Beauty contests have been a sort of cultural staple around the world for decades now, with young women showcasing their talents and looks in order to be given the victory crown.
Though these contests still take place, it seems some contestants are working to shake it up a little, like one woman who competed in the Miss England semi-finals with no makeup on whatsoever.
Melisa Raouf, a 20-year-old politics student, shocked judges when she came on stage during the competition's semi-finals with no makeup on.
This is the first time in Miss England's 94-year history that a contestant has chosen not to wear makeup.
She says her choice was to promote the concept of inner beauty within this highly social media-focused era.
In an interview with The Independent, she said, "It was quite a daunting experience but so amazing to win this way. It means a lot to me as I feel many girls of different ages wear makeup because they feel pressured to do so."
Her bare-faced appearance was sponsored by Cetuem Cosmetics, and with her natural beauty alone, she made it to the final round.
"Our flaws make us who we are and that’s what makes every individual unique," she said.
"I’ve had so many girls message me telling me how I've made them feel more confident in themselves," she explained, "With mental health being such a big topic, I want to make all girls feel good. I just want to remove all the beauty standards. I feel like all girls are beautiful in their own way."
She's already shared that she intends to compete in the finals without makeup as well. Should she win, she said she "would love to use my Miss England platform to empower natural beauty and eliminate this toxic mindset."
The finals take place on October 17, and we'll be cheering Melisa on!
h/t: LAD Bible
