Surrey contestant Abbey Laveniya has made an incredible start to her Miss England journey after winning the Miss England Sportsround — just days after entering the competition!

Watch the sportsround film here ;

 The 27-year-old auditor, model and classically trained dancer from Surrey only entered Miss England last week, but after an impressive performance at the Sportsround on Sunday 4th October in Leicester, Abbey was named Miss England Sportswoman 2026. Abbey was presented with her certificate from the High Sheriff of Leicestershire Mel v Thomas QPM who organised the decider round in the Miss England contest  traitor style where warm up PT Rob Hughes from Hughes Fitness training tapped each contestant on the back when they qualified .

Her victory means she has now been fast-tracked directly into the Top 12 of the Miss England National Final, taking place at Athena Leicester on Tuesday 17th November 2026.

It’s been a whirlwind start for the Surrey contestant, who is now one step closer to the Miss England crown which leads to Miss World!

MEET ABBEY LAVENIYA

Age: 27
From: Surrey
Height: 5ft 8
Occupation: Big 4 auditor in FS banking (ACA qualified)/ Model/ Dancer

Alongside her professional career in banking and modelling, Abbey is a classically trained Bharatanatyam dancer, and her passion for dance has already taken her to some remarkable venues.

Abbey has performed at Westminster Abbey in the presence of the late Queen Elizabeth II during the Commonwealth Service, as well as at Wembley Stadium for when the UK welcomed the Indian Prime Minister.  She has also brought her classical dance training to the screen, featuring as a Bharatanatyam dancer in the Amazon Prime film Picture This, starring Simone Ashley.

Speaking about her love of dance, Abbey said:

‘Dance has given me some of my proudest memories, but what I value most is being able to use something I love to bring people together and give back.’

Abbey was also President of one of King’s College London’s largest student-led productions, bringing together more than 250 dancers to perform at a West End theatre.

The production raised an impressive £10,000 for three charities — Evelina Children’s Hospital, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Women on Wings.

FROM NEWCOMER TO MISS ENGLAND TOP 12!

What makes Abbey’s achievement particularly impressive is how quickly her Miss England journey has taken off.

Having only entered the competition last week, Abbey headed to Leicester to take part in the Sportsround and walked away with the title of Miss England Sportswoman 2026 and a coveted fast-track place in the national Top 12.

The Miss England competition features a series of qualifying and fast-track rounds designed to give contestants the opportunity to showcase their talents, fitness, charitable work, confidence, personality and achievements.

Abbey will now prepare to compete amongst the Top 12 at the Miss England National Final at Athena Leicester on Tuesday 17th November 2026.

The eventual winner will have the opportunity to represent England at Miss World in Tanzania in May 2027.

From entering Miss England to securing a place in the national Top 12 in a matter of days, it has certainly been an unforgettable start for Surrey’s Abbey Laveniya.

Congratulations Abbey — Miss England Sportswoman 2026!

Hughes Total Fitness, run by Rob Hughes,  is running part one of the Miss & Mr England Sportsround in Leicester on Sunday October 4th !

No stranger to the Miss England contest , Rob ran the sportsround back in 2022 for the Miss England competition .

In 2022 – Rob Hughes with the Miss England finalists

Rob is dedicated to helping people build strength, improve their fitness and feel more confident through practical, supportive training. With a friendly and motivating approach, Rob focuses on helping each client make steady progress towards their individual goals, whether they are new to exercise or looking to take their performance to the next level. At Hughes Total Fitness, the emphasis is on consistency, good technique and creating healthy habits that can last.

Rob also offers sports massage and lymphatic massage, with each treatment tailored to the client’s individual needs and preferences. Sports massage is ideal for active clients seeking focused work on tired or tight muscles before or after exercise, while lymphatic massage uses gentle, rhythmic techniques to encourage relaxation and support the body’s natural lymphatic flow. His friendly, attentive approach helps every client feel comfortable throughout their treatment.

For more information and reviews check Hughes Total Fitness out on Google and follow his instagram account here 

Mel Thomas will run the decider in the fitness round! 

The final decider in the sportsround on Sunday 4th October is being run by Mel Thomas QPM – The High Sheriff of Leicestershire  and will include Mental Agility!

This will result on the Miss & Mr Sportsman being announced ahead of the semi finals !

