Twin fashion icons from Laois shortlisted for Miss Universe Ireland Final 2026

A pair of Laois twins who have been shortlisted for the Miss Universe Ireland final are excited to use their platform to promote a fantastic charity.

Portarlington twins Dawn and Davinia Knight, of the well-known family fashion group the Knight Collective, are ‘over the moon’ to have been chosen as finalists in this national competition.

The Knight sisters are known for their fashion and style, and are regularly featured in magazines and news outlets nationwide, winning best dressed competitions at races in the UK and Ireland alongside their sister Cleo.

Only twenty finalists have been selected out of hundreds of applications to compete for the national crown. On June 20, the Miss Universe Ireland competition will crown the candidate who will proudly represent Ireland at the Miss Universe global final.

Speaking with the Leinster Express / Laois Live ahead of the event, the Knight twins expressed their delight and honour to have been named finalists, and their intentions to use this opportunity to raise funds for bereavement charity Rainbows Ireland, an organisation they availed of as children.

“Rainbow Ireland is an amazing charity that supports children experiencing grief through bereavement or family breakdown,” Dawn explained.

“A lot of the girls taking part have their own charitable cause they’re supporting, myself and Davinia decided to campaign for Rainbows to give back to them. As children we availed of their support together, so it only made sense for us to give back to them together,” she said.

When the twins were six years of age, they sadly lost their father.

“We want to spread awareness of the charity. When we were six we lost our father, we come from a big family. There’s our brother Barrie, our younger sister Cleo and our Mam Christina brought us up herself. It was a house full of love, she’s such a strong and resilient woman, we are all so connected because of it,” Davinia said.

Following their father’s sad passing due to complications with his asthma, the twins were referred to Rainbows for support through their grief.

“When we lost our father, we were left with a massive gap. The nuns in the Presentation asked our mother if she wanted us to avail of support from Rainbows, she agreed,” Dawn said.

“We went to the group and talked about how the loss affected us, and how we felt. We got to know other kids who had lost family members, and formed a great bond with them.

“We didn’t fully understand the grief at that age, and attending those classes really helped us- we still have a great bond with some of the other children,” Davinia highlighted.

“We can put ourselves into the shoes of the little children availing of those supports now, and feel their vulnerability. We know what it’s like to not understand, and seeing the effects of grief on their mothers and family members,” Dawn explained.

The pair hope to use this platform to give back to the charity that helped them through such a difficult time.

Dawn and Davinia have been fundraising tirelessly in Portarlington, receiving great support from people locally.

“It’s such a privilege to take part, it just feels like a dream come true, we’re so excited for it,” Davinia said.

“People are already aware that we are doing Miss Universe, and they’re having a bit of fun with it,” she laughed.

“It’s great to get out there and fundraise, while having a bit of banter. It’s such a privilege to take part, it feels like such a dream. My daughter is involved with our fundraising, she’s so passionate about it,” Davinia said.

The Knight family have been massively supportive of the twin’s Ms Universe journey, while making sure to keep them grounded.

“We’re joking a lot with each other, reminding the kids that we could be the next Miss Universe Ireland, they’re making sure we don’t get any notions!” Dawn joked.

“It’s so lovely being able to share this journey with Dawn, to be able to check in on all the info and what dresses we plan on wearing. There’s that bit of fun with it- there’s not much we do apart!” Davinia said.

The sisters praised Rainbows Ireland CEO Geraldine Kelly for her fantastic support in this fundraiser.

“Geraldine has been so helpful and loved the idea, she and the organisation have been so good,” Davinia said.

“She provided us with all the pamphlets we hoped to give out, and listened to our story and our experience. We can’t thank her enough,” she said.

The pair hope to hold an afternoon tea fundraiser for Rainbows Ireland in coming weeks.

To support Dawn and Davinia Knight in their fundraiser, click HERE.

For more updates on the Knight sisters road to Miss Universe Ireland, keep an eye on the Leinster Express / Laois Live website.