Meet Miss England 2022! Aerospace engineering student, 26, who was bullied in school over her ginger locks becomes the first redhead to be crowned at the beauty contestAn aerospace engineer who was bullied for her ginger locks in school has become the first redhead to be crowned in Miss England’s 94-year history.

Jessica Gagen, 26, beat 30 other beauty queens to take the title at the final of the prestigious pageant held in Birmingham.

Her victory comes after overcoming school bullying in secondary school – including being punched, spat on, and even burned – all because of her naturally ginger locks.

Jessica signed with multiple agencies and started modelling internationally at 18 and will now compete on the world stage representing England.

She revealed that while her campaign both this year and last was to get girls into STEM subjects, the experience made her realise the importance of empowering girls who look like her.

‘I looked back and I was thinking there are not many that redheads on TV,’ she said. ‘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.

‘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.’

Jessica signed with multiple agencies and started modelling internationally at 18 and will now compete on the world stage representing England.

She revealed that while her campaign both this year and last was to get girls into STEM subjects, the experience made her realise the importance of empowering girls who look like her.

‘I looked back and I was thinking there are not many that redheads on TV,’ she said. ‘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.

‘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.’