Alisha Cowie was crowned Miss International UK 2023 at the finale of the pageant held on Saturday, 10th June 2023 at Parr Hall Theatre, Warrington, Cheshire. Cowie has, since then, been preparing to represent the United Kingdom at Miss International 2023.
Alisha’s journey, however, is nothing short of an inspiration for girls around the world who have thought of giving up at any point in their lives. Alisha was bullied for being anorexic as a teenager but overcame all the odds.
Initially, she was taunted by classmates which made her restrict her diet until she weighed just six stone at the age of thirteen. Her taunting did not begin as a teenager; she was picked on from the age of five by bullies who branded her 'fat' and then 'too skinny' when she lost weight at secondary school.
The bullying got so severe that she had to go to classes at set hours to avoid kids for her own safety. The anorexia also drove her to self-harm and contemplate suicide during her darkest days. However taking help and working on herself made everything better as she became one of the most sought after beauty queens in her country.
“Bullies can be awful but thankfully as I've grown up I've come to realise it's a reflection on them rather than me and sometimes the nastiest people need the most love and attention. I actually come from quite a poor background as well so it was really hard to see opportunities. It's a really difficult place to come from when you don't have the money in the first place”, Alisha quoted.
She is the only woman to win both illustrious pageants – Miss England in 2018 and now Miss International UK title – and has also represented UK at Miss World 2018 where she remained unplaced. With all of her experience in pageantry and in life, in general, Alisha will surely be a strong contender at Miss International 2023.
Miss International 2023, the 61st Miss International, will be held at the Yoyogi Gymnasium No. 2 in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan on 26th October 2023 where Miss International 2022 Jasmin Selberg of Germany will crown her successor at the end of the event.