent gathering brings together 24 contestants from seven nations and an audience of 450 at the Church of Scientology & Community Centre in Ireland

Brussels, Belgium, 16th Jul 2026— Twenty-four contestants representing seven nations brought fashion, cultural traditions and messages of social responsibility to the first edition of the Miss & Mrs Cross Continent pageant, held on 5 July at the Church of Scientology & Community Centre of Dublin, hosted by Diana Stahl and Asia Kuzma.

The multicultural programme welcomed approximately 450 guests for an afternoon organised around the theme of “beauty and purpose.” Alongside the competition itself, contestants and visitors took part in drug-education activities intended to encourage informed choices and community participation in prevention.

The pageant was sponsored by Broccoli Care Ltd. and organised by Miss & Mrs Cross Continent Events Ltd. in collaboration with The Truth About Drugs Ireland. Contestants presented aspects of their national and personal backgrounds through fashion, artistic performances and individual messages concerning leadership, responsibility and positive change.

The Mayor of South Dublin, Councillor Francis Timmons, addressed the audience and spoke about the value of combining cultural inclusion with preventive education.

“Today’s initiative is an important step in bringing communities together while promoting education and prevention,” Mayor Timmons said. “I was particularly impressed to learn that the contestants embraced The Truth About Drugs campaign as part of their preparation for the pageant. Their willingness to learn and help educate others demonstrates how positive leadership can make a real difference in building healthier, stronger communities.”

The participation of contestants from different cultural backgrounds reflected the increasingly diverse character of communities across Dublin. While the pageant provided a platform for personal achievement and creative expression, organisers also incorporated an educational component intended to give the participants a subject of wider social relevance to examine and communicate.

Drug education before the stage programme

The afternoon began with guided tours of a Truth About Drugs exhibition located at the Church of Scientology & Community Centre. Visitors were introduced to information concerning commonly abused substances, their short- and long-term effects and the social circumstances in which drug use can begin.

The exhibition also presented the educational booklets, documentary materials and online courses available through The Truth About Drugs programme. The materials are designed for use by individuals, parents, teachers, community organisations and prevention volunteers and are provided without religious content.

Many of the contestants began engaging with the programme before the pageant. Several completed all fourteen online courses, while others studied selected modules covering substances including cannabis, cocaine, synthetic drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol and painkillers.

Their participation formed part of the preparation for the competition rather than a separate presentation added on the day. Organisers said the intention was to encourage contestants to consider how public visibility can be connected with social responsibility and the sharing of factual information.

The Truth About Drugs initiative is conducted internationally by the Foundation for a Drug-Free World and supported by the Church of Scientology and Scientologists. Its educational approach is based on presenting information in accessible language before young people are exposed to pressure to experiment with drugs.

The campaign was inspired by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, who wrote that “the single most destructive element present in our present culture is drugs.” The programme developed from the Church’s longstanding involvement in drug-prevention education and is now used in a range of community, school and voluntary settings.

Rather than relying primarily on warnings, the materials explain the composition and effects of different substances and include accounts from people who experienced addiction. The purpose is to give readers sufficient information to evaluate claims they may encounter from peers, advertising, entertainment or illicit drug sellers.

“Bringing drug education into a multicultural gathering gives the subject a human and constructive setting,” said Ivan Arjona, representative of the Church of Scientology to the European Union, OSCE, Council of Europe and the United Nations.

“The contestants came from different nations and professional and cultural backgrounds, yet they shared a willingness to become better informed and to use their influence responsibly,” Arjona added. “This reflects values that are central to European community life: human dignity, personal responsibility, prevention and cooperation across cultures. Social leadership is not defined only by visibility, but by what a person chooses to communicate and contribute.”

Cultural traditions represented in Dublin

Following the exhibition tours, guests moved to the auditorium for the main pageant programme. The contestants appeared in a series of presentations reflecting their individual interests, abilities and national traditions.

The programme also included performances by Scoil Rince Ní Aogáin, led by Denise Egan, presenting the tradition of Irish dance. The Mudra School of Indian Classical Dance contributed performances drawn from Indian artistic traditions, while dancers from the Indonesian Irish Association presented traditional Indonesian culture.

The combination of Irish, Indian, Indonesian and other international contributions placed cultural exchange at the centre of the afternoon. For members of Dublin’s migrant communities, the gathering offered an opportunity to present traditions maintained within families and community associations while participating in a shared public programme.

The presentations were followed by the announcement of winners in several categories. The principal title of Miss Cross Continent 2026 was awarded to Niveditha Vudayagiri, a software engineer who holds a master’s degree in artificial intelligence.

Fortunate Lindokuhle Masina was named first runner-up, and Yuki Yuliatin was selected as second runner-up.

The backgrounds of the finalists illustrated the pageant’s emphasis on achievement beyond physical appearance. Professional development, education, cultural participation and community involvement were presented as relevant aspects of how contestants understood leadership.

The organisers said the first edition was conceived as a meeting point between the pageant sector and community initiatives. The cooperation with The Truth About Drugs Ireland gave contestants a practical educational subject to study and allowed visitors to examine the materials directly during the exhibition tours.

The Church of Scientology & Community Centre of Dublin opened in 2017 as a religious and community facility serving Scientologists and the wider public. Its premises include an auditorium, meeting rooms, sports and recreational facilities and spaces used by local organisations for educational, cultural and charitable programmes.

The Centre has hosted activities involving neighbourhood associations, cultural communities, voluntary groups, educators and public representatives. Its community work includes support for drug prevention, human-rights education, moral education and volunteer initiatives.

The Church of Scientology was founded by author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard. In addition to the religious services provided to their congregations, Churches of Scientology and their members support secular programmes addressing drug prevention, human-rights awareness, community values and disaster response.

The Miss & Mrs Cross Continent programme concluded with participants and guests recognising education, cooperation and informed decision-making as practical elements in reducing the harm associated with drug abuse. The afternoon connected those subjects with cultural expression and the role of individuals who use public platforms to address issues affecting their communities.

About the Church of Scientology in Europe

The Church of Scientology, its missions, groups and members are present throughout the European continent. Its recognition as a charitable and bona fide religion continues to grow, reflecting its established religious presence and its commitment to education, prevention, freedom of religion or belief and community betterment. Through cooperation with civil-society organisations and local communities, Scientologists support initiatives intended to address social concerns through practical information and voluntary service.

Media Contact

Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights

Contact Person: Ivan Arjona

Website: https://www.scientologyeurope.org

Email: Send Email

Address:Boulevard de Waterloo 103

City: Brussels

State: Brussels

Country:Belgium

Release id:47183

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