Aerospace engineering student becomes first redhead to be crowned Miss England
Get ready to meet the aerospace engineering student who also happens to be the first redhead crowned as Miss England.
Jessica Gagen, 26, was relentlessly bullied at school for being ginger; she was called names, punched, and burned because of her incredible locks.
Now, she's regained her confidence and rose to the top of the pageantry world yesterday (18 October) to be crowned Miss England 2022.
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The ceremony took place in Birmingham and saw Jessica become the first red-head Miss England in the competition's 94-year history.
She will now go on to represent the UK at Miss World and hopes to 'educate people' about what 'redheads face in school'.
Explaining her past harassment, the Lancashire native 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 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."
There were even times when Jessica was forced to eat alone in the loos and the 'worst was when a girl burned [her] for having ginger hair.'
"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," Jessica said.
Now, she splits her time between modelling for high fashion brands like Moncler, studying aerospace engineering, and campaigning to get more girls into STEM.
"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."
The Miss England title holder has also raised over £6,000 for local charities and even ran in fancy dress for 96 consecutive days around Liverpool, earning her the title: Fancy-Dress Jess.
Here's hoping she wins Miss World!
Shola Lee