Grace Richardson has stepped into history, becoming the first openly gay contestant to win the Miss England crown.
The 20-year-old pageant newcomer says she is still trying to process the moment, describing her victory as “shocking” and deeply emotional.
Richardson claimed the Miss England 2025 title on Friday, November 21, securing her place as England’s representative at the Miss World competition in 2026.
A student of musical theatre at the Leicester College of Performing Arts, Richardson also works part-time as a model.
She opened up about her sexuality five years ago on TikTok, a moment that came with its own challenges.
According to her, coming out attracted harsh bullying in school, especially from male classmates who picked on her sexuality and even her body size.
Despite that, she said her close friends and family remained her strongest support system.
Speaking after her win, Richardson said the journey has made her feel “powerful and proud,” noting that accepting herself was difficult during those years when her peers refused to do the same.
She believes visibility matters, especially for young LGBTQ people looking for someone to relate to.
In her words, seeing representation in spaces like pageantry “shows them they belong anywhere.”
The Miss England final was tightly contested, ending in a tie-breaker that relied heavily on the talent segment.
Organisers revealed on Instagram that her standout singing and dancing routine pushed her ahead of the other finalists.
Richardson admitted she didn’t expect to emerge winner.
She praised the top 12 contestants, saying any one of them was capable of taking the crown.
Her victory adds to the slow but growing list of LGBTQ milestones in global pageantry.
In 2021, South African model Lehlogonolo Machaba became the first transgender woman to contest Miss South Africa, while earlier this year, Vietnam selected Nguyen Huong Giang as its first trans representative for Miss Universe 2025.
Richardson’s win marks another step in that evolution, sending a message of courage and inclusion across the pageant world.
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