A 26-year-old student who was cruelly bullied n school over her naturally ginger hair has become the first redhead to claim the Miss England title.
Jessica Gagen beat 30 other beautiful contestants to take victory in the final of the pageant.
This comes after she endured bullying in school, including being spat on, punched, and even burned because of her hair.
Jessica was forced to eat her meals in the toilets as she was subjected to hurtful name-calling and objects thrown at her.
But her confidence slowly grew after she was signed up by a modeling agency.
Jessica, who is studying for an integrated master’s degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Liverpool, overcame her past by taking to catwalks all over the world. Last year, she entered Miss England and was runner-up in the grand finals.
She has silenced her bullies as she claimed the title of Miss England 2022 held at the Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport.
“Throughout secondary school I was teased for being a redhead,” Jessica shared.
“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.”
Jessica believes it is “important to educate people about what redheads face in school.”
“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,” she went on.
“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 revealed that she is the only redhead in her family and she was “always looking for somebody who kind of understood the bullying through school.”
“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,” she added.
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