Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh has admitted she approached President of United States to be her escort for the renowned pageant.
The Mayo native revealed she asked him when she met him at the White House on St Patrick’s Day.
“I met him in the White House on St Patrick’s Day and I invited him to the Rose of Tralee as my escort,” she said.
Presidential escort: Maria revealed she asked President Obama to be her escort for the Rose of Tralee | VIPIRELAND.COM
The 28-year-old beauty became the first openly gay Rose of Tralee last summer and has admitted it doesn’t define who she is.
“We should not brand people as simply ‘the gay Rose’ or ‘the gay footballer’,” she said.
“I would introduce myself as a pioneer before introducing myself as gay because I made a choice to be a pioneer, to not drink alcohol, whereas being gay is just me.”
Although currently single, avid mass-goer Maria has revealed she hopes one day to get married in a Catholic Church.
Love and marriage: Maria revealed she hopes one day she can get married in a Catholic Church
“I’m single at the moment, but ask any person and they will tell you that finding the right person is high on the agenda,” she told the RTE Guide.
“I would love to get married in Ireland. My thing is…if Jesus Christ was kicking around right now he’d be welcoming all sorts into the church.
“Hopefully Catholic Churches in the next five years will have LGBT ceremonies in their churches,” she added.
