AIDEEN HOWARD

The Girl

“When I was 12 years old, my life changed in a way I didn’t fully understand at the time. I moved from Boston to Ireland and left everything that was familiar to me.”

“I was born in Boston, if you couldn't tell already by the voice.”

“I knew who I was and how Irish I was. The thought did play on my mind that the biggest thing is maybe my accent.”

“My family and friends have always been my biggest support system… A huge motivation for me is to be able to give back to my parents and make them proud of everything they have done for me.”

“When I was 11 years old, my mother underwent a very serious surgery for a brain aneurysm. At the time I was too young to understand the severity of the situation because my mother did everything in her power for us as her children to not worry and to feel secure.”

“My first friend in Ireland, Caragh, was the first person to speak to me on my first day of school in Ireland. That small act of kindness meant a lot to me, especially being somewhere new, and we're still friends to this day.”

“Even though I had such a supporting family, I felt very alone. I struggled with depression and lacked confidence. I spent a very long time trying to figure out where I actually belonged. Looking back now, I realize that those experiences completely shaped who I am today.”

The Plates

“I think the most important thing is to be natural.”

The Night It Happened

“Moving countries at a young age taught me the importance of kindness, empathy, and making others feel included.”

Aideen Howard

Off Duty

“…everyone was rooting for each other behind the scenes.”

“I was promised a farm. I'm still waiting for my farm.”

“My favorite thing was definitely the 99 ice creams that I used to always get when I was here.”

The Work

“Through volunteering with the Jack and Jill Foundation raising money for power hour and mentoring young people in my city…”

“As part of my Beyond the Crown initiative, I recently visited Mary Queen of Ireland, Girls National School, during their wellness week to work with students on self-belief, positive affirmations, kindness and honest communication. We explored practical ways to build confidence, encourage one another, and recognize the importance of how we speak to ourselves and those around us. Being able to speak directly with the children, hear their thoughts and encourage them to believe in themselves was really a meaningful experience.”

The Jack & Jill Children's Foundation provides nursing care and support to children with complex needs and their families across Ireland.

The World in Colour

“You never truly understand what someone else is going through, especially a child.”

“Supporting vulnerable children and young people is a cause close to my heart. I understand how important kindness, encouragement, and a sense of belonging can be. I hope to use my voice and experiences to encourage more compassion, inclusion, and support for young people who may be going through difficult circumstances.”

“If it could reach one person and mean something to one person, then I'd be happy. For me, it's not about how many people it reaches. If it can make a difference to even one young person, that's meaningful to me.”

“I want to use my platform to help young people build confidence, recognize their worth, and understand that what they're going through today does not define what they can achieve tomorrow.”

“When we support a child, we're not only changing their present, but helping shape their future.”

“My dream is to one day create my own business and build a career that I genuinely enjoy and am proud of.”

“Emotions are temporary and the way you feel today is not how you're going to feel tomorrow. That is what I used to tell myself anytime I was going through a difficult situation.”