In the early days of Miss England and Miss World, the competitions, aimed at women, were broadcast on TV as a mainstream family event. However, with the rise of social media and the internet, the competitions have continued to thrive even though they are no longer televised in the UK. Despite this, Miss World remains one of the top 10 global TV audiences and will soon celebrate its 72nd birthday.

The focus of Miss World is on “Beauty with a Purpose,” a concept championed by Julia Morley, the CEO of Miss World. Julia Morley was honored with the Variety Humanitarian Award in 2016 and received a CBE in the 2022 Birthday Honors list for her charitable and voluntary work for disadvantaged people in the UK and abroad. The Miss World competition raises millions of pounds globally each year, with most national competitions supporting good causes in their own countries. In 2024, the Miss England finalists raised over £42,000 for Balls Against Cancer and Beauty with a Purpose.

Angie Beasley, the dynamic director of Miss England, is based in Leicester. Drawing from her event organising expertise with Mecca Leisure in the 1980s, Angie took the helm of Miss UK in 1996, orchestrating and promoting heats nationwide. After a brief break in 1998 to welcome her son, she returned with renewed vigour, becoming the director of Miss England in 2002. Her leadership shone through as she hosted the first Miss England final at the iconic Liverpool Olympia.

Angie who was invited on Good Morning Britain and the ITV Lorraine Show after she banned the swimwear round for good in 2023 said, “I started off as a contestant myself in the early 80s, despite having zero confidence and no experience on stage whatsoever. Little did I know it was the start of a lifelong career for me!  In 2021, I celebrated 40 years involvement with this business. It’s changed over the years, it’s no longer the swimsuit parade it once was.”

In 2007, Angie Beasley introduced the Ethical Fashion round to promote recycling and inclusivity. “This round was specifically designed to support contestants who couldn’t afford expensive dresses,” Angie explains. This cause is particularly dear to her heart, as she never owned new clothes until she was 14. “As the eldest of six kids, my parents couldn’t afford new clothes. We always shopped at second-hand stores or received pre-worn clothing from family and friends.” The Eco round has since become a contest highlight, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with WeDoEthical.org. Milla Magee was crowned their 1920s fashion queen, as contestants created 1920s-themed outfits with a travel motif. The event was held at The Grand Station in Wolverhampton, a former train station, adding a touch of historical charm to the occasion.

Another popular round in Miss England, created by Angie Beasley, is the Bare Face contest, introduced in 2019. Angie appeared on BBC1’s Breakfast TV show to discuss the harmful effects of social media perfection and to promote natural beauty through this makeup-free round. In 2022, the Miss England contest made global headlines when Melisa Raouf, the winner of the Bare Face round, chose to walk the final catwalk without any makeup. Melisa now has a dedicated following on Instagram under the hashtag #barefacetrendmovement.

Discover more on the Miss England App, available for free download from Google Play or the App Store.

For more details visit www.missengland.info

Miss England Social media handles:

• Facebook – Miss England Contest
• Instagram –  @missenglandlimited
• X  @missenglandnews