Student Who Was Bullied For Her Ginger Hair In School Is Crowned as Miss England 2022 | She Is The First Redhead To Win

Jessica Gagen was severely bullied in school due to the color of her hair. Now, she's the first-ever redhead to win Miss England in the competition's 94-year history. The 26-year-old competed against 30 other beauty queens to win the title in Birmingham on Monday evening. The honor means a lot to the Lancashire woman who revealed that she was brutally bullied at school for her copper-toned locks when she was younger. 

The bullying was so severe that students at her school would punch, spit, and even burn her because of her hair color. It took a toll on the aerospace engineering student's confidence. Now, she hopes to use her platform to spread awareness about school bullying. "Throughout secondary school, I was teased for being a redhead," she said according to Manchester Evening News.

"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. I was hit, spat at, and had things thrown at my head quite a few times, but worst was when a girl burned me for having ginger hair," she confessed. "In Year 7 I used to eat my lunch in the school toilets, because on the occasions I’d try to sit with some of the girls they’d stand up and leave me by myself. 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," the pageant winner declared.

Gagen also has another motive for entering the Miss England pageant. She hopes to inspire others to join science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). "For me, by competing in Miss England, my campaign last year and this year is to help people get girls into STEM subjects," she said. "But after realizing there has never been a redhead winner, I looked back and I was thinking there are not that many 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." "I thought if I could win this, I could empower kids who are being bullied for the way that they look and the color of their hair," the science student added. "It is nice to be able to represent the younger kids and say 'I have been through it and you can use that pain to raise your game'. Make it your superpower."

References:

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/bullied-burned-having-ginger-hair-25292852

Representational Cover Image Source: Getty images | milorad kravic