Growing up I was made to feel bad for being dark skinned': Miss Universe GB finalist reveals how the beauty pageant has helped her feel proud of her natural beauty

'Growing up I was made to feel bad for being dark skinned': Miss Universe GB finalist reveals how the beauty pageant has helped her feel proud of her natural beauty

Tina Antwi, 23, from London, was a finalist in Miss Universe Great Britain
She described how she was 'made to feel bad' about her dark skin as a child
But said the pageant had helped her learn to be proud of her natural beauty
The youth worker now hopes to inspire girls and young women of all races

By Stephanie Linning for MailOnline
PUBLISHED: 09:07 BST, 10 August 2017 | UPDATED: 09:44 BST, 10 August 2017

A beauty queen who was 'made to feel bad' about the colour of her skin has spoken about how pageants have helped her embrace her natural beauty.

Youth worker Tina Antwi, from Croydon, south London, revealed how her experience as a finalist for Miss Universe Great Britain helped her 'feel proud of her dark skin'.

The 23-year-old model said there had been significant progress in 'shifting' the public perception of beauty - but that more work still needs to be done before girls of all races can grow up loving themselves for who they are.

Tina said: 'There are still people out there who bleach their skins and who suffer with depression and so many other issues because they still live in the mindset that they are not good enough.

'So much more needs to be done to create strong community networks which provide support for individuals and I am glad that I get to take part in addressing these issues.'

Tina, a writer and youth development worker, beat out dozens of other hopefuls to become one of 40 beauty queens who took part in the Miss Universe Great Britain finals in Newport, Wales, last month.
The winner, Anna Burdzy, will represent Great Britain at the Miss Universe pageant.

While she didn't take home the crown, Tina, who is also known as Tina Charisma, said the experience boosted her self-confidence and gave her a platform to inspire others.
'Growing up in London young people like myself were made to feel bad for being dark skinned,' she said.

'It is amazing that as an adult the standards of beauty are constantly shifting to the extent that even dark skin girls like myself can feel confident to compete in pageants like this and also be considered beautiful.'

However the beauty and fashion industries still need to do more to present greater diversity in their campaigns and on their catwalks, she continued.

'It has to be a dramatic shift that really inspires a new generation. My dream is for an increase in representation and an increase in a diverse range of backgrounds.'

Tina is currently writing a book called Black Skin Carved Mask which celebrates a sense of identity, culture and beauty among diasporas, as well as campaigning and speaking at events helping to inspire and motivate people to embrace their beauty.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-4775348/Miss-Universe-GB-finalist-learned-love-skin.html