Northern Ireland’s Yummy Mummy of the Year, 23 year old Lynsey Gilkinson pictured with her family, partner Jason Williamson, son Carter, 11 months, daughter Kelsie and father Andy.
Lynsey with Sunday World's Jim McDowell and American Holidays' Astrid Johnston
It was a big win touched by both tearful triumph – and the legacy of a tragedy which shook the world.
Devoted Dad Andy Gilkinson had always vowed he’d take his daughter Lynsey to New York.
He had the money and the means in September 2001.
He was set to fly Lynsey, then a 10-year-old schoolgirl, and his wife to the Big Apple.
But then there was the horrific tragedy of 9/11 – the Twin Towers terror attack.
The dream trip never happened, wrecked by a nightmare atrocity that reverberated around the world.
Now, however, 23-year-old Lynsey will realise her dream trip – thanks to Astrid Johnston, and her star-spangled staff in Ulster’s premier Trans-Atlantic travel firm, the Belfast-based American Holidays.
Astrid and her team teamed up again, with the Sunday World to run the ‘2014 Yummy Mummy of the Year’ competition...backed by PR executive Michelle McTiernan, the Ivory restaurant at House of Fraser and Senna Cosmetics courtesy of the Oonagh Boman School of Makeup.
And it was in the Ivory on Wednesday that mother-of-two Lynsey – the youngest of our ten finalists – won the ‘Yummy Mummy of the Year’ accolade.
And who did our tearful winner run to to hug, kiss and celebrate...her Dad, Andy, who had wanted so much to take her to New York.
He now knew that she was flying with American Holidays to spend a fabulous four-night break in Manhattan staying at the beautiful Beacon Hotel, right in the heart of the Big Apple.
And talking of ‘apples’...just take a look at Lynsey’s two kids, Kelsie, 6, and even her baby boy, Carter, just 11 months....wrestling to take a big bite out of the apple their young Lurgan mother picked out of a box to win her the top prize.
“I’ve always wanted to take my daughter to New York,” said dad Andy. “My wife and I booked to go around the time of 9/11, but had to cancer and never got there in the end.
“But it’s great that Lynsey, who would have gone with us, can now go herself.
“She deserves the break. She’s a very hard-working young mother.”
And Andy added: “I never miss the Sunday World every week.”
Thanks, Andy – you’re on a winner. Just like your daughter!
Handing over the golden envelope with the Big Apple dream tickets inside for Lynsey and her partner Jason Williamson, American Holidays Belfast boss Astrid Johnston said: “Being a mummy is one of the toughest jobs there is.
“It’s lovely to be able to reward a dedicated mother with a much-deserved break and it doesn’t come much better than a trip to New York.
“We wish her a fantastic trip and thank all the other Yummy Mummies for taking part.
“They’re all winners!,” Astrid said.
Both American Holidays and the Sunday World are already planning the Yummy Mummy’s competition for 2015.