A Miss England finalist who made headlines as Britain's 'bare faced top model' has shared a powerful message about authenticity and self-acceptance aimed at a generation of young women.
A Bold Statement on the National Stage
Paige Loren, the 21-year-old reigning Miss Liverpool, took to the Miss England catwalk in November completely free of makeup. The young model, who ultimately placed eighth in the competition, described the experience as deeply empowering. She is now determined to use her platform to challenge unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated online.
"I have young cousins who look up to me. Even my seven-year-old niece knows all about fillers, makeup and filters on social media," Paige revealed. "I want to try and change the narrative, and I believe it starts with social media."
Promoting Realistic Beauty Standards
Paige, who has won international beauty pageants in "full glam" attire, stated her decision was a conscious choice to celebrate natural beauty. "Teenage girls should feel empowered to go makeup free and post realistic images and accept themselves for who they are," she urged.
She elaborated on her experience, saying: "It was empowering as the judges saw the real me. I've competed in pageants all over the world wearing full glam: lashes, contour, glitter — the lot. But this time, I wanted to show up as me. No glam. No filter. Just confidence."
Despite initial nerves upon seeing other contestants prepare with makeup, Paige felt a profound sense of freedom walking onto the main stage. Her act makes her only the second competitor in the pageant's near 100-year history to appear at the final without makeup, following Melisa Raouf in 2022.
Beyond Beauty: A Message of Inclusivity
The insurance worker and qualified personal trainer also used her national platform to discuss her personal journey with dyslexia, diagnosed during her college years. "It wasn't until college that I was diagnosed with dyslexia — and honestly, it was such a relief. I finally understood myself," Paige explained.
She hopes her story will inspire confidence in others facing similar challenges. "Dyslexia doesn't hold you back - it just means you learn differently. Now I want to help others feel confident in their own abilities too," she affirmed.
For Paige, the makeup-free statement was a celebration of her authentic self. "It was simply me choosing to show up as myself — nothing more, nothing less," she concluded. "If even one girl saw me on the Miss England stage and feels braver about her own skin — then I've already won."
