As conversations around identity, belonging and modern Britishness continue across the country, Miss England contestant Lisa Austin believes the women representing England should reflect the diversity of the communities shaping it today.
Raised in Wembley as the daughter of immigrants, Austin says she grew up rarely seeing women from backgrounds like hers associated with luxury, media or national representation. Now, after placing First Runner-Up in the 2025 Miss England final, she is returning to the competition with her sights firmly set on representing England at Miss World.
“I’m proud to be British and I’m proud of where I come from”
Austin says.
“To me, representing England means representing all of the stories, communities and experiences that make this country what it is today.”
Austin’s journey to the national stage has been shaped by both hardship and ambition. After losing her father during university, she used modelling to fund her education after being scouted on a bus. She later went on to work with major luxury brands and publications, including Gucci, entering an industry she says once felt completely out of reach.
Lisa is the founder of Because I Can, a social impact initiative dedicated to improving representation and access for young people from underrepresented communities, particularly within the media and creative industries. The project has already reached more than 37,000 people and aims to create long-term pathways for young people who often feel excluded from the industries shaping culture and public perception.
“I didn’t want to just be the exception”
she says.
“I wanted to help create systems so more people from backgrounds like mine can access opportunities that once felt impossible.”
As she prepares for her 2026 Miss England return, Austin is redefining what modern pageantry and modern Englishness can look like.
