Miss England’s First Openly Gay Contestant Shares Her Journey of Overcoming Bullying After Coming Out in Pageant Interview
Grace Richardson.
Credit:
Alan Strutt at www.missengland.info
NEED TO KNOW
- Grace Richardson has been crowned Miss England 2025, marking a historic moment as the competition’s first openly gay titleholder.
- During the interview portion of the competition, she spoke candidly about her sexuality, expressing confidence in her choice to do so.
- Richardson will represent England at the Miss World pageant in 2026.
Grace Richardson, a 20-year-old from Leicestershire, made history on November 21 when she was crowned Miss England, the first openly gay contestant to win the title. Currently in her final year as a musical theater student, Richardson is preparing for her next challenge: representing England at the Miss World competition next year.
Richardson embraced her identity throughout the pageant, openly discussing her status as a lesbian. She noted in an interview with the U.K. newspaper The Times that while she had considered how much to share about her sexuality during the contest, she ultimately felt it was important to be open, saying she “didn’t think twice about talking about it” in her interview.
Grace Richardson.
Alan Strutt at www.missengland.info
Reflecting on her journey, Richardson revealed that she began questioning her sexuality around the age of 14. “I wasn’t like other girls. I didn’t have crushes on boys,” she explained, attributing her realization to a conversation with her best friend, who suggested she might be attracted to women.
During the pageant, Richardson shared that her sexuality has posed challenges, particularly during her school years, where she experienced bullying after coming out. She recounted a period of severe backlash when returning to school post-pandemic, emphasizing her desire to convert negative experiences into positive conversations. “When I was asked in my interview ‘Have you faced any challenges?’ I wanted to talk about it,” she stated.
Praising the evolution of the Miss England competition, Richardson contested any notion of sexism within the pageant. “At Miss England, we took out the swimwear round and instead we did a no-make-up round. Seeing the confidence radiating from all the girls was beauty to me,” she noted.
As she prepares for the Miss World stage, a platform that includes participants from countries where being openly gay can be perilous, Richardson expressed confidence in the support she has received. “I know the Miss World organization is supportive,” she commented, recalling encouragement from the Miss England organizers: “They said, ‘Well, you’re proud of yourself and we are proud of you.’”
