When 20-year-old Grace Richardson was crowned Miss England 2025, she didn’t just win a title — she made history as the first openly gay woman to ever claim the crown.
For Grace, the moment was powerful, emotional, and something she never imagined would be possible when she came out at 15.
“It means so much to me,” she says. “I’m proud of who I am, and I’m glad I didn’t hide it during the competition.”
Grace first came out during lockdown through a TikTok video. She expected acceptance — especially at a school that celebrated Pride — but returning to the classroom brought a harsh reality.
“I was targeted a lot,” she told Pukaar. “People whispered, made comments, and once a group even formed a circle around me shouting things.”
The bullying shattered her confidence, and for years she struggled to feel comfortable in her own skin. What she longed for was someone older, visible, and proud — someone who could have shown her that being gay was something to celebrate.
“I didn’t have that person when I was younger,” she says. “So I want to be that person now.”
Grace began dancing at just three years old, and performing quickly became the place where she felt most free. Her life changed again at 16 when she joined the Leicester College of Performing Arts.
Surrounded by supportive friends and teachers, she finally felt safe enough to be herself.
“It was the most positive environment,” she says. “No one cared who you loved. They cared how you sang, danced, and performed.”
Training in musical theatre helped rebuild her confidence and gave her the stage skills that later
impressed the Miss England judges. She won the Talent Round after performing Never Enough live, accompanied by a video of her dancing — a moment she calls unforgettable.
Grace, who lives in Birstall, didn’t win Miss England on her first try. At 18, she
entered Miss Leicestershire, won the title, and reached the national final — but didn’t make the top 12. She
describes the experience as “heartbreaking.”
But she didn’t give up. She tried again, becoming Miss East Midlands 2025, earning a direct place in the Miss England top 30. Months of charity work, preparation and training followed — and this time, everything came together. On 21 November in Wolverhampton, she was crowned Miss England 2025.
“I’m honestly so proud,” she says. “And Leicester hasn’t had a Miss England since 2001, so it feels even more special.”
From the start, Grace knew she wanted to be open about her sexuality throughout the competition. Not in a headline grabbing way — just naturally, unapologetically, as part of everyday life.“
I wanted people to feel comfortable around me,” she explains. “And I wanted young people watching to see that
you can be gay and still achieve big things.”
Online messages confirmed how much that visibility mattered. Teenagers reached out to say that seeing an
openly gay Miss England helped them accept themselves.
“That means everything to me,” she says. “I took a risk sharing my story, but it really paid off.”
“After being bullied when I first came out, I really struggled with my confidence.
“If I’d seen someone in the media who represented a part of me, I think it would have helped me accept myself
sooner. That’s what I hope to do now by sharing my story. ”
Like the other finalists, Grace raised money for Beauty with a Purpose — the Miss World charity — which collectively brought in £42,000 this year. Her own initiative, Every Drop Counts, focuses on the global water crisis, sustainable fashion and plastic pollution.
She will now take the project to Miss World 2026, where she will represent England on the international stage.
“I’m not changing what I do,” she says. “I just want to do it on a bigger scale.”
Grace’s dreams don’t end with her crown, though. A lifelong performer, her ultimate ambition is to appear on the West End — or even Broadway — bringing her love of musical theatre to the world’s biggest stages.
Asked what her 15-year-old self would think of everything she’s achieved, Grace smiles.
“She’d be shocked. She would never have imagined that the thing she was bullied for would one day be something people celebrate.
“There will always be negative people who don’t agree with your lifestyle or who you are — but the reaction I’ve had has been far more positive than negative, which has been incredible.”
Grace’s win marks a meaningful step forward for the competition, signalling that Miss England is becoming more open, diverse, and reflective of real women’s lives. And she hopes her visibility helps others feel seen.
“If my story helps even one person feel more confident, then it’s all worth it,” she says.
Grace Richardson — once bullied for who she is — is now celebrated for it. And she’s ready to carry that message to the world.
