The 20-year-old was crowned Miss England 2025 at the Grand Station in Wolverhampton after overcoming school bullying.
A student who was bullied at school due to her sexuality has become the first openly gay Miss England winner.
Grace Richardson, 20, endured homophobic slurs and cruel taunts from classmates after coming out five years ago.
She said it was predominantly boys at her school who targeted her because of her sexuality, mocking her for being “too skinny”.
But the part-time model has now had the final say, having been crowned the first openly gay Miss England.
Representing the East Midlands in the finals at Wolverhampton’s Grand Station, Grace, from Leicester, expressed her disbelief at her win, saying it left her “in shock”.
The musical theatre student said: “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.
“It is important for young people in the LGBTQ community to see people representing them in all types of walks of life.
“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.”
Grace was crowned Miss England on Friday, November 21, following a series of qualifying competitions.
After clinching the title of Miss Leicestershire 2024 and re-entering this year to win Miss East Midlands 2025, Grace continued to dazzle throughout the national stages.
She wowed the judges across several rounds and delivered a show-stopping singing and dancing performance. She said: “I wasn’t expecting it to be me. There was so many incredible girls in that top 12 and I think all of them deserved to win.
“I’m feeling quite empowered right now knowing that there is a whole community of women out there that are going to hopefully feel inspired by the fact that I have gone and said that so publicly in a competition where it’s not really talked about.”
Grace initially revealed her sexuality to her family and friends at the age of 15 during lockdown.
Whilst her family and close friends offered their support, she faced bullying throughout her school years – and found it difficult to accept herself.
Now having been crowned Miss England she described feeling “empowered” and “breaking barriers”.
She said: “I feel so powerful and proud of myself. My coming out story wasn’t the easiest. 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.
“It was a struggle to accept myself while a lot of people weren’t accepting me. To be able to represent England at such a prestigious competition and go to Miss World next year it feels like I am breaking down those barriers and expectations that my peers set for me.”
Grace said she was “beyond excited” to attend next year’s Miss World.
This year’s contestants together raised £42,000 for Beauty with a Purpose – the Miss World charity that supports humanitarian projects around the globe.
Source: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/student-makes-history-first-openly-32928289
