Pearl Sanders-Ellis Crowned a We Do Ethical Iconic Legend at Miss England Semi-Final 2026 

The joint youngest contestant in the recent Miss England semi final has been recognised for her creative recycling skills .  

Pearl Sanders-Ellis, from Market Harborough  aged 16, has been awarded the Miss England semi final prestigious We Do Ethical Iconic Legend award held at Melton Theatre wearing a Vivienne Westwood inspired creation she created herself. 

Photo of Pearl at the Miss England semi final wearing her winning outfit by Andrew Mee at Moments by Mee

Her achievement recognises the importance of ethical values and creativity, qualities that Pearl demonstrates through her personal commitment to recycling by creating an iconic outfit from reused shirts!  

All 38 contestants competing in the Miss England semi final where given a brief to create an outfit made from recycled materials from wedoethical.org and wear the outfit on stage and Pearl won the award for being the most stylist and iconic! .  

She sourced the outfit buy purchasing 4 shirts from Vinted for a couple of pounds per shirt. The shirts were then cut up into sections and reworked to create a dress and corset style top based on the iconic design handwriting of Vivienne Westwood. The outfit was then finished off by styling it with shoes and accessories that were already in her wardrobe.

Pearl said “ Winning the Eco Award means so much to me because I have a real passion for textiles, fashion and the creativity that goes into making garments and I truly believe in what the eco round represents and I want to show that sustainable fashion can still be stylish and  fashionable. Every item I have worn  throughout the competition was either second-hand or  reworn, and I’ll be continuing this into the finals. For me, it’s about showing that we don’t always  need something new to create something special, and that we can make sustainable choices without compromising on style or looks “  

Standing at 5ft 6in, and sponsored by This Modern Existence, a fashion and design consultancy, Pearl has already shown that being a role model is about more than appearance; it is about highlighting the importance of recycling and saving the environment.  

Pearl’s Sponsor said “We are proud of being able to support Pearl through the Semi-Final and its fantastic that she won the Ethical fashion round as this is something close to our business. We are so pleased with her achievement that we will also be sponsoring her in the final of the competition.”

Another one of the most inspiring aspects of Pearl’s story is her decision to donate her long hair multiple times to The Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides real-hair wigs to children and young people who have lost their hair, often through cancer treatment or other medical conditions. 

Although Pearl loves having long hair, she has repeatedly chosen to part with it to support those who need it most. For her, the decision is a small personal sacrifice that can have a lasting and positive impact on someone else’s life. 

Speaking about her hair donations, Pearl said: 

“I really love having long hair, but in the past I’ve chosen to donate it multiple times to The Little Princess Trust. It’s really important to me to be able to help others in a meaningful way, and knowing that my hair can be used to create wigs for people who have lost theirs makes the sacrifice worthwhile. I think it’s a small thing I can do that has a positive impact on others, and it reflects my want to support and care for others.” 

Pearl’s actions reflect the spirit of the We Do Ethical Iconic Legend award, celebrating individuals who demonstrate that true influence comes from empathy, generosity and a  willingness to put others first. Her dedication to supporting people experiencing hair loss highlights how even a personal gesture can help restore confidence and bring comfort to someone facing difficult circumstances. 

Her success at the Miss England Semi-Final marks an exciting milestone in her journey. Having secured her place at the next stage of the competition, Pearl will now go forward to compete at the Miss England National Final on 17 November 2026 at the Athena in Leicester. 

As she prepares for the national stage, Pearl carries with her a message that resonates far beyond the pageant world: creativity can make a big difference, and everyone has something they can give to help others. 

Her achievement is a celebration not only of her success within Miss England but also of the values she represents — compassion, generosity and the importance of using personal choices to create a positive impact. 

For more details of Pearls sponsor visit their website by clicking the logo below

To vote for Pearl in Miss England please visit 

https://missengland.1voting.com/