On September 29, 2023, the Miss England organization staged the very first makeup-free regional preliminary competition for the title of Miss London. The pageant was hosted at the magnificent Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences in London, and this one-of-a-kind event stressed the beauty of natural looks without the use of any cosmetic treatments. The pageant challenged the conventional beauty standards that have been in place for a long time.
Natasha Beresford, a dental nurse from London who is 26 years old, took the lead in this movement and was ultimately elected the first-ever winner of the makeup-free version of Miss London.
Beresford first started working in the dentistry sector in 2021 at the Royal London dentistry Hospital, although she was born and raised in Sheffield. Because of her tireless efforts in Project Tooth Fairy, which offered dental care to children while they were under the influence of general anesthesia, she was given the endearing moniker of “real-life tooth fairy” when she was working there. After some time, she relocated to the Chiswick location of a private dental practice clinic.
Bereford’s dedication to serving her community shows clearly, even in the shadow of her impressive professional accomplishments. She served with the nonprofit organization Dentaid in Uganda throughout the month of September 2022, providing dental care to over 1,300 people who were in need of it.
A spot in the final round of the Miss England competition, which will take place in the spring of 2024, may be earned by competing in the Miss London pageant. Additionally, there will be no makeup allowed at any point throughout the event, and the focus will be on natural beauty and gorgeous hair.
On the Miss England website, contestants were expected to provide a picture of themselves without any visible makeup. After being chosen, contestants subsequently took part in many phases of the competition, such as auditions, a semi-final photoshoot, and the final catwalk, all of which were held without the use of any cosmetics.
The origins of the Miss England pageant may be traced all the way back to 1928. During its early years, the pageant’s primary emphasis was on outward attractiveness. On the other hand, as social mores and values changed through time, so did the requirements for entering the tournament. The Miss England pageant has a long and illustrious history of producing victors who have gone on to compete and win in the Miss World pageant, which is widely regarded as being among the most prestigious international beauty pageants.
“I cannot express how honored I am to have been chosen as Miss London. Beresford stated that it was an honor to be picked since all of the other contestants are so lovely and very motivating. “It was an honor to be chosen,”
She continued by saying, “I find my job to be really rewarding, and over the years I have worked in the NHS, as well as private and urgent care dental practices,” as she reflected on the fact that she had a strong enthusiasm for the work that she did. “For the future, I would like to do further training in dental radiography and oral health education.”
The pageant also highlighted a wide range of competitors, each of whom had their own distinctive background and list of accomplishments. Afrose Ameen, an engineering wunderkind who is now 23 years old and hails from Lewisham, was one of the many outstanding and varied applicants. Ameen’s accomplishments are not limited to the pageant stage; she made important contributions to the design and construction of the Elizabeth Line on the London Underground. Her participation in such a major infrastructure project demonstrates both her passion to her career and her capacity to overcome boundaries in an industry that is mostly controlled by males.
Temi Adeyemi, a 26-year-old woman from Enfield, Middlesex, was another competitor who stood out from the crowd. Adeyemi exemplifies the contemporary woman’s capacity to succeed in a variety of professions thanks to the fact that she works as an accounts assistant during the day and as a model during the evening. Not only did her participation on the pageant stage highlight her attractiveness, but it also highlighted her many abilities as well as her savvy in the corporate world.
Alanta Richards, a Surrey native who is now a student of beauty treatment and is just 17 years old, was a recent addition to the roster of outstanding participants. Richards radiated self-assurance and composure despite the fact that she was still a young woman. She embodied the goals of a large number of young women who want to make their mark in the fashion and beauty business. Through her involvement, the pageant demonstrated its dedication to provide a stage to women of different ages and stages of their careers.
Their narratives and accomplishments brought to light the pageant’s commitment to diversity, which celebrated the many varying aspects of beauty and success that can be found in women all around England.