Press release 23/1/2024 – images Irfan Tahir
Blog – by Angie Beasley
“Miss England Jessica Gagen attends a Good luck in Miss World” celebratory Indian meal at Masala Jacks Coventry despite storm Isha landing on the same night !
It’s almost a year since BOPA invited Miss England Aerospace Engineer Graduate “Jessica Gagen” on a Humanitarian Tour to visit charitable projects supported by the organisation .
The team reunited with many well wishers at an Indian restaurant named “Masala Jacks” in Coventry to wish Jessica good luck in the forthcoming Miss World event . Its just over 3 weeks before Jessica embarks on her return to India to compete in the 71st Miss World contest with the grand final taking place at the Jio World Convention centre in Mumbai India on March 9th.
The meal happened on Sunday 21st January, just as storm ISHA hit the UK, guests braved the stormy weather to make it to the event!
Before winning Miss England on 17th October 2022 Jessica named India as a bucket list destination.
“I’ve been lucky enough to visit incredible India twice already since winning Miss England the first trip with BOPA & the second trip with Miss World for a media tour. The people of india are so hospitable, I feel so humbled & honoured this good luck meal was organised in support of my bid to be the next Miss World.
BOPA feels like family to me now, I hope to be involved with the organisation even when my reign is over. Thank you, ” said Jessica in her moving speech on the night.
The dinner was organised by Mr Davinder Prasad, General Secretary of BOPA and Dr. Rakesh Sachdev, owner of Sachdev & Co Chartered Accountants and President of BOPA.
Davinder said “We are proud to be supporting Miss England because we see her as role model that represent women empowerment through beauty for purpose. We experienced this when we took Miss England to India, not only her friendly interaction with children gave them huge encouragement and sense of pride but also her visit brought publicity and public attention for the charitable projects we support in India”
Jessica was joined on the night by , on her right Miss Birmingham Amrita Saund an NHS Pharmacist , and on her left Bhasha Mukherjee previous Miss England winner NHS Junior Doctor
Jessica was joined for the celebratory indian meal by fellow beauty queens, NHS Junior Doctor Bhasha Mukherjee the first British Asian to win the Miss England title & NHS Pharmacist Amrita Saund the reigning Miss Birmingham.
Sumaira Farrukh” & BOPA members Rakesh (left) & Davinder Right presented good luck flowers to Jessica
Well wishers of all ages from BOPA included social justice activist and Chair of BTM Global ” Sumaira Farrukh” & BOPA team members from the previous trip to India “Nutan Desai & Anita Bedi”, who all received a friendship bracelet from Miss England Director Angie Beasley.
Miss England director Angie presents the friendship bracelets to team BOPA
Jessica will be returning to India for the 71st Miss World next month with the final taking place at the Jio World Convention Centre Mumbai on Saturday 9th March. Over 100 countries will participate in the month long Miss World Festival & Jessica hopes to be the first aerospace engineer to win the Miss World Crown.
Angie presented Friendship bracelets to the members of BOPA & said in her speech “We shared some emotional & memorable times visiting the charitable projects in India, it’s something I’ll remember in my heart forever & I would like to thank BOPA for their continued support” before presenting the friendship bracelets to Anita Bedi, Nutan Desai & Davinder Prasad & Rakesh Sachdev.
Former Miss England Dr Bhasha Mukherjee conducted a short sound meditation session with the audience to invoke a sense of unity and also a moment of gratitude and mindfulness to appreciate life. The exercise involves placing palms together and breathing in deeply followed by a slow breath out whilst humming.
L-R Mr Jitendra Kumar Sharma former Birmingham consulate General India & his daughter Mrs Namita Dixit with Jessica Gagen
Members of the Coventry Magic Circle wished Jess good luck in Miss World
Tarun Chaudhary from the Solihull Times with his mum & guest Mrs Kanta Chaudhary
Glamorous ladies , Jessica , Kanta & Amrita
Entertainment on the night came from Iryna King from the Ukrainian community playing the accordion with singers!
Miss Birmingham Amrita & her mum Bimla Saund kindly supported Jessica at the event !
About the previous trip to India
The Miss England Team, including reigning Miss England “Jessica Gagen”, WASUP International Princess “India Hope Fenwick” and National Director “Angie Beasley”, undertook a humanitarian tour of India, sponsored by BOPA (British Organisation for People of Asian Origin) in February 2023.
BOPA aims to promote British identity, integration, peace, social and community cohesion. BOPA was recognised with a Kings Award for Voluntary Service for 2023 for their contribution to local environment – Peace Garden at Canal Basin
Working in collaboration with Coventry City Council and Canal & River Trust, BOPA developed Peace Garden from an abandoned, misused derelict land into a scenic community hub and haven for wildlife. Peace Garden provides an opportunity for its volunteers to enjoy teamwork, sustained maintenance of garden for the benefit of Commonwealth community groups, use of the facility for Yoga, meditation, health & Wellness sessions, promotion of British identity, community cohesion and cultural integration.
For more information about BOPA visit www.bopauk.org/
