After wowing the judges with her natural beauty, a dental nurse has been crowned winner of the world’s first-ever make-up-free beauty pageant.
Natasha Beresford, 26, took to the ramp without makeup and was named Miss London 2023 in the Miss England contest on Sept. 29.
The regional contest featured 19 women wearing their own choice of boho-themed, ethically sourced clothing but no make-up for the first time in the competition’s 95-year history.
This is a follow-up to the success of similar rounds in previous years where beauty queens were asked to submit pictures without any filters, cosmetics, or editing.
However, this was the first time they featured solely bare-faced girls—making it Britain’s, and possibly the world’s, first make-up-free beauty pageant.
According to the organizers, the concept aims to empower women, boost confidence, and promote a more realistic body image as it focuses on a natural look.
Ms. Beresford impressed judges by donning a white lace gown from the sustainable brand Shikoba Bride.
After claiming the Miss London title, she is set to compete in the Miss England final, slated to take place later this year.
Ms. Beresford began working as a dental nurse at the Royal London Dental Hospital in 2021, where she was dubbed “a real-life tooth fairy,” providing treatment to children.
Originally from Sheffield, Ms. Beresford currently lives in London and works at a private dental practice in Chiswick.
“I find my job really rewarding, over the years I have worked in the NHS, as well as private and urgent care dental practices,” she said.
In the future, Ms. Beresford would like to do further training in dental radiography and oral health education.
She revealed she would also plan on volunteering with Dentaid for their UK outreach dental clinics, where they provide dental care and oral health advice for people experiencing homelessness, survivors of abuse, families in poverty, refugees, cancer patients, and people recovering from addiction.
The runners-up of the contest included Afrose Ameen, 23, from Lewisham, an engineering student who works on the Elizabeth line of the London Underground.
Temi Adeyemi, a 26-year-old accounts assistant from Enfield, Middlesex, was also placed in the top five along with 17-year-old beauty therapy student Alanta Richards of Surrey.
The public vote winner was awarded to Lauren Malone, 26, a company founder and CEO, who will join the other four women in the Miss England final.
The beauty pageant was held at the Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences in London and was sponsored by the Cetuem London natural skincare brand.
