When Aliza Kanerawala was just 13 years old, her world was shattered by the loss of
her mother to stage 4 lung cancer. Her mother had never smoked, lived a healthy lifestyle, and showed no signs of illness until it was too late.
Diagnosed in June 2018 and passing just five months later, her story challenged the stigma and misconceptions around lung cancer.
“My mum was my role model, my best friend, and my greatest source of comfort. Watching her fight so bravely, yet so silently, showed me how much we need to change the way we talk about this disease,” says Aliza now aged 19.
Her mother’s passing left an unfillable silence, but also sparked a sense of purpose.
At just 13, Aliza made a promise to herself: she would use her voice to honour her mother’s strength, break the stigma surrounding lung cancer, and give hope to those who feel invisible.
From this, she created Breathe for Hope, an initiative dedicated to fundraising, education, and advocacy for those affected by lung cancer—particularly non-smokers who are often overlooked.
Now 20 years old, Aliza is a second-year film studies student going into her third
year, as well as an actor, model and advocate. She balances her academic work with
her creative passions, seeing both as a way to tell powerful stories and inspire
change. “Everything I do is a tribute to my mum’s belief in me,” she explains. “Her
words, ‘Whatever happens, happens for good’, have become the foundation I stand
on.”
Aliza will now take her story and her mission to the Miss England stage as a semi-
finalist in Wolverhampton on October 3rd.
For her, the Miss England platform
represents more than beauty—it’s about Beauty with a Purpose.
“Miss England is
about standing for something bigger than yourself. For me, it’s the chance to raise
awareness for lung cancer and inspire others who’ve faced loss to turn pain into
purpose.”
Public voting for the semi-finalists opens September 22nd on the free Miss England
App, where supporters can place one free daily vote. The winners of the VOTE &
various awards at the semi-final will go on to compete in the Miss England Grand
Final in November, with the ultimate titleholder representing England at the 73rd Miss World next Spring. Just before the semi final a Sports round is being held at the Football Dome in Aylestone Leicester on Saturday 27th September which Aliza is building her own
physical strength for as it’s being run by former Royal Marine Lee Stuart. This round
will test the contestants physical strength.
Through her journey, Aliza hopes to show others that strength can be born from sorrow, and that real beauty lies in resilience, compassion, and purpose. “My story is heartbreaking, but it’s also a story of hope,” she says. “I want to turn my mum’s silence into impact—one breath, one voice, and one life at a time.”
With Beauty with a Purpose being one of the rounds in the competition now, Aliza
has started her own fundraiser in the lead up to the competition here;
For media enquiries, interviews, or images of Aliza Kanerawala, please contact:
Miss & Mr England Press Office
