A BEAUTY queen who has been crowned Miss England has revealed escaping an abusive relationship motivated her to enter the competition.
Rehema Muthamia, a graduate of the University of Sussex, came out on top of hundreds of hopefuls when she clinched the title in Coventry on Friday.
She reached the final under the new category of Miss All African Colours and took over from the former Miss England, Dr Bhasha Mukherjee.
In her acceptance speech, the 25-year-old said she hoped to use her high-profile role to help other women who are trapped in abusive relationships.
Rehema said: “I would have to say that the most difficult experience that I’ve had in life is having gone through an abusive relationship and it’s not something that people speak about, especially in young women - I am only 25.
“But having gone through a relationship that was abusive it helped me learn more about myself.
“In fact, unfortunately the relationship and the abuse was made public in the press and it was a terrible experience having to go through that.
“But knowing that I was able to come through that experience, learn more about myself and my worth, who I am as a woman and be able to now use this platform in Miss England, to help other women that maybe have been in my position.”
Rehema, from northwest London, was hounded by her former boyfriend Lorenzo Dixon, 27, after they split up in 2019.
Trainee lawyer Dixon followed her for nearly 100 miles on a train and bombarded her with calls, letters, texts, emails and gifts.
Despite a police warning in 2019, he continued until being charged last July with stalking and harassment, which he admitted in court in February.
In April, Brighton magistrates gave him a 12-month community order, 30 hours of rehab, a restraining order and told him to pay her £500.
Describing her ordeal, Rehema said: “Calls came in every few seconds.
"I’m scared I’ll always have to look over my shoulder.”
Rehema, who spent part of her childhood in Kenya and speaks four languages, added: “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.”
She was anointed by former Miss England Dr Bhasha Mukherjee who wore the crown for two years after last year’s contest was cancelled due to the coronavirus.
Rehema will represent England at the 70th Miss World in Puerto Rico later this year.
She won £2,000 in cash, a wardrobe of evening wear, a photo shoot, a personalised website, and luggage.
The new Mr England winner is semi-pro kite surfer Liam Royce Ulla, 28, who is half Jamaican and lives in Derby.
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