Leicesters own Grace Richardson, the reigning Miss England, is preparing for the biggest performance of her life so far as she leaves the UK this week to represent England at the 75th Miss World Festival in Vietnam this month.
The Birtstall talented singer, dancer and actress, who recently graduated in Performing Arts at the LCPA Leicester , is hoping to impress the judges in the prestigious Miss World Talent competition by showcasing her passion for the performing arts. Grace has long dreamed of a career on the West End stage and hopes that competing at Miss World will be another important step towards making that ambition a reality.
Grace secured the Miss England 2025 title by the narrowest of margins, winning by just one point after delivering a breathtaking performance of Never Enough from The Greatest Showman during the Miss England national talent final.
Since being crowned, she has been invited to perform at a variety of prestigious events across the UK and internationally, entertaining audiences at schools and colleges, the Royal Thai Embassy, and even London & the world-famous Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane.
” I dream of performing on the West End stage or becoming a dancer on a cruise ship – thats my ultimate goal” said Grace. ” Miss World gives me an incredible opportunity to showcase my talents on the world stage and I can't wait to sing and
dance in Vietnam.
As part of her preparations for Miss World, Grace has also completed a remarkable personal journey by transforming her smile with the help of Dr Sonal at S Dental & Aesthetics in Kibworth.
Despite being terrified of visiting the dentist in the past, Grace attended a series of appointments with Dr Sonal Mandalia as part of her Miss England journey.
“Having only had a few months to get Grace’s teeth ready for the Miss World competition while she faced her fears in the dental chair, Grace has been an absolute pleasure to work with.” said Sonal.
“We created a bespoke plan for Grace which was minimally invasive and tailored to her needs as Miss England. For her lower teeth, a short-term alignment with a brace was carried out. She overcame her fear of needles for her upper teeth where a heavily broken tooth was extracted and a bridge was placed. A retained baby tooth was camouflaged with composite bonding to
blend with the rest of her smile. Finally, professional whitening was completed.
Despite her dental anxiety, Grace has been willing to try new things and trust the process. I am very proud of her and the progress we have made. Watching her confidence grow has been wonderful, and we are delighted with the results.
Everyone at S Dental & Aesthetics wishes Grace the very best of luck! “
Grace with Dr Sonal Mandalia at Sdental.care
Now Grace feels her confidence has grown and her smile is transformed ready for the 75th Miss World competition , taking place in Vietnam and said I used to be so frightened of going to the dentist, but Sonal made me feel
completely relaxed from my very first appointment. I actually began looking forward to going and seeing Sonal and her team! absolutely delighted with the results” .
With just days to go before flying to Vietnam with Vietnam Airlines, the official travel partner for
Miss England & her Miss World journey, Grace and Miss England Director Angie Beasley are putting the finishing touches to the wardrobe she will take for the month-long international festival.
Grace revealed she will also be packing a glamorous showgirl costume for the dances of the world showcase a particular scene she is looking forward to in the global show which will see over 100 countries participate.
Miss England Director Angie Beasley explained that sustainability still remains a key part of
Grace& preparation.
The striking red showgirl outfit Grace is wearing was kindly loaned by the Ann Oliver School of Dance, where Grace trained. The school is also helping Grace prepare her Miss World talent costume .
Graces Beauty with a Purpose “Every Drop Counts” project focuses on water conservation and recycling, which is very relevant in this current drought we are in .
It has been important to Grace that as many of the outfits she takes to Vietnam as possible are either recycled or created from sustainable fabrics. The main Miss World evening gown is even being designed by Paris couture designer Thierry
Pietu of Pietu Couture using partially recycled materials.
Just a day before flying to Vietnam, Grace will take part in one final official photoshoot as Miss England, wearing the breathtaking couture gown created especially for her by hand by Thierry Pietu of Pietu Couture. The exquisite dress has been handcrafted exclusively for Grace using recycled fabrics, perfectly reflecting her Beauty with a Purpose campaign and commitment to sustainability. The special photoshoot with award winning photographer Stu Williamson Photography at Boss Studios will mark the final chapter of her Miss World preparation .
Following her return from Vietnam, Grace will be performing at the Miss England semi final at Melton Theatre and finally crown her successor at the Miss England Grand Final at The Athena, Leicester, on 17th November 2026. To celebrate the end of her reign, Grace is planning a spectacular finale performance alongside fellow students and graduates from the Ann Oliver School of Dance, bringing together her passion for pageantry and the performing arts.
To follow Grace’s journey and the competition at the 75th Miss World Festival, visit www.missworld.com.
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