Before several contracts, there were "traditional wives" who raised the children and dedicated their lives to their homes and families around the world. In the Republic of Ireland, a competition was held called "Housewife of the Year," where hundreds of women participated to win a prize of £300 and new household appliances.
During the competition, participants were judged based on their cooking skills and their ability to manage the household budget, along with their sense of creativity and good presentation and dedication to work. The participants managed exchanges about child-rearing, home management, and the lives of their spouses.
The competition ran from 1968 to 1995, and in its final year (1995), an Irish mother, Dilyan, aged 65, won. Dilyan, who lived in the Irish city of Cork and worked as a dental hygienist, won the competition after being nominated by a friend. She received a prize of £2000 and decided to spend it visiting her sister in San Francisco.
Dilyan eloquently stated: "The crown that once belonged to me, and which they only gave me as an alternative, still remains royal. Every homemaker deserves this crown. It's hard to claim it, all mothers deserve the acknowledgement."