candidatas a miss universe great britain 2024. final: 6 july.

hannah

Tonight we bein the much anticipated, eagerly awaited countdown to the Miss Universe Great Britain 2024 final ….with the announcement of our first finalist!
Welcome Hannah …. an international Taekwondo champion who has flown all over the world representing her country taking home many golds. Hannah won her ticket to compete in Rio at the Olympics in 2016, however she was unable to reach her goal as she was blessed with her first son and took a step into motherhood. Hannah is a mother of three children and believes being a mum is the most important role she has ever had.
Hannah is currently on her second degree after already completing her teaching degree in 2015 in physical education and school sport and is currently studying midwifery. One of Hannah’s biggest passions is helping women, and ushering babies into the world. In 2020, Hannah raised funds for Women’s Aid to help women who suffer from domestic violence as she is a survivor herself.
Hannah works closely with Little Lady Locks, a charity which creates quality natural hair replacements to boost the mental wellbeing and confidence of girls undergoing medical treatment as she believes that nothing should stop a young girl feeling beautiful.

haleema t ali.

Introducing Miss Universe Great Britain finalist Haleema. Her journey is a testament to resilience, compassion, and unwavering determination. At 24, she has already made significant strides in the medical and care field, starting her impactful career at 17. Currently on the verge of completing her midwifery degree, she has dedicated herself to serving others, embodying kindness and empathy in every interaction. Haleema’s accomplishments extend beyond her academic pursuits; she has been a pillar of support for individuals from diverse backgrounds, always going above and beyond to ensure their well-being. Her dedication to enhancing maternal health worldwide shines through her ambition to pursue a master’s degree in the field, with the aim of strengthening healthcare in marginalised regions. Despite her busy schedule, Haleema finds time to indulge in her passions for fashion and art, finding solace and inspiration in creativity. Yet, her true fulfilment comes from making a positive impact on people’s lives, serving as a role model for the women in her family and beyond. As she prepares to compete in the Miss Universe GB competition, Haleema brings with her not only her achievements and accolades but also a genuine spirit that resonates with people worldwide.

afoluke adedapo.

Afoluke, 31, is from Middlesbrough and excels in financial services as an auditor. With a master’s in financial services management and a professional accountancy qualification, she brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Beyond her professional acumen, Afoluke is passionate about music and photography. She dedicates significant time to community service, co-launching Miss Black History Northeast to empower young women. Additionally, she serves the Welsh community through the Sub Saharan African Advisory Panel.

Afoluke launched “My Hair Project,” an online journal encouraging people to embrace their hair as they choose. Her multifaceted contributions underscore her commitment to positive change.

paige ashton.

Paige Ashton is 29 years old, from Watford and a proud Black British Caribbean woman.

She is a woman in finance working as a manager within Sales Compensation focused on five areas in Europe for a leading international IT company. Whilst exceeding expectations in her roles, she is also a champion of fundraising and diversity & inclusion. In 2019 she was chairwoman for a team that raised over £335,000 for The Prince’s Trust. She helped create a Black Employee Resource Group in the UK in 2020; co-leading the Retention and Development area, running past sessions on breaking unconscious bias, and is currently creating a microaggressions session for Europe.

Outside of work Paige is very passionate about Mental Health and advocates for preventative education for Children and Young People’s (CYP). As someone who lives with and has overcome depression, she has become HSO’s Charity Ambassador; a local charity working with schools to support and empower all CYP across the UK who are at risk of poor mental health. Paige also works with a local councillor to get businesses and charity groups to talk about mental health in the community and has talked on panels across London and the UK on her mental health journey. She stays active through attending Pilates classes or going to the gym to let off steam and keep fit.

annabella avelina.

Annabella, 27, is committed to helping end homelessness. She has raised money for DV homeless shelters, worked with homeless people to help them find housing and has been a victim of homelessness herself so she knows what it’s like to feel out of place. As a Miss Universe Great Britain finalist, she would like to use the platform to extend her hand in empathy as she knows what it feels like to be marginalised and out of place in society

After working in several commercial law firms in her early 20s, at the age of 26, Annabella decided to re-invent herself and live life on her own terms. She became completely independent and self-sufficient, and despite struggling with homelessness, she is proud to have worked three jobs to provide for herself. Annabella used her earnings to launch her own fashion-business online platform. By moving away from a traditional 9-5 job, she learnt all about the difficulties of running her own business. In just one year, Annabella worked with leading brands and was recognised by Forbes 30-under-30 companies. While starting her own business was daunting on-top of facing acute homelessness, it taught Annabella about resilience, will and determination. Outside of her business, Annabella is also an enthusiastic rower and has won several rowing competitions.. As a multi-lingual and mixed-race woman, she uses her diverse background to help connect with people all around the world.

ella baker-roberts.

Ella is a 28-year-old sound engineer currently working in the West End. As a woman in a male dominated industry, Ella has made it her mission to inspire the next generation of female sound engineers whilst ensuring they know how to effectively protect their mental wellbeing alongside it. Ella uses her podcast “Mentali-tea” to discuss with women across all backgrounds, age groups and diversities about the importance of mental wellbeing and what we can do to preserve it whilst achieving our dream lives.

