A Mill Hill woman who scooped top prize in a beauty competition has used her platform to raise awareness of domestic abuse.
Rehema Muthamia, a domestic abuse victim herself, has earned a place in the Miss England final after she won the Miss All African Colours category earlier this year.
The 25-year-old has chosen to raise money for Women's Aid and hopes other female victims will be able to identify with her.
She said: "I thought I could use the platform to reach out to women that I know or those who would identify with me and let them know that you can experience it but still come out the other side and still thrive."
Rehema is fundraising by walking 37km over seven days around London, starting on April 21 to raise awareness for the grassroots federation.
The finalist has already raised £260 for Women’s Aid whilst in the Miss All African Colours heat.
Having graduated in September 2020 from Sussex University with an integrated master’s in the field of genetics, Rehema won the Miss All African Colours heat in February this year.
She said: “I was always interested in the glitz and glam of beauty pageants growing up but never saw myself represented, there aren’t many women of colour in the competition.”
The category was created to increase representation of minority ethnic women in the competition and gave her a place in the Miss England Final.
Rehema continued: “The response has been incredible, I am the first winner in this particular heat so I feel elated, the whole experience has been very surreal.”
The final of Miss England will be hosted on June 24 in Coventry’s Conference & Event Centre.
The owner of The Heart of England Conference Centre Stephen Hammon said: “I am really excited to be the venue hosting the Miss England 2021 finals.
"We’re dedicated and passionate about events and are pulling out all the stops to add that sprinkling of magic and extra ‘wow’ factor to an already incredible event.”
The main winner of Miss England 2021 will be invited to represent England at the 70th Miss World final which is currently planned for Puerto Rico, South America.
Here is the link for the 37km walk Rehema will be doing to raise money for Women’s Aid: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RMuthamiaBWAP/2.
Rehema is also fundraising for the Miss World Beauty with a Purpose Charity and will be doing a 300ft bungee jump in mid-May before skydiving 10,000ft in early June. To donate visit: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RMuthamiaBWAP/1.
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