Miss England finalist becomes first in pageant's history to compete without makeup

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Written by Jacqui Palumbo Toyin Owoseje, CNN

A Miss England finalist has become the first ever beauty queen to compete without wearing any makeup in the pageant's nearly century-long history.

Melisa Raouf, a 20-year-old college student from south London, moved forward at the pageant's semifinals on Monday after opting for a barefaced look. Now, she'll compete in the finals this October for the crown.

"It means a lot to me as I feel many girls of different ages wear makeup because they feel pressured to do so," Raouf said in an interview with the UK's Independent newspaper.

"If one is happy in their own skin we should not be made to cover up our face with makeup. Our flaws make us who we are and that's what makes every individual unique," she added.

Melisa Raouf will compete in the Miss England final in October. Credit: Kam Murali

Raouf said that, though she started wearing makeup at a young age, she decided to eschew tradition for the pageant.

"I never felt I met beauty standards. I have recently accepted that I am beautiful in my own skin and that's why I decided to compete with no makeup," she explained in the interview.

In May, Raouf posted a selfie on Instagram from the "bare face" round of the competition, writing that she was "embracing blemishes and imperfections."

CNN has contacted Raouf for further comment.

Melisa Raouf says she is "embracing blemishes and imperfections." Credit: Kam Murali

Angie Beasley, director of Miss England, told CNN in a statement on Friday: "We introduced the Bare Face Top Model round in 2019 as most contestants were submitting highly edited images wearing lots of makeup and we wanted to see the real person behind the makeup."

According to organizers, Raouf plans to go bare-faced again at the national final in October.

"We wish her the best of luck in Miss England, it's a very brave thing to do when everyone else is wearing makeup but she's sending out an important message to young women," Beasley added.

serenidade on August 27th, 2022 at 14:44 UTC »

To those of any gender who want to wear makeup, who enjoy the way it looks or feels--more power to you. I can't stand the way it feels on my face, and I'm terrible at applying it. Haven't worn makeup but a handful of times in 40+ years (mostly for theater).

As a teenager, a few people said to me "You're never going to find a boyfriend if you don't wear makeup." I thought that whole premise was absurd. And you know what? I don't want to be with someone who doesn't like how I look au natural. Been happily married almost 15 years to a partner who can't stand the look or feel of makeup either.

BitcoinMD on August 27th, 2022 at 13:55 UTC »

The beauty equivalent of “I can beat you with one hand tied behind my back”

caresforhealth on August 27th, 2022 at 13:48 UTC »

She should win, she is gorgeous without.