A forklift truck driver and mum of two from Bristol who achieved her dream of becoming the first openly lesbian Ms Great Britain is now setting her sights on the Miss World International tiara. Emma-Jay Webber, who was victorious in the 31-44 age category of the Miss Great Britain National Final in October, has spoken to Bristol Live about the pride and pressure of representing her country and the LGBTQ+ community at the global competition, which will be held in Miami this August.
Emma has been competing in pageants since 2016 after her marriage broke down and her self-esteem sank. She has been picking up plaudits and breaking down preconceptions ever since, but despite being a pro on the pageant circuit, the significance of her involvement in the Florida final is not lost on her.
She said: “I feel like I have a greater responsibility than I have done in previous competitions. To win Miss Great Britain was amazing. But to go to the world stage, to a place world where last year passed the ‘don't say, gay bill’ and to be competing, to be openly gay, it's a little bit daunting.
“But it just feels like this is a time for me to take a stance and do something about it.”
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It’s a year since the sunshine state passed controversial legislation known as the “don’t say gay” bill, which prohibits discussions in schools about sexual orientation and gender issues. Already in 2023, US legislators have introduced 385 anti-LGBTQ+ laws at the state level, more than the past five years combined and just last week, Tennessee governor Bill Lee ratified laws that restrict drag shows and ban gender-affirming care for trans youth in the state.
Emma said: “I'm a little bit apprehensive about the reaction I will get out there. But you know, I'm a big brave girl. l I can't be anything else but myself, and I feel like I'm the right person for this job.
"It is a really serious matter at this time, and I'm going to be taking my family with me. It's incredibly important for them to see mummy on stage, saying, ‘it's okay to be our family,’ regardless of what this legislation is trying to tell us.
"The Miss World International organisation are pro-celebrating unique women worldwide. I wouldn't have been given the title if they were not supportive of my background and LGBTQ+ rights. So feel safe and secure that they've got my back."
Emma says that one of the best parts of being Miss Great Britain is having a bigger platform for raising money and awareness for causes close to her heart, including LGBT+ Switchboard. Although many people view pageants like Miss World international as superficial, Emma says the idea that these competitions are just about physical beauty couldn't be further from the truth.
She said: "In terms of body positivity and female empowerment in pageantry, the word is slowly getting out there. But we have taken over with girl power. It's about sisterhood and presenting the best version of yourself.
"The fact that we are all different shapes, colours, skin tones, and backgrounds, it's celebrating each individual woman on that stage, rather than comparing them or trying to pick a winner.
"It's an amazing thing to be a part of. It's really powerful to be in that room with all those incredible women, and I feel honoured to be alongside them."
At her day job, Emma says she feels similarly lucky to be surrounded by supportive colleagues as well as a fair bit of banter. She said: "I get a lot of banter because when I'm at work, I am in my boots, my high vis, normally covered in dust from lifting heavy flooring. But I give as good as I get. They find it funny more than anything, going from forklifts to Miss World. It couldn't be any further apart."
Emma-Jay will be competing at Miss World International from August 20-24, 2023, in Miami Beach, Florida.
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