Tuesday 24 May 2022 02:58 PM Miss England reveals she's faced vile racist abuse since winning including ... trends now
The reigning Miss England has revealed she's faced vile racist abuse since being crowned.
Rehema Muthamia, 26, who has Kenyan heritage and spent part of her childhood in Kenya, was crowned Miss England in a glittering ceremony in Coventry.
Despite the prestigious accolade she's gone on to face horrendous comments, including being branded 'Miss KFC' and asked 'how is Miss England Black?'
Speaking to My London she revealed people also sent emails to the Miss England organisation to complain about her winning.
'I already knew I would face racism as a Black woman in England, not in London so much but being British and Black I am conscious of the fact people will be prejudice towards me,' she said.
Rehema Muthamia, 26, who has Kenyan heritage and spent part of her childhood in Kenya, was crowned Miss England in a glittering ceremony in Coventry
Despite the prestigious accolade she's gone on to face horrendous comments, including being branded 'Miss KFC' and asked 'how is Miss England Black?' She is pictured being crowned alongside 2019's winner Bhasha Mukherjee
'I've had comments from people saying it's "Miss KFC not Miss England" and "how is Miss England Black - if we go Africa they wouldn't crown a white Miss Nigeria"
'I have faced racism in the past and I'm aware of it happening so I was prepared for it, it's saddening to think people are racist and prejudiced in this day and age. I accepted it for what it was, understood it must be coming from lack of understanding.'
It's not the first time she's spoken out about racist abuse since winning.
In October, she was told This Morning hosts Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond cruel trolls told her she 'wasn't British' and 'didn't represent the UK' despite being born in England.
'Right after I won in August, obviously I was overjoyed, happy, elated,' she said.
'But quite quickly, racist messages came through the Miss England platform.
In October, she was told This Morning hosts Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond cruel trolls told her she 'wasn't British' and 'didn't represent the UK' despite being born in England.
'People were calling about me having won, telling the Miss England platform, they weren't happy that I was a black woman.
'And through press that has been released and there's been many comments, basically saying that as a black woman, I shouldn't have won Miss England.
'I'm ethnically black, but I am British. And I'm so proud to be British.
'I was born and raised in this country, and I feel like everything that I represent and stand for are British values. So people may have negative views about that.
'I don't understand it. I'm not a racist person. My family is so mixed. I'm mixed with everybody. But I read it as you know, lack of understanding, and hopefully through education, especially through Black History Month, maybe people can understand you know, people are differences'.
After winning, the health technology consultant, who can speak four languages, said: 'My family are so supportive they can't stop talking about it, and the Kenyan community has really got behind me and wanted to support me and loved seeing someone from my heritage being represented.'
Rehema received the shimmering crown - along with £2,000 and a host of other goodies including a photoshoot and a website - from previous winner Bhasha Mukherjee, an NHS doctor who held
