Emma-Jay Webber made history as the first openly lesbian Miss Great Britain finalist back in 2022. Now she’s returning to the pageant scene, this time raising awareness of domestic abuse.
Emma-Jay first stepped into pageantry in 2016 when her marriage came to an end. She describes herself back then as “a complete mess” with “no confidence at all.”
She fell into it after an internet search for ways to improve her self-esteem, then applied for Miss British Beauty Curve and went on to win the title. She had no idea that, this time next year, she’d be flying to Orlando to represent the UK at Ms Universe.
Emma-Jay rejects “outdated” ideas of pageantry as performative or for the “male gaze.”
“It’s not like the forties and fifties, women parading around swimwear and men judging. It’s modern feminism.”
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Miss Great Britain has been running since 1945, and Emma-Jay is the first finalist to openly discuss her sexuality. She decided to use her platform to champion the LGBTQ+ community after experiencing homophobia at an international pageant in 2018.
“I was with my girlfriend at the time. We were holding hands in the lobby, and you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. That horrible, hostile look, and little whispers.”
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She thinks the UK pageant scene has “become more inclusive” in terms of LGBTQ+ representation, but feels that “UK directors definitely need to push further” for equality.
Emma-Jay thinks the real issues kick in when UK titleholders go on to compete internationally, often in countries where being gay is illegal.
“If I was director of a pageant, I’d hold internationals in a country where being LGBTQ+ was accepted.”
Queerness isn’t the only part of her identity that shapes her story. She’s a plus-size model and a mother of two, and she’s vocal about how mainstream pageants “need to be doing a lot more with inclusivity” – encouraging plus-size women to compete alongside everyone else, rather than reducing them to a “curve” category.
“Why can’t they be with everyone else? They are just a standard person, just a different shape or size.”
This return to pageantry is a major moment for Emma-Jay, who stepped away from the spotlight in 2023 following domestic abuse.
She kept it as a “huge secret” for “her entire pageant career.” Competing in pageants while experiencing the abuse was “exhausting,” but pageantry also offered a form of “escapism.”
Three years ago, she ended up in a women’s refuge with her children. Rebuilding herself and finding a home became the priority. “It really affected my self-confidence and self-esteem. I thought I was done with pageantry.”
Despite feeling like there was “no way” she’d ever step foot back on a pageant stage, she’s now scheduled to represent the UK at Ms Universe in 2027. She was originally meant to compete this year, but decided to postpone her place to show up as the “strongest, most prepared version of herself.”
“I hope to represent survivors and hopefully encourage people to go and get the help and advice. Because, genuinely, I had no clue. It creeps up on you slowly.”
She’s using her platform to raise money and awareness for Next Link, a Bristol-based charity that “helped her through everything.” But Emma-Jay also credits pageantry for getting her through that period.
“I definitely owe my life to pageantry. It contributed massively to me having the confidence to get up and leave.”
As she prepares to take the stage in Orlando next year, the crown means something different. It’s not just about her confidence anymore – it’s about giving a voice to survivors and pushing the pageant industry to do better.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, you can contact Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (free, 24/7), or visit refuge.org.uk. Next Link, the charity Emma-Jay supports, can be found at nextlinkhousing.co.uk.
Nonchalant x
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Nelly is a journalist based in London, covering mostly arts, culture, social issues and feminist stories. She trained at City University of London, studying a BA in Journalism. When she’s not writing, she’s behind a camera – with a passion for visual storytelling and documentary content. Her work aims to spark important discussions and amplify voices of people that need to be heard.