Ella also is heavily involved with educational technical talks used to inspire young women to join technical theatre. She is also an active union member fighting for the right to ensure work conditions conducive to mental health and wellbeing. Particuarly focusing on women. Afterall, we’ve taught women to have it all. Now why not make sure they’re well enough to enjoy it?

mariam bakre.

Mariam is a 29 year old Go to Market Specialist at one of the world’s largest Telcos, who empowers generations of women to know the true value of their voice. As an immigrant child in school, Mariam’s experience with systemic racism forced her to take control of her narrative- and being vocal was a huge part of that. Being a two time graduate (BSc & MSc) from Queen Mary University of London, through her job and 15+ years of charity work, Mariam has grown into a confident communicator. Alongside working as the brand lead for Vodafone UK’s Gender Equity Network, Mariam coaches ethnically diverse women through her Sọrọ (Yoruba for ‘Speak’) with Mariam workshops on personal branding, interview and public speaking skills. She is of the belief that when you own your voice, you own your narrative and with that, you can own any room you walk or catwalk into.
An interesting fact about Mariam is that despite her fear of flying, she has visited every continent in the world apart from Oceana and South America.

fatima ben.

This evening we welcome Miss Universe Great Britain finalist Fatima - a London born native of Tunisian and Moroccan descent who holds a degree in Electronic Engineering with Management from King’s College London. Her professional journey includes working as a journalist for the Financial Times focusing on investment funds, pension funds and sustainability. She has pursued research at the University of Oxford’s Oxford Net Zero department, focusing on carbon disposal through carbon offsets and innovative carbon capture and sequestration methods. In her free time, you will find her immersed in anything self-development related, getting a good pump at the gym, reading, painting or in a Muay Thai class. Her love for scuba diving and modest fashion has led her to launch her own modest swimwear and athleisure brand which caters to women who embrace modesty while leading an active lifestyle. Fatima is a vocal proponent for social mobility and women in STEM having spoken at numerous events including the House of Lords, Labour conference, Warwick Business school, amongst others. Having experienced mental health challenges herself, Fatima is an advocate for mental health awareness in her community and believes in integrating faith with therapy and exercise. Tickets are on sale now for our 2024 final on Saturday 6 July! Visit the link in our bio to purchase yours and enjoy the biggest night in British pageantry!

charlotte sophie brooke.

Charlotte is a dynamic advocate known for her passion for fundraising and raising awareness for crucial causes. She has spearheaded numerous successful campaigns, notably focusing on cervical health, environmental conservation and sustainable fashion.

Her drive stems from her extensive travels to over 50 countries and her considerable background in the modelling industry, where she witnessed firsthand the diverse challenges facing communities worldwide. Through these experiences, she gained invaluable insights into effective strategies for creating positive change.

Her dedication to cervical health advocacy led to a partnership with the leading cervical cancer organisation in the UK, increasing awareness and support for screening and prevention programmes. Furthermore, she leveraged her expertise in sustainable fashion to promote eco-friendly practices and launched her own business in this sector.

Her achievements extend beyond fundraising, as she actively engages in education to inspire individuals to take action in their communities. Charlotte’s multifaceted approach and global perspective make her a formidable force in the realm of social impact and philanthropy.

She is currently training to become a yoga instructor where she can turn a long life passion into a career and carry on living a life that promotes inner peace and the protection of the planet.

ophelia charles.

Ophelia Charles is a multi-dimensional 29-year old woman who is committed to defying both odds and stereotypes. Despite severe illness and against advice she achieved three top A levels. Despite suffering from dyslexia, Ophelia also has three degrees. M. Ed Behaviour Management, BA Hons Acting, and PGCE Secondary Physical Education. Despite being told she would never walk again she became a PE teacher and runway model.

Ophelia uses her experiences demonstrating unwavering resilience to inspire young people. Her passion for raising the aspirations of young girls underpins everything she does. From her long-term goal of opening an academy for students with behavioural difficulties and those on the school-to-prison pipeline to her current boots on the groundwork delivering workshops in schools, colleges and youth groups developing confidence, resilience and raising aspirations.

Ophelia is dedicated to fighting for children in a system that hasn’t. Using her masters to find less intrusive interventions for students, committing to keeping students in school at all costs.

As well as her platform “voice matters” encouraging young people to find their voice, develop public speaking skills and find their inner confidence, Ophelia has taken her passion for young people into her full-time job; now working for LoudSpeaker - the largest growing youth organisation in the UK after realising we need to be proactive not reactive when it comes to saving young people.

leen clive.

Wife. Mother. Refugee. Miss Universe Great Britain finalist, Leen, is a British Arab proudly showcasing the rich diversity to be found within Great Britain.

Leen Clive was a Grade A student in Damascus, Syria, with her sights set upon being a doctor. Through her hard work she was achieving her dream.

Then…. war broke out and her life changed forever.

