Milton Keynes woman bids to be the next Miss England in virtual contest

A freelance journalist and part time sales assistant from Milton Keynes is one of 14 contestants competing in an online video/photo heat for Miss England 2020.

Akosua Darko, who was bullied as a child, entered the national beauty competition because she wanted to use her experience to help others.

The 24-year-old grew up angry thinking the world was unfair and it made her defensive, but after going to the Royal Latin Sixth Form and making friends and building her confidence, she now wants to help others who are going through a similar experience.

The contest is currently being held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic and contestants are submitting videos of themselves taken at home to enter.

Akosua said: "My life hasn't been easy and I want to help girls who go through trauma as a child not go through all the pain that I went through, make all the mistakes that I did and miss out on so much life.

"So I want to work with mental health charities and psychologists to do that.

"That's why I applied for Miss England. I want girls like me who have made mistakes because of their anger to feel beautiful, strong and that life and love belongs to them.

"I do not want this to be misconstrued their anger is justified, their want for justice and a fairer world is justified and I am not advocating for anyone to feel for the people who abused them.

"I just want them to be unburdened with that weight and have the happy life they deserve.

"People often said how can someone as beautiful as me be so angry.

"The question should have been how can someone beautiful with scars not be."

Akousa was the liberation editor for her student newspaper at university and a student officer, she was also a committee member for a Black woman's charity which worked building the self-esteem of black women across the UK.

She also had her picture in parliament and the St Fagans museum in Cardiff as part of the Windrush First Waves parliament project. She has also shared her story and worked with The BULLY Project based in America.

"I was bullied from 9-16 in primary and secondary schools because of my skin colour and everything else I was.

"I had no friends, I sat myself all the time, no one wanted to sit next to me, partner with me or invite me to parties.

"Therefore I grew up angry thinking the world was unfair and it made me very defensive. I also grew up wanting revenge on my bullies.

"Luckily I went to the Royal Latin 6 form were people were more humane and I made friends and built my confidence. Nevertheless the anger never subsided I still wanted justice against my bullies.

"I want to use my experience to maybe help other people who went through similar things that I went through growing up.

"I want to help others and show them that they can get through all of it, I want them to do better."

Akosua loves to write poetry and dance, she also won motivational speaker of the year at her Sixth Form Prom.

She has already submitted her video in to the contest which is now shown on the Miss England website .

The public vote has now started and acts as one judge on the panel along with a former Miss England winner and a photographer.

Akosua needs support before voting lines close in order to win a place in the Miss England semi-final held which is also now being held as a virtual online contest.

The winner of the public vote will also be guaranteed a place in the public vote winners contest with contestants from all over the country.

All contestants who reach the semi final will be invited to partake in a Zoom call with the judges who will then select the finalists at the end of July.

Angie Beasley, Miss England national director said: “We had planned a glamorous fashion show style final at Kelham Hall with a big audience for the semi final but due to lockdown and the pandemic we had to change things around.”

Voting finishes June 19, at 12noon and the public vote will help select the shortlist of contestants for the semi final.

The contestants also have until this date to raise funds and awareness for Miss England’s Beauty with a Purpose campaign and gain support in the public vote to help them with their bid to reach the semi final of Miss England.

You can vote for Akosua by texting her unique number MISS PHOTO01 which is on the Miss England to 63333.