A 20-year-old student has made history by becoming the first openly gay woman to be crowned Miss England.
From School Bullying to National Crown
Grace Richardson, a musical theatre student from Leicester, was crowned Miss England 2025 at The Grand Station in Wolverhampton on Friday, November 21. Her victory marks a significant moment for LGBTQ representation in UK pageantry.
The part-time model, who represents the East Midlands, endured years of homophobic bullying after coming out at age 15 during lockdown. She revealed that schoolmates, predominantly boys, targeted her with cruel taunts about her sexuality and mocked her for being "too skinny".
"My coming out story wasn't the easiest," Grace confessed. "My very close friends and family were all very supportive. But for some reason those at school, my peers, just weren't in the same way that my family were."
Breaking Barriers and Empowering Others
Grace expressed her shock at winning the national title, particularly given the strong competition. "I wasn't expecting it to be me," she said. "There were so many incredible girls in that top 12 and I think all of them deserved to win."
Her journey to the crown began with winning Miss Leicestershire 2024, followed by the Miss East Midlands 2025 title. During the national finals, she impressed judges across multiple rounds and delivered a show-stopping singing and dancing performance.
Grace now feels empowered by her platform, recognising the importance of her visibility. "Knowing I'm able to share my story and represent a part of our community that hasn't been represented in this way before is really special," she explained.
A New Chapter of Representation
The new Miss England emphasised the significance of LGBTQ representation across all areas of society. "It is important for young people in the LGBTQ community to see people representing them in all types of walks of life," she stated. "I haven't seen anyone in pageantry talk about sexuality in the way that I have so it is important to me for them to feel seen."
Looking ahead, Grace described feeling "beyond excited" to represent England at next year's Miss World competition. This year's Miss England contestants collectively raised £42,000 for Beauty with a Purpose, the Miss World charity supporting global humanitarian projects.
Reflecting on her journey from struggling with self-acceptance to breaking barriers, Grace concluded: "I feel so powerful and proud of myself... It feels like I am breaking down those barriers and expectations that my peers set for me."