I’m the shortest Miss England finalist at exactly 5ft – petite girls can be models too… but we have to work way harder
AT just 5ft tall, Emily Harrison is the shortest finalist that Miss England has ever seen.
Now, the 27-year-old beauty queen says she is on a mission to “pave the way for more petite models” to make it big time.
One thing she isn’t short of is accolades.
Emily was a finalist in Miss England 2022 and the first UK beauty queen to compete in international pageants for shorter women, Universal Petite and Miss Petite Global.
“The representation of petite girls needs to be more widespread,” she tells Fabulous.
“Many girls in the pageants and modelling industry are on the smaller side, yet there isn’t a market specifically for petite girls in the UK, I would say.
“We often need to get our evening gowns tailored and we have to work hard to be noticed.
“Being small doesn’t mean we can’t be models.
“In fact, it has gone in my favour recently when I modelled for a fashion line where certain clothes only fitted my size.”
Emily, from Longbridge, Birmingham, has experienced discrimination due to her height.
“I’ve been in situations where I have faced height discrimination or been told I can’t do something because I’m not tall enough,” she says.
“I have had opportunities put in group chats I’ve been in where they have a preference or requirement for taller models.
“Being seen as less inferior because of height has never stopped me.”
Emily wants the representation of petite models in fashion and beauty pageants to be a global change.
I’ve been in situations where I’ve been told I can’t do something because I’m not tall enough
Emily Harrison
On the Miss England stage in 2022, she was dwarfed by her rivals – but she still came third in the talent round.
Emily is competing in Miss Petite Global, a beauty pageant for women with height under 168cm, in Malaysia in May – and will be the first Brit to do so.
“I am determined to win the international title, having represented everything that it means to be petite since I started out in pageants and prior,” she says.
Emily is the eldest of 13 siblings and now even has some of her younger sisters following in her footsteps.
Petite girls often need to get our evening gowns tailored and we have to work hard to be noticed
Emily Harrison
She competed against her 23-year-old sister Amy in Supranational UK, a British beauty pageant for women aged 18 to 32, in February this year.
“We are all very close,” Emily tells.
“Having so many siblings means I always have somebody to come and watch me – and they take it in turns.
“I like to think I am an inspiring role model to them.”
What is Miss England?
Miss England is a national beauty pageant and the most respected beauty contest ‘Title’ in the country.
It is the only competition in the country that sends its winner to represent England in the Miss World Contest.
Alongside taking part in the traditional catwalk contest, Miss England finalist are encouraged to:
- Raise funds for charity
- Arrange sponsored gifts to donate to charity
- Take part in a creative eco-fashion round
- Compete in a sports round
- Complete a general knowledge quiz
- Pose for a beach beauty shoot
- Submit a short video for the talent round
“Miss England celebrates the achievements of women and we are looking for a positive role model to inspire others,” organisers say.
Despite “the challenges and restrictions that are still in place” for shorter models breaking into the industry, Emily has managed to be published in eight magazines.
What’s more, she is walking the runway for three fashion events this year, including Birmingham Fashion Week in October.
“Height definitely does not define us, we are our only limit,” she says.
Emily is heading to Malaysia on May 4 to prepare for the Miss Petite Global competition.
“I can’t wait to get there,” she said.
“I will be carrying out some charity work with Kechara Soup Kitchen and Agathians Shelter prior to the contest.”