Wolverhampton, England — In a landmark moment for inclusivity in the world of beauty pageants, 20-year-old Grace Richardson has been crowned Miss England 2025, marking her as the first openly gay woman to claim the title in the competition's 96-year history. The victory, secured on November 21 at the Grand Station in Wolverhampton, comes five years after Richardson publicly came out as gay on TikTok, an announcement that triggered relentless homophobic bullying from her school peers. Speaking to reporters in the days following her win, Richardson expressed a mix of disbelief and empowerment, stating, "I feel so powerful and proud of myself. My coming out story wasn’t the easiest."
Richardson, a final-year musical theatre student at Leicester College of Performing Arts and a part-time model from Leicester, described the post-win haze as one of profound shock. "I wasn't expecting it to be me," she admitted in an interview with the Leicester Times. "There were so many incredible girls in that top 12, and I think all of them deserved to win." Her journey to the crown was not without hurdles; earlier in the competition, an ankle injury sidelined her from the sports round, forcing her to pivot and showcase her resilience through other segments. Yet, it was her show-stopping singing and dancing performance in the talent portion—a high-energy routine that blended Broadway flair with contemporary edge—that clinched the tie-breaker and propelled her to victory, according to the organizers.
The Miss England finals unfolded over two intense days, narrowing a field of 30 regional qualifiers to a nail-biting top 12. Richardson had already proven her mettle by winning Miss Leicestershire in 2024 and re-entering to claim Miss East Midlands 2025 earlier this year. Judges evaluated contestants on poise, intelligence, and social impact, with the event doubling as a platform for philanthropy. Collectively, the 2025 finalists raised an impressive £42,000 for Beauty with a Purpose, the Miss World charity arm that funds global humanitarian initiatives like clean water access and education for underprivileged youth. Richardson’s own project, Every Drop Counts, focuses on water conservation efforts in schools and communities—a cause she plans to amplify on the international stage.
Reflecting on her personal narrative, Richardson’s path to self-acceptance was fraught with adversity. At 15, during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, she shared her truth via a TikTok video, a bold step that garnered immediate support from family and close friends. "My very close friends and family were all very supportive," she recounted. However, returning to school post-lockdown exposed her to a darker reality: constant taunts from classmates, particularly boys, who hurled homophobic slurs and body-shamed her for being "too skinny." "It was a struggle to accept myself while a lot of people weren’t accepting me," she shared, her voice steady but laced with the weight of those memories. The bullying eroded her confidence, making simple acts like using school facilities a source of anxiety, but it also forged an unyielding determination that would later define her pageant presence.
Now, as Miss England, Richardson views her win as more than a personal milestone—it’s a beacon for the LGBTQ+ community, especially youth grappling with similar isolation. "It is important for young people in the LGBTQ community to see people representing them in all types of walks of life," she emphasized. She lamented the relative silence around sexuality in pageantry circles: "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." Her openness during the interview round—where she candidly discussed her identity without hesitation—resonated deeply with judges and fellow contestants alike. For Richardson, this triumph dismantles outdated stereotypes about gay women in feminine spaces, proving that authenticity can coexist with glamour.
Richardson’s crowning adds to a growing tapestry of LGBTQ+ trailblazers reshaping beauty pageants globally. In 2021, activist and model Lehlogonolo Machaba became the first transgender woman to compete in Miss South Africa, advancing to the top 30. A fashion brand founder from North West province, Machaba used the platform to advocate for queer visibility and combat daily violence against trans individuals. More recently, in September 2025, singer and actress Nguyen Huong Giang was appointed Vietnam’s representative to Miss Universe 2025, becoming the first openly transgender woman to represent the country at the international competition. Already a celebrated figure after winning Miss International Queen in 2018, Giang embodied resilience and diversity on a global stage.
Richardson’s ascent mirrors these shifts, signaling pageants’ pivot from rigid traditions to platforms of progress. As she prepares for Miss World 2026, Richardson eyes not just the crown but lasting impact. "To be able to represent England at such a prestigious competition… it feels like I am breaking down those barriers and expectations that my peers set for me," she said. Leicester’s pride runs deep; the city hasn’t held the Miss England title since 2001, making her win a celebrated homecoming.
On social media, supporters and advocacy groups hailed her victory as a turning point, with many sharing personal stories of overcoming similar struggles. For Richardson, the crown is a powerful symbol: visibility begets change. From a vulnerable TikTok post at 15 to standing center stage as Miss England at 20, her journey offers hope to countless young people still finding the courage to be themselves.
Whether she brings the Miss World title back to England or not, Grace Richardson has already rewritten what it means to be a beauty queen in 2025—authentic, resilient, and unapologetically queer.
