Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Social worker hopes to become first British-Indian Miss England

by LAUREN CODLING

A SOCIAL worker in the running to become the first British-Indian Miss England has said she hopes the opportunity will help her to empower women from different backgrounds.


Neha Dhull, 23, was crowned Miss Kent in April and will be competing in the Miss England semi-finals next month.

Her hope is to use the opportunity to make a change in society.

“With Miss England, it is about being a role model and empowering young girls,” Dhull told Eastern Eye in central London earlier this month. “I’m a social worker, I’m a feminist and I believe in safeguarding children, so I want this platform to talk about it.”

Dhull, currently living in Oxshott, Surrey, also highlighted how her own cultural background

and heritage meant she would be able to reach out to ethnic minority communities and better understand their views.

The Miss England pageant was founded more than 65 years ago. In 2016-17, more than 10,000 contestants aged between 16 and 26 competed for the title across the country in online heats and regional finals.

It is the only contest in the country to send its winner to Miss World. The current Miss World holder is Manushi Chhillar, who represents India.

Previous Miss World winners include Bollywood stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra. Both have since established themselves in the entertainment industry but have also made efforts to focus on philanthropy projects.

Dhull said she cites Chopra as a role model as they have similar motivations to help

with charitable projects. Knowing Miss England promotes charity work was an incentive for the Kent-born model to compete as she hoped it would give her more opportunities to get involved.

Previously, Dhull has taken part in two 10 km Santa-Dash runs for Great Ormond Street

Hospital; organised a fashion show for mental health charity Mind; and also participated in

events for cancer support charity Penny Brohn UK.

The competition has also allowed Dhull to get involved with the Beauty with a Purpose

charity, a humanitarian project associated with Miss World.

The Miss England competition has been labelled as misogynistic by some critics.

However, Dhull is keen to change the perception of the contest.

“Since getting involved, I know Miss England isn’t like that – it is about being a role

model,” she said. “People shouldn’t be under a misconception. It is about who you are.”

A self-confessed feminist, Dhull remarked how lucky it was that so many women were out there doing amazing things in all different fields.

“It is so inspiring to learn from all of them,” she enthused.

Remarking on the recent sexual misconduct accusations, including the Harvey Weinstein case which inspired the #MeToo movement, Dhull said although a lot still needed to be done, progress is being made.

“I feel right now, it is the year of women – they are standing up and talking about their rights,” she said. “With the way things are going, change will happen.”

In the run-up to the semi-finals, Dhull is working hard juggling her day job as a social worker and organising charity events and activities for the community. Having initially

only told her parents and best friend about Miss England, she revealed she is nervous

about the competition as more people are now aware of her participation.

However, she is most excited about the response of her parents to her success.

“Seeing them happy and proud of me has been the biggest thing,” she said. “I am who I

am because of my parents. They have always encouraged me to do what I want to do.”

More For You

Trump

Trump said the suspect had been arrested earlier for 'terrible crimes,' including child sex abuse, grand theft auto and false imprisonment, but was released under the Biden administration because Cuba refused to take him back.

Getty Images

Trump says accused in Dallas motel beheading will face first-degree murder charge

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has described Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, the Indian-origin motel manager killed in Dallas, as a “well-respected person” and said the accused will face a first-degree murder charge.

Nagamallaiah, 50, was killed last week at the Downtown Suites motel by co-worker Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, a 37-year-old undocumented Cuban immigrant with a criminal history.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer Mandelson

Starmer talks with Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador's residence on February 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Getty

Starmer under pressure from party MPs after Mandelson dismissal

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer is facing questions within the Labour party after the sacking of US ambassador Peter Mandelson.

Mandelson was removed last week after Bloomberg published emails showing messages of support he sent following Jeffrey Epstein’s conviction for sex offences. The dismissal comes just ahead of US president Donald Trump’s state visit.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nepal’s new leader pledges to act on Gen Z calls to end corruption

Officials greet newly-elected Prime Minister of Nepal's interim government Sushila Karki (R) as she arrives at the prime minister's office in Kathmandu on September 14, 2025. (Photo by PRABIN RANABHAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Nepal’s new leader pledges to act on Gen Z calls to end corruption

NEPAL’s new interim prime minister Sushila Karki on Sunday (14) pledged to act on protesters’ calls to end corruption and restore trust in government, as the country struggles with the aftermath of its worst political unrest in decades.

“We have to work according to the thinking of the Gen Z generation,” Karki said in her first address to the nation since taking office on Friday (12). “What this group is demanding is the end of corruption, good governance and economic equality. We will not stay here more than six months in any situation. We will complete our responsibilities and hand over to the next parliament and ministers.”

Keep ReadingShow less
UK secures £1.25bn US investment ahead of Trump’s visit

US president Donald Trump and UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer arrive at Trump International Golf Links on July 28, 2025 in Balmedie, Scotland. (Photo by Jane Barlow-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

UK secures £1.25bn US investment ahead of Trump’s visit

THE British government has announced over £1.25 billion ($1.69bn) in fresh investment from major US financial firms, including PayPal, Bank of America, Citigroup and S&P Global, ahead of a state visit by president Donald Trump.

The investment is expected to create 1,800 jobs across London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Manchester, and deepen transatlantic financial ties, the Department for Business and Trade said.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nearly 150,000 join anti-migrant protest in London as clashes erupt

Protesters wave Union Jack and St George's England flags during the "Unite The Kingdom" rally on Westminster Bridge by the Houses of Parliament on September 13, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Nearly 150,000 join anti-migrant protest in London as clashes erupt

MORE THAN 100,000 protesters marched through central London on Saturday (13), carrying flags of England and Britain and scuffling with police in one of the UK's biggest right-wing demonstrations of modern times.

London's Metropolitan Police said the "Unite the Kingdom" march, organised by anti-immigrant activist Tommy Robinson, was attended by nearly 150,000 people, who were kept apart from a "Stand Up to Racism" counter-protest attended by around 5,000.

Keep ReadingShow less