Aerospace Engineering Student Who Was Bullied For Her Red Hair Crowned Miss England

Jessica Gagen, is an aerospace engineering student who is studying for an integrated master's degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Liverpoolbeat, beat 30 other beauty queens and was crowned Miss England 2022 at the final held in Birmingham.

Jessica faced bullying during her school days for her ginger hair in school and now she has become the first redhead in history to win the Miss England crown.

SWNS

This is the first in the pageant's 94 years of history. 

The 26-year-old from Skelmersdale, Lancashire shared that the bullying was so bad that the kids at school used to call her names, punch her, spat at her, and even burned her. People threw things at her and she was forced to eat her school dinner in the toilets to escape her classmates.

SWNS

According to Birmingham Mail, she said:

Throughout secondary school I was teased for being a redhead. 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 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.

SWNS

Gagen's confidence returned to her when she started signing modeling contracts with agencies and started her modeling career internationally at 18 following her A-Levels.

She then went on to participate in Miss England and was the runner-up in the grand final last year and now the redhead beauty has shared the reason behind participating in the pageant:

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.

SWNS

She added:

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.

SWNS

She continued:

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.

After winning her Miss England title 2022, she will go on to represent UK at Miss World and hopes to 'educate people' about what 'redheads face in school'.

SWNS