Ex Miss England survived domestic abuse and wants to help victims during Euros

19 May 2024 , 09:14

544     0

Rehema Muthamia was the country's first black Miss England in 2021 (Image: Focus Features)

A Miss Universe GB finalist and former Miss England has revealed she is using her own trauma as a domestic abuse survivor to help other women - with a focus on the forthcoming European Football Championship .

Rehema Muthamia, who was the country's first black Miss England in 2021, is working with Solace Women's Aid and A-Sisterhood, organisations which support women through trauma. Rehema, 28, is teaming up with Solace Women's Aid to launch a special initiative aimed at raising awareness of domestic abuse through the Euros. Reports of violence in the home surge by as much as 50 per cent during football tournaments.

Rehema says: "I escaped an abusive relationship myself and afterwards I suffered stalking and harassment from an ex. Even though it went to court, I didn't feel like I got justice. I found the whole process very tough. There was little empathy for the victim, but it seemed the perpetrator got lots of support.

Rehema being crowed Miss England (Focus Features)

Rehema had to move areas to escape her ex (Focus Features)

"Though my own experience was very difficult, I know women go through so much worse, and I wanted to turn my own trauma into something positive, by speaking out. There is always a spike in violence during football tournaments and we want women to seek help."

Londoner Rehema enjoyed performing arts as a child, but after school studied genetics at university, with an initial goal of becoming a doctor. Whilst a student, she met a new partner, who showered her with compliments for six months before becoming controlling and abusive. Rehema says: "We were madly in love and so when it went wrong, it took me a long time to realise he was abusive. It was never physically abusive but the emotional and psychological damage was very painful."

Davina McCall still talks to three Big Brother stars and felt bad for Jade Goody

Rehema left the relationship and moved areas to escape her ex. She had to take time off work due to the harassment and was disappointed by the court process. In 2020, she was persuaded by friends to enter Miss England, and was stunned to be crowned the winner.

She says: "I didn't enter with any real expectations, I was pretty naïve, and so I was thrilled to win and was the first black woman to hold the title." But what should have been a proud and groundbreaking achievement was tainted by racist abuse. She says: "There were trolls telling me: 'How can you be Miss England when you're black' and they nicknamed me: 'Miss KFC.'

Rehema studied genetics at university, with an initial goal of becoming a doctor (Focus Features)

Rehema is an ambassador for Solace Women's Aid (Focus Features)

"Even in person, at events, there were raised eyebrows when I was introduced. I had a particular encounter at an event with someone famous, who had been on ' I'm a Celebrity', and who insisted on asking me where I was really from originally, and kept pronouncing my name wrong, even after I'd explained the correct pronunciation. I was born and raised in London. I'm English. Whilst the abuse was awful, it exposes the racists, and that's progress."

On International Women's Day in March this year, she entered Miss Universe GB and has reached the finals, which will be held in Cardiff in July. She is using her platform to speak out against domestic abuse and to empower women. She says: "I was one of the lucky ones. I didn't have children or financial ties. I meet women who have been battered, women who have had to leave their own country to escape violence.

"By speaking out, and raising the issue of domestic abuse, we hope attitudes will change. There is always an increase in domestic abuse when England play football and so the Euros is a time to be extra-vigilant."

Rehema Muthamia as a child

Rehema, who is a part-time management consultant, is an ambassador for Solace Women's Aid, educating young women and supporting survivors. She says: "Miss Universe GB is the perfect platform. I want to show women can be feminine and feminist at the same time.

"I'm so honoured to have been chosen as a finalist and I look forward to supporting A-Sisterhood as part of this process. Miss Universe is one of the biggest pageants in the world and having already been Miss England and gone to Miss World, I know this Miss Universe Great Britain journey is going to be an incredible adventure, and I hope to use the platform for good."

You can contact Solace Women's Aid here and A-Sisterhood here.

Ann Cusack