SHE works in Dubai and grew up in Yeadon but in August Rebecca Garnett will be returning to her Irish roots in a bid to become the Rose of Tralee.

Rebecca will be one of a number of women of Irish descent from across the globe descending on County Kerry to take part in the competition.

The 27-year-old teacher has been selected as the Dubai Rose for the Rose of Tralee International Festival in August – one of Ireland's largest and longest running events.

The global celebration of Irish culture, which began 57 years ago, includes street entertainment, carnival, live concerts, theatre, circus, markets, funfair, fireworks and parades.

Rebecca attended St Peter and Paul Primary School and St Mary’s Menston before going on to study at Durham University and Cambridge University. She now teaches at the GEMS Wellington Primary School Dubai. Her Irish ancestry comes from her maternal grandfather, Patrick McEvoy, who moved to Yorkshire when he was a young boy.

She said: "I became involved in the competition through a friend I met when I moved out to Dubai.

"I had heard about the Rose of Tralee but never really thought much about it, and definitely not about entering. My friend, Niamh Brennan, who I live with and work with in Dubai, mentioned it to me on one of the first occasions she met me."

She was selected for interview and had to submit a video about herself before being selected from a final shortlist of seven.

Rebecca is now due to take part in charity fundraising, starting with a 'Darkness into Light' walk on May 7, to raise money and awareness of Pieta House, a crisis centre in Ireland that supports individuals and families dealing with self-harm and suicide.

She will take part in a Strictly Come Dancing-style event in Dubai on May 13, to raise money for Children of the Mountain – a Nepal-based charity that aims to support children who live in the more rural areas of the country.

Rebecca added: "I’ve never done anything like this before so am really looking forward to such a unique opportunity.

"I feel really lucky to have been selected as it is such a great opportunity. I’m looking forward to meeting other Roses from all over the world."