Miss Personality sets out to support young Caribbean people

Ashlea Smith is pictured smiling wearing a tiara and a silver coloured sash. She is seated on a gold and white chair, taken against a white curtain backdrop.

Ashlea Smith has been named 1st Princess, Miss Personality, and Best Charity Fundraiser at the 2020 Miss Caribbean UK (MCUK) pageant.

The aim of the pageant is to promote the Caribbean in the UK. Ashlea entered in early 2020 with the aim of exploring her heritage, and she was a representative of the Cayman Islands.

The pageant involves a range of activities, including fundraising and outreach, and Ashlea raised more than £1,800 for charity during her time as a finalist. The money went to the Perfect Day Foundation Charity, which is associated with the University’s Volunteer Zambia project, which Ashlea got involved in during her time as a student.  

Ashlea, who graduated with a BSc in Sports Management in 2015, will be using her reign as 1st Princess to support young Caribbean people, particularly in sport. She will raise awareness and funds for sport development charities, as well as the One2One Mentoring charity, supporting BAME people in the UK through coaching and mentoring.

She will also launch a new BeYOUtiful campaign in early 2021 to support and educate young women of colour, with a focus on self-love, the importance of looking after physical and mental health, and enhancing natural beauty.

Ashlea was awarded her titles at the MCUK final in October 2020 by MCUK patron Shaun Wallace, best known from television’s The Chase.

Find out more about MCUK.