Grace Richardson: Why I refused to hide my sexuality from Miss World

Miss England Grace Richardson has opened up about why she chose not to hide her sexuality while competing in the prestigious beauty pageant competition. The Miss England 20-year-old, who is the first openly gay woman to win the competition, taking the title in November, features on The Independent’s Pride List 2026. Richardson says she chose to come out to the judges at Miss England because she wanted to be her authentic self rather than worry about outside opinions. However, she admitted there were concerns about competing at Miss World, as the competition could have been held in a country where her sexuality may not have been accepted or even legal. Grace said: “For me, choosing to be my authentic self was the only way forward. I I had won and had to hide it, I don’t think I would have been as proud of myself as I am now.”

Raccontata daindependent.co.uk