A 19-year-old Oxford student is breaking boundaries in both science and sustainability — by designing a revolutionary sanitary pad made from banana fibre.
Sidra Malik at Miss England will now represent Oxford in the final
Sidra Malik, who recently won the Wellness Innovation Award in the BIEA STEM competition, is now proudly representing her hometown as Miss Oxford in the Miss England 2025 National Final, where she plans to showcase her passion for sustainability in the competition’s popular Eco-Fashion Round.
Sidra’s award-winning design was inspired by the need to find environmentally friendly solutions to everyday products. The sanitary pad she developed is made from banana fibre — a natural, highly absorbent, and biodegradable material — providing a sustainable alternative to plastic-based pads that contribute to landfill and microplastic pollution.
“I have a deep passion for sustainability,” said Sidra. “The climate crisis is more prominent now than ever before, and I believe businesses and individuals should work in harmony with the environment to reduce harm rather than escalate it. My design offers an eco-friendly solution that’s not only better for the planet but also creates opportunities for developing countries to benefit from banana fibre production.”
Unlike conventional pads that take hundreds of years to decompose, Sidra’s innovation can be washed and reused multiple times or safely disposed of without damaging the environment. Banana fibre is widely available in developing nations, offering new possibilities for ethical trade and sustainable income.
Sidra’s next creative challenge will be at the Miss England Final on 20th & 21st November at The Grand Station, Wolverhampton, where she will enter her design into the Eco-Fashion Round, transforming waste materials into something beautiful and purposeful.
“Carrying out this project was so rewarding,” Sidra said. “I got to explore how science and creativity can help solve global problems. Now I want to bring that same energy to the Miss England stage — proving that beauty and sustainability can go hand in hand.”
Miss England Director Angie Beasley added:
“Sidra represents exactly what Miss England stands for — intelligence, innovation, and a Beauty with a Purpose. Her idea is inspiring, and it’s fantastic to see young women using the platform to promote sustainability and women’s health in such a creative way. I wish Sidra the best of luck with her invention and in the Miss England final”
Sidra on the catwalk at Miss England – photo by Alan Strut
For more information, visit www.missengland.info or follow @missenglandcontest on Instagram and TikTok.
