To celebrate Lancashire’s Miss England winning the Miss World Europe title and being the highest ranked contestant from the UK at the 71st Miss World in Mumbai India, Jessica Gagen was presented with a new blue tiara and Miss United Kingdom sash at the recent Miss England Semi Final.
Kreative Bakes a bakery in Leicester , presented a cake to Jessica, complete with a tiara with mum and dad Paul & Lesley Gagen proudly by her side having supported Jessica throughout her Miss England journey.
This all took place on stage during the Miss England semi final held at Viva Blackpool which Jessica co-hosted with Mezzo soprano singer Sophie Clarke.
The Miss England semi finalists waved England flags as Jessica made her dramatic entrance to the stage.
44 women from all walks of life & from across England were invited to compete in a series of qualifying rounds leading up to the Miss England Semi -final followed by a catwalk and interview round at Viva Blackpool.
The Women who are students studying law, physics, history an archaeologist , a prison officer , an acrobat, singers , dancers , a former young mayor and generally women wanting to made the world a better place to live in.
A Beauty with a Purpose fundraising round, Public vote, Talent, & a FAB UK PUBLICITY competition & Bare Face Top Model & Explore the Nation round (when contestants promote their own areas on a PowerPoint presentation) & the top award the Watermans Gorgeous Hair round were the top awards in the contest.
Jessa Pliskin (22) sponsored by Just Earn raised over £1,000 for charity is doing a masters degree in Physics at Bristol University won the top award called the Watermans Gorgeous Hair Award .
Rebekah Watkins (26) an Archaeologist from Goole in Yorkshire who builds Community Heritage projects with her own charity project Dream Heritage promoted her town in the ETN round , and WON the talent round when she played the Saxophone with her own dad singing Gerry Rafferty’s classic song Baker Street on stage at the event .
Rebekah Watkins
Kayla Riley (18) a Touch of Bliss beauty salon owner who also takes care of her disabled brother from the Wirral won the Public Vote.
Agnes Perez (26) , a digital marketer for KEMPPI from Bedfordshire made her own dress for the contest & raised over £1200 Beauty with a Purpose fundraising round .
Modellé Hughes (20) had lots of support from the Skinbar Laser Clinic in Manchester & the Dolls House when she won the Fab UK Publicity Queen award, & spoke about how wanted to make the most of her life after being caught up in the Manchester Arena Bombing when she was 14.
Alexandra Crystal from Barnsley South Yorkshire was the youngest contestant in the contest . At just (16) Alex is campaigning to create more awareness in schools about Dyslexia, in the lead up to the semi final she interviewed Matt Hancock and the Queens royal butler about the subject which is close to her heart as both herself and her younger brother both have Dyslexia. Alex won the Inspiration award from the Miss England an award presented by the organisers.
The Bare Face make up free award went to Tiger May Millington (26) from Durham a social media manager & model who is the youngest trustee of a community centre in England .
The Explore the Nation award went to Savannah Phillips (23) an access officer, who is a Triplet promoted STAFFORDSHIRE as her home country in a power point presentation prior to the contest taking place.
The award winners were joined by the 13 judges choices from the catwalk presentation contest for a place in next months final who are ;
Melissa Butcher (24) a Prison officer from Lancaster sponsored by Jo & Cass hair & Beauty
Faye McCann (20) Longboard Dance West Sussex sponsored by O.G Crochets
Imogen (19) a Spa receptionist from West Sussex sponsored by Mr Paws Dog Grooming Service
Jordan Pritchett (25) an actress & model from London sponsored by KSL Cleaning services
Mehak Chandel (23) a special needs teaching assistant from Southall sponsored by
Melissa Boran (23) a dental nurse from Walthamstow sponsored by My Laundress
Melissa Rae (26) a medical student from Southampton sponsored by Tariq Manzils Indian Restaurant
Mia Risco Pelling (18) a gap year student from Rotherham sponsored by Manchester Private Hospital
Nina Piansko ( 26) an acrobat from Northamptonshire sponsored by NFL Space Pugs
Sienna Bates (18) a student from Nottingham sponsored by Watermans Hair
Suchita Naidu (21) a Communications officer from Hertfordshire sponsored by Naidu Chambers
Winnie Adebeyo ( 24) a software engineer from Islington sponsored by Kensington Heights Talent solutions
Judges included TV personality and designer Scott Henshall, BBC Liverpool radio presenter Claudine Hope , the runner up from Miss England 2022 Milly Everatt , Former Miss Merseyside & swimwear brand owner Ellie Wilson , fashion Photographer David Dresser and celebrity Hairdressers Jayne Taylor and Chris Dickson.
Other finalists including area heat winners from Manchester, Birmingham, London , Leicester , Lincolnshire , Liverpool Cornwall & Devon and more will also compete in the national final .
A total of 40 finalists will compete in the national final, from over 8,000 contestants who have entered over the last 18 months .
On the night a raffle was held for local STREET LIFE Charity headed by the newly crowned Miss Lancashire Amy Blyth. Other Finalists helped sell the raffle tickets for the cause which Amy is passionate about . Over £270 was raised at the event and organisers are hoping to get some funding from the Beauty with a Purpose charity from the £6,500 raised between contestants for the cause.
The chosen Miss England Finals charity for 2024 is Balls to Cancer a charity based in Wolverhampton who have now invited the contestants to raise awareness and funds for them.
The Bare Face & Explore the Nation rounds were introduced into the contest in recent years by organizer Angie Beasley, who last year banned the swimwear round after a poll in 2024 by contestants decided against it.
“The contest is much more about the girls themselves their inspiring occupations & charitable endeavours now rather than just appearance, like it used to be years ago in the old swimwear parade.
We focus on the Ethos of Miss World Beauty with a Purpose” said Director Angie Beasley.
The winner of Miss England 2024 will go forward to the 72nd Miss World next Spring.
To find out more about the top 40 Miss England national finalist competing in Wolverhampton visit this page www.missengland.info/qualifiers/miss-england-finalists/
For tickets to the red carpet final visit www.grandstation.co.uk/missengland