A Lancashire woman, who was bullied for her red hair at school, has been named Miss England 2022.

She is the first redhead to be given the title. 

Jessica Gagen, from Skelmersdale, was punched, spat at and even burned because of her red locks after being tormented by cruel classmates when she was a teenager.

She was also subjected to name-calling, having things thrown at her head and was forced to eat her school dinner in the toilets in a bid to escape the abuse.

Now, the 27-year-old aerospace engineer has won the Miss England title at a beauty pageant in Birmingham.

Jessica won the brightest smile award in the first part of the show which fast tracked her to the top 12.

She then answered the final five questions before being crowned the eventual winner.

Jessica wept with joy when she was announced as the winner saying she "would use the Miss England platform to stand up for kids who were bullied at school because of the colour of their hair."

Jessica spent months doing charity runs in fancy dress, raising more than £6,500 for charity.

She will now represent England at the 71st Miss World, set to be held in the Spring of 2023.

Lancashire Telegraph: Jessica Gagen (Photo: WNTV-UK)Jessica Gagen (Photo: WNTV-UK) (Image: WNTV-UK)

30 women from across England took part in the two day event, which held a series of rounds leading up to the contest.

The finalists also took part in a series of charity challenges which they themselves organised.

First runner up was farmer Milly Everatt, who is Miss North East Lincolnshire. 

Second runner up was chemical engineering graduate Emily Cossey who did a wing walk for Papyrus, a suicide prevention charity.

The contestants raised more than £32,000 using the beauty with a purpose charity platform.