🚨 CONTESTANTS – ARE YOU READY?
Organiser Angie Beasley said ” We’re delighted that Rob is back on the team and Mel Thomas will be running the deciding section of the sportsround and im proud to say Mel is also joining us for the semi final and final events as a co host with his high profile status we think he is the perfect person to welcome everyone to Leicestershire for the competitions ! “

Fans of Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted might recognise Mel as one of the programme’s Ground Hunters, helping to track down the famous fugitives!

His special challenge will test the contestants’ mental and physical agility, so they’ll need determination, focus, energy and plenty of team spirit as Mel puts them through their paces!

Who will rise to the challenge and be crowned Miss & Mr England Sportsman & woman 2026? 🏆

Good luck to all contestants —get ready to give it your all!

#MissEngland #Sportsround #Sportswoman #CelebrityHunted

Prize partners for Miss & Mr England 2026

EXCITING NEWS! 🇱🇰

The winners of Miss England and Mr England 2026 will be invited by Envoy London to travel to Sri Lanka for an exclusive photoshoot later this year!

They will also appear as special guests at Envoy London’s prestigious 75th Anniversary Fashion Show, taking place on 21st November 2026 at Independence Square, Colombo. ✨

What an incredible international opportunity for our new titleholders!

This exciting partnership has a special history. Ten years ago, Miss England Natasha Hemmings and Mr England 2015 Chris Bramall first worked with the brand in Sri Lanka. In 2017, three Mr England finalists were also invited to model for Envoy London, continuing the brand’s long-standing connection with the competition.

Miss & Mr England 2015 Natasha Hemmings and Chris Bramell had an amazing visit to Envoy Mansion in Columbo Sri Lanka during their reign !

 

About Envoy London

Miss England Director Angie Beasley ( red top )also visited the Envoy Mansion in 2015 during the trip to Sri Lanka with Natasha & Chris

PRESS RELEASE

Vietnam – Miss World England Grace Richardson has made history by winning the Talent Competition at the 75th Anniversary Miss World Festival in Vietnam, becoming the first England representative to win a Miss World fast-track event.

Grace, a performing arts graduate from Leicestershire with a background in singing, acting and dancing, wowed the global audience with her performance of “Over the Rainbow” at the Children’s Culture Center in Nha Trang.

Through her performance, Grace wanted to remind adults how important it is to keep their childhood dreams alive – a message that means a lot to her as she continues working towards her own dream of performing on a West End stage.

The Talent Competition started with contestants from around the world auditioning for a place in the final. Grace made it through to the 23 Talent finalists, who performed while the other 88 national ambassadors cheered them on.

Minutes after being announced as the winner, an emotional Grace said:

“I still can’t believe I am the winner. These women are all so talented, and it is truly an honour to have been chosen.”

Grace added:

“Winning the Talent round means so much to me. Performing is what I love, so it really is incredibly special to be recognised for it here at Miss World. I can’t wait to see what the next two weeks bring, knowing I’m already through to the Top 40! I’m just going to enjoy every moment and continue to give it my all representing England.”

Her victory has fast-tracked England into the Top 40 quarterfinals of this year’s Miss World and marks the first time England has won a fast-track event in Miss World history.

WORLD-CLASS TALENT

It was a hugely competitive evening, with Miss World Guadeloupe, Annaelle Ibo, finishing a close second after performing “La Vie en Rose.”

Miss World Philippines, Asia Rose Simpson, came third with a powerful dance performance telling the story of feeling lost and finding her way through faith.

The evening featured many other outstanding performances. Miss World Paraguay, Ayelén Pérez, a music educator, played the violin with remarkable talent and sensitivity, while Miss World Portugal, Vitória Babinetchi, impressed with an incredible rhythmic gymnastics routine.

The audience also enjoyed the powerful voices of Miss World Ethiopia, Ruth Yirgalem; Miss World Nigeria, Soye Karibi-George; and Miss World Eritrea, Snit Habteab, as well as a unique and unforgettable performance by Miss World Chile, death metal vocalist Ignacia Fernández.

Miss World Denmark, Josephine Bøttger, impressed the audience with a delicate classical ballet performance that showcased her remarkable talent.

And the list goes on. The representatives from Poland, Colombia, Zambia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, the Cook Islands, Nepal, Gibraltar, Sri Lanka, Ireland, China, Vietnam, Denmark and Guatemala all excelled in their respective performances.

