First Openly Gay Miss England Crowned: Grace Richardson Fulfills Dream After School Bullying

Grace Richardson is now the first openly gay Miss England, organisers said

Grace Richardson, a musical theatre student from Leicester, was crowned Miss England at the pageant final held in Wolverhampton on a Friday, becoming the first openly gay winner in the competition’s history. The 20-year-old, who endured long-term bullying at school due to her sexuality, said she has "fulfilled her lifelong dream" and will represent England at the Miss World pageant scheduled for early 2026.

Richardson recalled that she came out at 15, shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic, and her school life in Leicestershire was filled with hardship. "My peers were really unkind to me, and the constant teasing definitely took a toll on my mental health," she said. She admitted that bullying was pervasive at school: "Whether it was being too skinny, being really short and then growing tall, it felt like everything I did was wrong." However, these negative experiences did not break her; instead, they became motivation: "Now I can finally stand up and say ‘look at what I’ve done’. I ignored all the negative comments and ultimately achieved my dream."

Miss Richardson will now represent England at Miss World 2026

As a second-time contestant in the Miss England pageant, Richardson qualified for the 12-person final round with an outstanding performance in the "talent category". She initially planned to perform ballet but fractured her foot a week after signing up, so she had to switch to her musical theatre expertise. In the end, she sang the classic song "Never Enough" from The Greatest Showman, captivating the judges with her touching rendition and winning the title.

Currently studying at Leicester College of Performing Arts, Richardson will represent England at the Miss World pageant in early next year. The venue for the event has not yet been announced. If she wins, she will become the first British contestant to claim the Miss World crown since 1983. "It would be absolutely incredible to bring the Miss World trophy back to England, but you never know how the competition will go," Richardson said, feeling both hopeful and grounded about the future.

European Editorial Office: John