Miss England 2022 is a former bullied aerospace engineering student with ginger hair

Jessica Gagen, a 26-year-old aerospace engineering student from Lancashire, has made history by becoming the first-ever redhead to win the prestigious Miss England crown. Despite facing relentless bullying in school for her copper-toned tresses, Jessica outshined 30 other beauty queens at the glamorous event held in Birmingham this week. Her remarkable victory has shattered beauty standards and sparked a campaign to empower kids who face bullying for their hair color.

Jessica endured teasing and name-calling as a child due to her red hair. “Throughout secondary school I was teased for being a redhead,” she revealed. “I didn’t mention it much during last year’s competition as I’m a big believer in leaving negativity in the past, but with there never having been a red-haired Miss England, I feel it’s important to educate people about what redheads face in school and empower kids who are facing the same things I did.” Jessica’s experiences included being hit, spat at, and throwing things at her head. The worst incident was when a girl was burned for her hair color.

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Despite the bullying, Jessica’s determination and talent led her to be signed by multiple modeling agencies at 18, and she went on to walk on international catwalks. Her success in the Miss England pageant was about winning a crown and using her platform to push for further interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, especially for girls. “For me, by competing in Miss England, my campaign last year and this year is to help people get girls into STEM subjects,” she expressed. Jessica believes being a redhead in a prominent position can inspire and motivate other kids facing bullying for their appearance.

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Jessica’s victory in Miss England 2022 is a historic moment as she is the first-ever redhead to win the title in the pageant’s 94-year history. Her win challenges conventional beauty standards and promotes inclusivity and acceptance of all hair colors. “I think it would be so good if there could be somebody in that kind of position who is a redhead. Even last year there wasn’t one redhead in Miss World,” Jessica stated. Her success has brought attention to the underrepresentation of redheads in the media and empowers kids to embrace their uniqueness.

 Image Credit: SWNS.

Jessica’s journey from being a victim of bullying to becoming Miss England inspires kids who face similar challenges. She wants to use her platform to empower kids to turn their pain into a superpower. “I thought if I could win this, I could empower kids who are being bullied for the way that they look and the color of their hair,” Jessica expressed. She believes kids can use their experiences to raise confidence and excel in their chosen paths. Jessica’s message to younger kids is to embrace their uniqueness and use it as a strength to overcome bullying.

Jessica Gagen’s win as Miss England 2022 has made history and sparked a campaign to empower kids facing bullying for their hair color.