Every year, the Irish town of Tralee organises a unique form of festival: the Rose of Tralee, a contest for women from the Irish diaspora across the world. It has become one of Ireland's oldest and largest festivals and perhaps the most popular; just as every year, more than half a million people watched the final of the week-long competition on Monday and Tuesday.

Launched in 1959 in the midst of unemployment and emigration, the goal was to attract tourists while giving expats a reason to come home. Initially meant only for women with Tralee connections, it is now open to all women with Irish roots.

If you're thinking of women in bikinis, think again: the Rose of Tralee is not crowned based on her look but on her personality and connection to her Irish roots. She then acts as an ambassador for Ireland throughout the year.

The festival still faces criticism, as it long pushed a specific idea of femininity - think Virgin Mary. Single mothers were only allowed in 2008, and married and transgender women in 2022.