The search is on to find the next Miss England finalists, with the first five contestants now confirmed for the North West Beauty Awards 2026.
Five inspiring women from across the region have secured their places in this year’s regional final and will now compete for one of three coveted places in the Miss England 2026 Grand Final, which takes place on 17th November 2026 at the prestigious Athena, Leicester.
Meet the first five finalists
Harley Jade Chesworth (21) – Make-up Artist from Manchester Tara Sampson (24) – Police Officer from Chorley Tabitha Bennett (21) – Fashion Student from Mere, CheshireKunwal Nadeem (22) – HR Coordinator from ManchesterLaiba Khursheed (20) – Actress from Cheshire
Top left – Tabitha Bennet from Mere , Tara Sampson from Chorley , Bottom row left Kunwal Nadeem from Manchester , Harley Jade Chesworth from Manchester and Laiba Khusheed from Cheshire
The finalists are invited to take part in a variety of challenges that make Miss England one of the country’s most unique competitions, rewarding personality, achievements and community involvement alongside confidence.
The contestants will compete in several fast-track rounds, including:
Beauty with a Purpose fundraising challenge in aid of Maggie’s , Talent Round , Bare Face Top Model make-up free online competition & Explore the Nation, showcasing the area where they live . All are invited to take part in the Miss England Sports Round after the presentation on 4th October , testing fitness, teamwork and determination!
Each challenge offers contestants the opportunity to win awards and fast-track places as they bid to secure a North West title and a place in the national final.
The Miss England organisers are continuing to search for more contestants from across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cumbria and Cheshire. Successful applicants who attend the remaining auditions will still have the opportunity to qualify for the North West final and compete alongside the finalists already announced.
The North West Beauty Awards winners presentation will take place at MediaCity, Salford, on 26th September 2026, where at least three winners will be crowned to represent the region at the Miss England Grand Final in Leicester.
At the national final, contestants from across England will compete for the prestigious Miss England title, with the winner earning the honour of representing England at the 76th Miss World competition.
Meanwhile, the current Miss England, Grace Richardson from Leicester, is preparing for the biggest competition of her life. Next month, the Performing Arts graduate will travel to Vietnam to represent England at the 75th Miss World Festival, where she will showcase her talent and her Beauty with a Purpose project, Every Drop Counts, on the international stage.
Applications for the remaining North West places are still open, giving more young women the opportunity to follow in Grace’s footsteps and begin their own Miss England journey. To apply , please apply on the Miss England website here
