Miss England 2025 Grand Final Judges

Judge No. 1 – Mel Thomas QPM

Mel Thomas QPM

Mel Thomas QPM retired in 2021 as a Sgt and Acting Inspector with Leicestershire Police after a distinguished 30 years career.

During that time he worked on major events such as the Commonwealth Games, 2012 Olympics and the football  Premier Championship winning season of Leicester City, which resulted in the Champions League coming to Leicester.

Following his retirement he was awarded a Queens Police Medal in the late HRH The Queens final birthdays honours list for his services to the community, the organisation and for raising nearly £450,000.00 for a number of charities.

Mel is an avid supporter for groups and individuals involved in reducing violence and abuse against women and girls having supported a number of individuals and groups in the sector.

He is an ambassador of the BBC Make A Difference community awards and is in waiting to be the first black High Sheriff of Leicestershire in 2026.

You’ll see Mel the BBC ground hunter on the TV Series Hunted and Celebrity Hunted on Channel 4 More 4 He is an ambassador of the BBC Make A Difference community awards and is in waiting to be the first black High Sheriff of Leicestershire in 2026.

Judge No. 2 – Carina Tyrell

Dr Carina Tyrrell

Dr Carina Tyrrell is a former Miss England and Miss UK. She is a Cambridge University physician scientist, and was featured on the front page of the Times for developing the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID vaccine. Carina invests as a venture capitalist, including to the President of Samsung. She advises and sits on the boards of health and technology companies, is a Fellow at Cambridge University, and sits on the board of an NHS hospital Trust.

Judge No. 3 – David Dresser

David Dresser

Afrose Ameen

Judge No. 5 – Andrew Minarik

Andrew Minarik

 

For more than over a decade Andrew Minarik Has been Head of Hair Make-Up and Wardrobe for Miss World, heading the styling team for contestants around the world

Andrew’s flair for hairdressing and eye for artistry have long been part of his family heritage — his mother Patricia founded the family salon 48 years ago which now continues as
Minarik Hair Mkup Total Image in Kibworth Harcourt Leicestershire since

His pageant journey began in 1993, when he first met Angie Beasley, becoming the official hair partner for her regional Miss England contests. The collaboration soon grew, leading to national partnerships and ultimately international work with the Miss World organisation, where Andrew became a trusted creative force behind the global event’s signature looks.

Over the years, Andrew has worked with leading industry brands Internationally such as Clynol and Sexy Hair, Indola , QVC ETC ETC serving as a spokesperson and educator at major international conventions and exhibitions. Known for his professionalism, artistry, and warm personality, Andrew continues to inspire new generations of stylists while maintaining his roots in Leicestershire.

Judge No. 6 – Mila Walenda

Mila Walenda

 

Mila Walenda is a creative director and media entrepreneur with a visionary outlook. Mila studied at Fashion University New York and graduated from Veronika Lemle’s exclusive “FashionProducer” course in 2022. In 2021, she also successfully completed the “International Photo Model” program. Her photographs have been published in renowned magazines such as Gmaro and Mvibe, even landing her on a magazine cover. As the head of Eight Partners Ltd, Mila specialises in high-quality television productions, digital content, and international broadcasting projects. Passionate about storytelling and innovation, she develops projects that merge fashion, culture, and entertainment. Mila is also the driving force behind Mila & Sal, a growing media brand, and is actively exploring new television opportunities for a global audience. Her dedication to inclusivity and creativity makes her a sought-after voice in media and fashion.

Judge No. 7 – Georgia Meacham

Georgia Meacham

Georgia Meacham is a Model, Actor and Deaf Advocate whose inspiring journey perfectly reflects the values of empowerment and authenticity at the heart of Miss England. With over a decade commanding runways from London to Paris Fashion Weeks, Georgia has collaborated with some of the world’s most renowned brands, including L’Oréal, Stella McCartney, H&M, ASOS, and most recently collaborating with Apple. Acting is Georgia’s true passion, already appearing on the big-screen with credits including Wonder Woman. Born deaf and a proud hearing aid user, Georgia has become a powerful voice for inclusivity and accessibility. As an Ambassador for RNID, the UK’s largest Deaf charity, she continues to break barriers and inspire others to embrace their differences with pride.  A passionate vegan and animal welfare supporter, Georgia promotes compassionate living, firmly believing in “being kind to all kinds.” A frequent Parliament attendee and speaking on women’s health, she is dedicated to driving important conversations. Her presence on the Miss England panel brings a fresh perspective, celebrating women who lead with kindness and purpose. 

PC Rani Gundhu QPM who started work with West Midlands Police MP in the 1980s

PC Rani Gandhu

Having served for nearly 40 years, Rani’s dedication to the force was recently recognised with a lifetime achievement award for her incredible work in driving diversity and supporting communities.

Rani has extensive experience working in numerous roles and departments including vice, serious complex crime, major public events, CID, domestic violence, PR, Recruitment, Learning and Development, major incident rooms, Response and Neighbourhood, amongst others. She continues to move with the times and is now a positive action co-ordinator, supporting others on their policing journey and will be offering special mentoring programs to Miss England finalists in the future.