In 2013, Leen arrived in Great Britain as a refugee with just a small bag of clothes, she did not speak English and she knew nobody. Devastated but not defeated, she had to start again. So, she did what she does best, she studied.

Leen is now finishing her second medical degree, she aspires to become a surgeon. She fell in love and married a British man, together they have a 3-year-old daughter.

Leen is a TV presenter, social media influencer, runway model and mental health champion, using her platforms to reach a diverse, international audience advocating for empowerment and equality.

Leen Clive is a dynamic and inspiring figure. She is honoured with the role of Goodwill Ambassador for Women and Children, working with governmental and charitable organisations in 22 countries.

Leen’s participation in Miss Universe GB highlights the importance of embracing and celebrating diversity and she provides a shining example of the positive impact refugees can have in their communities. First image by @danilatimerphoto

angel jasmine.

iss Universe Great Britain 2024 finalist, Angel, is a proud mixed white and black Caribbean woman with heritage from Barbados, France and Ireland. Graduating with a law degree from St Mary’s University in 2015, Angel was the first in her family to go to university. She is passionate about helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds get into the legal and finance industry and empowering women to gain senior leadership positions. This is demonstrated in her career as a senior associate at a global leading consultancy where she supports FTSE 100 & Private Equity clients with building diverse C-Suite teams. She spends time mentoring colleagues in Manila and was recently part of a team that raised £13,500 for The Prince’s Trust as part of their Million Makers initiative. She supported this by creating a company thrift shop. Angel supports miscarriage and domestic violence organisations and is keen to create more awareness for these charities close to her heart during her Miss Universe Great Britain journey. Growing up as national level track and cross-country athlete, Angel is a keen advocate for health and wellbeing. She is currently creating an online platform to support women with their confidence, wellbeing & fitness journey. In her free time, she loves to travel and experience different cultures as well as spend time with her family and friends.

elma daku.

Elma is a highly dedicated individual with a diverse background, and describes herself as determined and brave. At just 19-years-old, she moved alone to the UK, developing a strong passion for empowering women and young women to endure hardships. Holding three citizenships as a British, Italian, and Albanian citizen ,she embraces her multicultural background and fosters a deep appreciation for travel and diverse cultures. Elma recently graduated with honors, earning a BSc in biomedicine from the University of London and is currently pursuing a MSc in Entrepreneurship while working in a dental practice. Her professional journey began in the hospitality sector, where she honed her multitasking skills and work ethic while undertaking a full-time degree.

Driven by a desire to make a difference, Elma actively engages in volunteer work. In April 2022, she provided medical assistance to slum communities in India and launched a fundraising campaign, generating £800 to support a post-COVID medical volunteering program. Her aspiration for the future is to utilize her experience and background to provide aid to individuals in need, believing that even helping a single person represents an enormous achievement.

Elma enjoys jumping rope as a cardio routine in her free time, sharing her passion for learning new tricks and inspiring young women that it is possible to work out, be in shape, and have fun at the same time.

melissa dewar.

Melissa is a 26-year-old businesswoman and a distinguished graduate of Cambridge University. She is the founder of two businesses; The Modernists and Rescued. The Modernists is a business that unlocks London’s private members’ club network. This innovative platform connects individuals with inspiring places, people, and communities, granting members access to a global network of private members’ clubs tailored to their interests and goals.

As a young child, Melissa was a victim of Parent-Child Abduction (where a parent takes their child without another parent’s consent). Through a long rescue process, Melissa was eventually rescued and taken back to the UK. Since then, Melissa has been driven by a desire to raise awareness of this cause and founded her second business, Rescued. Rescued is a not-for-profit platform that provides support to individuals affected by Parent Child Abduction. Their volunteers can provide the following support; emotional support, advice and encouragement. Melissa is an advocate for a Parent-Child Abduction charity called Reunite. She is a distinguished public speaker on this issue and is due to complete a TEDx talk in July on this topic.
Melissa’s unique story and advocacy will truly inspire those who hear it and empower them that life has incredible challenges which can be overcome through strength of mind.

evanjelin.

Miss Universe Great Britain finalist, Evanjelin, is a full-time model with an adventurous spirit, always ready to embrace new experiences. At 19, she pursued her passion for acting and theatre by enrolling in a prestigious acting academy in Toronto, Canada, this was a unforgettable experience for Evanjelin as she got to live aboard and inevitably gain a new outlook on life.
In 2021, she took her commitment to social causes a step further by founding Climate Exchange Art - a charity dedicated to educating young people about climate issues through art. The organisation has since grown to support single mothers who have experienced domestic abuse, helping them build and sustain small businesses. Her work has not gone unnoticed; she has been honoured with an award from parliament for her contributions.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought a new passion into Evanjelin’s life - cooking. This interest led her to study nutrition to better understand how food can enhance our health and well-being. She hopes to inspire others to prioritise their health, believing that a healthy lifestyle is key to living life to its fullest. Evanjelin’s journey is a testament to her belief in the power of art, education, and well-being. Tickets are on sale now for the grand final! To grab yours follow the link in our bio.