A DREAM COME TRUE FOR LEICESTERSHIRE PERFORMING ARTS GRADUATE

Grace’s achievement is especially meaningful because of her lifelong love of performing.

She trained and graduated at LCPA – Leicester College of Performing Arts, founded and led by Principal Ann Oliver MBE, where she developed her skills in singing, acting and dancing.

Grace has spent years preparing for a career in the performing arts, with her biggest ambition being to perform professionally on a West End stage.

Grace’s biggest supporters are her parents Alyson & Chris Richardson who  have both travelled to Vietnam to support Grace  with dad arriving slightly earlier. 

Mum Alyson found out Grace had won the talent round just as she was about to board the flight from the UK to Vietnam.  On her arrival Alyson said  “We are absolutely over the moon to be here in Vietnam supporting Grace and to see her win the Miss World Talent Competition and secure her place in the Top 40 of this very special 75th Anniversary Miss World is beyond anything we could have imagined.

Grace has been humming and dancing for as long as we can remember, even before she could properly walk or talk. But singing and speech have never come easily to her. Grace was born with ankyloglossia, commonly known as tongue-tie, which restricts the movement of the tongue. She has had to work incredibly hard to find different ways to form sounds, words and musical notes.

That makes this recognition feel even more extraordinary to us. And after fracturing her foot a few months ago and being unable to fully dance on pointe at present, her determination to adapt, keep performing and find another way has been incredible to watch.

As her parents, we couldn’t be prouder. This award means so much because it feels like recognition not just of Grace’s talent, but of her resilience, determination and all the hard work she has put in to overcome the challenges along the way. To see her standing on a world stage in Vietnam doing what she loves is simply magical.”

Alyson & Chris on Graces graduation day

Miss England Director Angie Beasley said:

“This was the round Grace really wanted. Performing is her passion, so to see her win the Miss World Talent Competition is incredibly special. We couldn’t be prouder of her.”

Grace’s international win follows her success in the Miss England Talent round, where her performing ability played an important part in her journey to becoming Miss England.

Now, after years of training, her talent has been recognised on the world stage.

THE 75TH MISS WORLD GRAND FINAL – 5TH SEPTEMBER 2026

Following her historic Talent victory, Grace will continue representing England at the 75th Anniversary Miss World Festival in Vietnam, with her place in the Top 40 quarterfinals already secured.

The 75th Miss World Grand Final takes place on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

The wider Miss World festival events will take place across multiple cities and provinces in Vietnam from August 8 through September 5, 2026, bringing together national representatives from around the world for challenges, cultural events and appearances.

The 75th Anniversary edition of Miss World is supported by Geleximco Group as Diamond Sponsor.

Could Grace Richardson make even more history and bring the Miss World crown home to England?

ENDS

Press enquiries:
[email protected]

For more details about LCPA and Ann Oliver MBE, visit:
https://www.lcpa.co.uk/lcpateam/miss-ann-oliver-mbe/

Miss England Grace Richardson is continuing to make the most of every moment representing England at the 75th Miss World in Vietnam making friends for life from across the world .

Grace has been enjoying an incredible Miss World experience, taking part in a packed schedule of events, activities and challenges alongside contestants from around the globe.

Grace Reaches the Top 24 in Sports!
Puerto Rico won the sports challenge but
One of Grace’s latest achievements has been reaching the Top 24 in the Miss World Sports Round, a fantastic result in a round she wasn’t too confident about and a proud moment for Team England.

Grace needs YOUR help!

People’s Choice Voting is NOW LIVE! ❤️

The Miss World People’s Choice Vote is officially open, giving supporters back home the opportunity to get behind Grace and show their support for ENGLAND.

Every vote counts, so please take a moment to vote for:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ENGLAND – GRACE RICHARDSON 👑

Head over to the official voting website below and search for England – Grace Richardson:

VOTE FOR GRACE – MISS WORLD PEOPLE’S CHOICE www.missworld.1voting.com

Please vote and share with your friends, family and followers and help us get behind Grace as she continues her Miss World journey in Vietnam.

Good luck, Grace – England is behind you

Performing arts graduate and the reigning Miss World England Grace Richardson is currently enjoying the experience of a lifetime as she proudly represents England at the 75th Miss World Festival in Vietnam.

After arriving in Hanoi following a comfortable long-haul flight with Vietnam Airlines, Grace’s feet have barely touched the ground! Since landing, she has been immersed in a packed Miss World schedule alongside more than 100 contestants from around the globe.

