A student who was bullied for having ginger hair has now become the first-ever redhead to be crowned Miss England.
Jessica Gagen, 26, managed to beat 30 other beauty queens and win the final of the prestigious pageant held in Birmingham on Monday evening. The model and aerospace engineering student has taken the title of being the first-ever redhead to win the prestigious award.
It comes after Jessica revealed her difficult journey of reclaiming her self-confidence following her difficult teenage years at secondary school where she was severely bullied. During school, bullies would punch, spit and even burn her because of her hair colour.
She also had things thrown at her head, which resulted in her beginning to eat her lunch in the toilets while trying to escape the abuse. However, Jessica's confidence blossomed after she signed up to a modelling agency.
Following Monday's competition at the Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport, Jessica has now silenced the bullies and said she was determined more than ever to win. "Throughout secondary school, I was teased for being a redhead," Jessica, originally from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, said.
"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.
"I was name-called on the daily, and although I don’t think the kids were being malicious in doing so, there were definitely times they were. I was hit, spat at and had things thrown at my head quite a few times, but worst was when a girl burned me for having ginger hair.
“In Year 7 I used to eat my lunch in the school toilets, because on the occasions I’d try to sit with some of the girls they’d stand up and leave me by myself. I used to get really upset about it all, but I’m determined to show kids who are facing the same thing that it won’t happen forever."
She added: "There has never been a redhead win the title before. For me, by competing in Miss England, my campaign last year and this year is to help people get girls into STEM subjects.
"But after realising there has never been a redhead winner, I looked back and I was thinking there are not many that redheads on TV.
"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.
"I thought if I could win this, I could empower kids who being bullied for the way that they look and the colour of their hair. I'm the only redhead in family so I'd always been looking for somebody who kind of understood the bullying through school.
"It is nice to be able to represent the younger kids and say 'I have been through it and you can use that pain to raise your game'. Make it your superpower."
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