The Miss England 22 Semi-Final was held on Monday 22nd August at the 5 star hotel Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences in London.
40 girls were invited to compete in this qualifier after thousands applied with only 16 places to the grand final being won. The prestigious event consisted of a pre-judging introduction round in smart daywear, followed by a catwalk dressed in evening wear.
The final catwalk was hosted by Miss England 2015 singer/songwriter Natasha Hemmings, just back from a tour with Ronan Keating, and Jordan Williams, a former Mr England winner who is also a singer.
It took place against a stunning gold sequin gold backdrop created by Solar Air Sequin Walls, that also provides backdrops for Britain Got Talent.
MAKE UP FREE WINNER!
Melisa Raouf (20), who had the courage to enter the competition completely make-up-free, was amongst the semi-finalists, earning a place in the Miss England finals. She had previously won the London heat of Miss Bare Face round, an award sponsored by Cetuem Cosmetics, a natural skincare company based in London.
Melisa says “we see so many filtered images of girls wearing a ton of make-up circulating on social media. This creates unrealistic beauty standards. That’s why I chose to participate in the Miss England semi-finals make-up free. By ditching make-up we can embrace our natural beauty. Our flaws make who we are and that’s what makes every single individual unique”.
There were six judges in total on the judging panel, chaired by Mehrnavaz Avari Area Director UK & General Manager of TAJ 51 BUCKINGHAM GATE SUITES AND RESIDENCES. Rehema Muthamia, current Miss England, celebrity photographer Alan Strutt, celebrity hairdresser Dar Barot and Datsa Gale, founder of Solar Air Sequin walls, were the other judges in addition to Andria Vassiliou from Cetuem Cosmetics.
The 16 contestants pictured above in the courtyard at the Taj 51 Buckingham Gate, are
- Paige Loren Cannon James – (18) from Liverpool is the Dentakay Dental ClinicBrightest Smile Semi-final winner
- Melisa Raouf –(20) a University Politics student at Kings College- London and winner of the Cetuem Bare Face Top Model award
- Neha Dhull – (27) the new Surrey -Winner of Miss Talent with her Bollywood dancing who is a Law Graduate & Child Social Worker
- Anita Sahar – (21) A Biomedical Sciences graduate- from Manchester
- Corel Jo Antwhistle –(21) , a fine art student from Newcastle who wants to join the police
- Amrita Saund (26) the new Miss Birmingham Specialist Pharmacist Critical
- Tia Carter (20) crowned Miss Leicestershire 22 for the 3rdtime – who works as a receptionist and now sponsored by the Linda Mary Clarke award in the contest.
- Komal Mahal (23) was the Public vote winner and received over 17k votes on the Miss England app – Komal is an Application Support Analyst from Leicester
- Alice Jones ( 26), a paramedic crowned Miss Black Country From Walsall
- Leah Carter Welch -(21) a sports science student from South London
- Lida Nasari – (26) who works in public relations from Mayfair, who won the Publicity Queen Award
- Pagan Lilley (26) from East Ham was the top fundraiser in the contest after raising over £3,000 for Papyrus and Beauty With a Purpose. She’s an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Consultant and Business Founder and did a sky dive as part of her fundraising in the lead up to the competition.
- Alanta Richards (16) – a student from Farnham in Surrey
- Rafaela Kennedy – (19) a Musical Theatre Performer from London
- Ava Whetstone Majee (16) a model and business owner from Hinckley
- Gabby Murphy – (25) a student from Lincoln
Almost £9,000 was raised between contestants using the Miss World Ethos Beauty with Purpose, and Papyrus, a young suicide prevention charity .
The 16 winners now join other Miss England National finalists to compete for the Miss England crown and a place in the 71st Miss World later this year
The organisers would like to thank Pak Cosmetic Centre for gifting all the semi-finalists, Cetuem Cosmetics and Artero Hair Tools for gifting skincare products and hair tools to the contestants, and FAB UK Magazine for being the media partner for the event.
Photographer: Paul Winstone