Darcey Corria, from Barry, has made history as the first woman of colour to be crowned Miss Wales in the 2022 pageant. The 21-year-old was crowned the winner in the ceremony in Newport on Sunday, May 8. Darcey is the first person of colour to be crowned Miss Wales in the competition that has been running for 70 years. She is active in campaigning for black rights, having been involved in the Criminal Justice in Wales Anti-Racism Delivery Plan called Together Stronger.
Darcey has also volunteered for Race Equality First, helping people from ethnic minorities integrate into the community through health and fitness. In her biography for Miss Wales, she explained how she hopes to continue to work towards equality for all ethnicities in Wales and empower the women of Wales to chase their dreams.
The Miss Wales 2022 competition was Darcey’s second attempt at the crown, having competed in 2019 and placed second runner-up. Darcey, who has a white mother and a father of Jamaican heritage, said: “I’m absolutely elated to win and feel so grateful to be Miss Wales 2022. I want to thank my friends and family and everyone who supported me along the way. I’m so excited to see where this journey takes me but more than anything I feel privileged to be the first woman of colour to hold the Miss Wales title.
“I would like to see more diversity on the Miss Wales stage in the future and I want to use my year to inspire more girls like me to know that they can be Miss Wales or anything else they want to be. Growing up, I didn’t see girls who looked like me in the media. I want to show little girls from the BAME community can realise that they too can take up space and have their dreams come true.”
Zoe Scrimshaw, 24, from Chepstow was awarded the first runner up, and Catrin Harries, 19, from Bridgend, was awarded the second runner up.
The other finalists were:
Abbie, 19, from Caldicot
Abigail, 22, from Swansea
Alys, 18, from Newport
Carys, 18, from Crickhowell
Ellie, 21, from Cardiff
Ellie-May, 22, from Cwmbran
Emma, 23, from Cardiff
Gabrielle, 35, from Caerphilly
Jasleen, 24, from Cardiff
Jaz, 20, from Chepstow
Jess, 21, from Caerphilly
Jessica, 23, from Conwy
Liberty, 19, from Brynmawr
Lilly, 18, from Chepstow
Mia, 21, from Port Talbot
Rebecca, 24, from Merthyr Tydfil
Tanwen, 21, from Cardiff
The competition works as the Welsh qualifier for Miss World, "the largest and longest-running pageant on the planet". In the run up to the event, Darcey and the other finalists were tasked with fundraising for Beauty With A Purpose, the Miss World charity which helps disadvantaged children worldwide.
Paula Abbandonato, director of Miss Wales, said: “I am thrilled for Darcey. She has made history and should be so proud. I hope her win will inspire other young women of colour from across Wales to know that they are valued and that they are wanted in our competition – and that they can win.
“Standing on the Miss Wales stage is not the easiest of things. There is an interesting psychology to it because so many young women will think they aren’t ‘good enough’ – and by standing on that stage you are challenging that mentality. My message to young women – from any background – is to go for it. Dreams do come true.”
