Florida's Rose of Tralee contestant has strong links to Kildare

Florida Rose in the Rose of Tralee contest grew up in Kildare but moved to the US with her family 14 years ago.

Victoria Sexton still returns regularly to Ireland where she has lots of relatives.

Victoria will be part of the International and Irish Roses pre-festival tour which commences on Monday 13th August in Kildare.

Victoria said: "I was born in Dublin and grew up on a lovely little farm in Kildare where I have the most wonderful memories of my childhood in Ireland.

"I used to happily muck through the fields training horses with my dad and assisted my mammy at her salon in Monasterevin by giving hand massages to

her clients!

"We moved to the Sunshine State in 2004 to Ocala, and in 2008 we became Sister Cities with Newbridge, what luck!

"Currently, I am a vocal student at the University of South Florida in Tampa where I am a sister in Alpha Delta Pi, an ambassador of the School of Music and the Social Chair on the Chamber Choir Council.

"In my spare time I like to volunteer, go on Mission Trips to Mexico, and of course I love going to my beautiful Florida beaches!

My sponsor is Kildare Farm Foods, and every Christmas I have the pleasure of coming home to sing there for Santa!

"I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone that has made my dream of being a Rose a reality."