Highlights So Far…

One of Grace’s first major appearances was the spectacular Miss World Opening Ceremony, where contestants celebrated Vietnamese culture by taking to the catwalk wearing Vietnam’s beautiful traditional Áo dài.

Grace walked alongside Miss Denmark, marking one of her first international catwalk appearances as Miss World England.

Since then, the contestants have been busy sightseeing exploring the world heritage sight such as Ha long bay , attending official various events, rehearsing and experiencing the culture and hospitality of Vietnam — while forming lifelong  friendships with women representing countries from across the world.

Another highlight for Grace was attending the OMODA & JAECOO launch party in Vietnam, where she had the opportunity to model and pose alongside some of the brands’ latest cars. Here she is with Miss ireland posing with their latest models during the party !  Omoda and Jaecoo are distinct sister brands sharing underlying technology and platforms while targeting different aesthetic preferences and market segment. 

Taking to the Catwalk in Vietnam 

On the 18th August , Grace competed in the highly anticipated Miss World Top Model round, modelling stunning creations by Vietnamese designers.

The fashion event provided another opportunity for Grace to showcase her catwalk skills, with the spectacular Dragon Square providing a stunning backdrop for the Vietnamese fashion showcase.

Grace pictured 3rd in on left !

Grace is no stranger to the runway, having modelled professionally before winning Miss England, but representing her country on an international Miss World catwalk has made the experience particularly special.

Between appearances, events and rehearsals, Grace is sharing the adventure with her roommate, Miss Ireland, Caoimhe Kenny, with the pair making some incredible memories together during their time in Vietnam.

The Best Is Yet to Come… 

There is still plenty more to come for Grace.

One round she is particularly excited about is Miss World Talent, where multitalented Grace will now be showcasing her singing.

Talent played an important part in Grace’s own Miss England journey. She won the Miss England Talent round with her performance of “Never Enough”, helping her on her way to being crowned Miss England.

Now, following her graduation in Performing Arts, Grace is looking forward to performing again — this time representing England on the Miss World stage.

Grace is also excited about the forthcoming Sports round, which she says has “a little twist to it this year”, as well as the Head-to-Head round, where she will have the opportunity to share more about her Beauty With a Purpose project, Every Drop Counts.

R- L Miss World finalists – WALES, ENGLAND NORTHERNIRELAND AND FINLAND READY FOR THE SPORTSROUND

Grace’s Beauty with a Purpose  project focuses on raising awareness of water conservation and the impact our everyday choices — including fashion — can have on the world’s precious water resources.

Beauty With a Purpose has been at the heart of Miss World for decades, and Grace is hoping to use this incredible international platform to take the message behind Every Drop Counts to an even wider audience.

Grace on Her Miss World Experience 

Grace said:

“I have loved absolutely every moment so far in Vietnam. The country and its people are beautiful inside and out; I couldn’t have asked for a better host country.

I am really looking forward to the talent round and am excited to perform again since my graduation! I am also looking forward to the sports round, which has a little twist to it this year, and Head-to-Head, where I will be able to share more about my BWAP project with everyone here!

Overall, this has been an experience of a lifetime and I will forever cherish these memories.”

 

Thank You to Grace’s Supporters 

A special thank you goes to Seasonal Trunk for providing some of the fabulous outfits Grace has been wearing during her Miss World journey, and to Vietnam Airlines for helping Grace begin her adventure with a comfortable journey to Vietnam.

With plenty more events, rehearsals and competition rounds still ahead, Grace’s 75th Miss World story is far from over.

Good luck, Grace — England is behind you! 

Follow @grace.richo and the official Miss England social media channels for more updates from Vietnam.

Could You Follow in Grace’s Footsteps?

Applications are open for the next Miss England competition, offering contestants the opportunity to represent their area, compete for the national crown and potentially go on to represent England at Miss World.

Apply now at by clicking this ENTER NOW 

Images excluding Audience image – Anfice Photography 

The Miss England Grand Final is officially returning to Athena Leicester on Tuesday 17th November 2026, marking an exciting homecoming after a 14-year absence.

The decision follows the incredible success of Leicester performing arts student Grace Richardson, who captured both the prestigious Miss England Talent Award and the Miss England 2025 title in November 2025. Now preparing to represent England at the 75th Miss World in Vietnam, Grace will return to the city where her journey comes full circle as she crowns her successor.

