'I was told I only got elected because I'm young and blonde'

"UUP politician and Antrim mayor Leah Kirkpatrick discusses dealing with trolls, caring for her daughter Eva who remains non-verbal at nearly 13, and her rise to civic leadership Leah Kirkpatrick is a rarity in the Ulster Unionists. An articulate and intelligent young woman, she is a breath of fresh air in a party where the overwhelming majority of representatives are middle-aged men."

"The first female mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey has got here the hard way. She grew up in the working-class loyalist Parkhall estate, and was thrilled to pass the transfer test, go to Antrim Grammar and later to Ulster University."

Leah Kirkpatrick is a UUP politician and the first female mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey. She grew up in the working-class loyalist Parkhall estate, passed the transfer test, attended Antrim Grammar and later Ulster University. She cares for her daughter Eva, who remains non-verbal at nearly 13, and manages public scrutiny including online trolls. She is described as articulate and intelligent and stands out within a party dominated by middle-aged men. Her civic rise reflects a transition from a working-class background to prominent local leadership. Her path demonstrates social mobility and persistence.

Read at Independent