The Athena is in the Cultural Quarter of Leicester – pictured is Grace dressed in a beautiful red showgirl costume from the Ann Oliver School of Dance

Athena has a proud place in Miss England history, having previously hosted the national final in 2006, 2007 and 2012. Since then the final has been held across England at Venues in Torquay, Southport , Birmingham , Newcastle and for the past two years Wolverhampton. 

This November, Grace will hand over her crown in spectacular style. Living out her dream of becoming a West End performer, she will appear along side talented performers from the Ann Oliver School of Dance.

To celebrate the return of the Miss England Final to Leicester, a special photoshoot with Anfice Photography was organised by Angie Beasley, Director of Miss England since 2002, during the West End Day Party at the Athena.  Grace, dressed as a glamorous showgirl, was warmly welcomed onto the stage by the event’s DJ and introduced Grace to the audience who wished her well in Miss World and post for a group photo ! 

Grace was invited on stage at the West End Day Party held recently at the Athena Leicester with Emily Olive Boyd and James Richard Turner

“Grace received a wonderful reception from everyone at the West End Day Party event,  her real dream is to perform on the West End stage ,” said Angie Beasley. “She met two talented West End singers, Emily Olive Boyd and James Richard Turner at the event who wished Grace every success at the 75th Miss World in Vietnam. We are delighted to be returning to Athena after all these years.”

Grace will sing live at the Grand Final and dance alongside some of her fellow performing arts students making the evening a true celebration of talent, entertainment and Beauty with a Purpose , the ethos of the competition.  

Grace said “”I couldn’t be more excited to be crowning my successor in Leicester!  It means so much to bring the Miss England Grand Final back here after 14 years and to celebrate everything this incredible city has to offer.  As a Musical Theatre performer who has grown up in Leicester, I’m especially proud that we’ll also be showcasing some of the amazing students from The Ann Oliver Stage School. It’s going to be a truly special night, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.”. 

The Miss England 2026 Grand Final promises to be a spectacular red carpet event and one not to be missed.

Booking tickets early is advisable and tickets can be purchased on this link – 

VIP TABLES with reception drink and dinner is limited 

https://buytickets.at/missenglandlimited/2237502 

ENDS

PLEASE CREDIT ; Photo by Anfice Photography for usage 

NOTE TO EDITOR

The reigning Miss England is Leicester performing arts student Grace Richardson who will be representing England at the 75th Miss World in Vietnam . 

The Miss England Final will include an Ethical Fashion and Talent round with a series of qualifying rounds held in the lead up to the event including a Beauty with a Purpose fundraising competition , a make up free, sports and tourism round where national finalists will promote their homes towns and cities!  The winner will go forward to the Miss World Beauty with a Purpose final in May 2027 set to be held in Tanzania . 

Miss World will celebrate its 76th year in 2027 For further details please see www.missworld.com 

To interview the Miss England organiser Angie Beasley or Grace Richardson please email 

[email protected] 

About the Athena 

Originally designed in 1936, Athena is an art deco landmark in Leicester’s Cultural Quarter and truly the region’s most unique events venue. 

For further details https://www.athenacb.co.uk/about-us/

Backstage with Emily & James wished Grace a good luck at Miss World in Vietnam this summer

The Stage is Set

A quiet theater in Leicestershire is about to host a significant shift in the world of pageantry. On Sunday, 11th October 2026, at 5 PM, the Melton Theatre on Asfordby Road will fill with an inspiring group of contestants who represent a modern standard of achievement. These young people are not just competing for a title; they are bringing years of charity work, academic success, and community leadership to the spotlight. This year, the event expands its reach by including the search for the next Mr. England, creating a double celebration of talent and character.

Real Impact Over Status

The heart of this gathering remains a commitment to service, highlighted by the Beauty with a Purpose awards. Following the global tradition of using influence for good, each participant arrives with a track record of advocacy and fundraising. For the Mr. England hopefuls, this includes a dedicated effort to raise funds for Balls to Cancer, a partnership that successfully raised over £23,000 in 2024. The event will also feature a “We Do Ethical” fashion show, proving that style can be both conscious and impactful.

Read more in the latest edition of HollyWood Hills Magazine

https://www.hollywoodhillsmag.com/post/miss-england-purpose-beyond-the-crown