Dee-Ann Rogers becomes the first black woman to win the Miss Universe Great Britain beauty pageant

This is historic. Dee-Ann Rogers on Saturday became the first black woman to have won the prestigious Miss Universe Great Britain beauty pageant. The pageant which started in 1952, has never had a black beauty queen till now. 

Rogers, who hails from Anguilla, a British territory, will now the United Kingdom at the international Miss Universe competition, which will take place in the Philippines in December. 

Rogers beat 40 other contestants to win the coveted title in a glittering ceremony that took place in Newport, Wales. 

An accomplished athlete, who has won medals in the heptathlon, Rogers said winning the crown was a 'humbling'experience. "It’s really humbling and I think it’s also a privilege for me to become the first black woman who is crowned Miss Universe Great Britain. I believe that this is the direction that the pageant has been going in for the last couple of years because Britain is a diverse nation, we are a multicultural society and it is time that that diversity is seen on a stage where other young black girls and girls of all ethnicities can see that this is something for everybody, not just some of us," the newly crowned beauty queen was stated as saying by a publication. 
The national director for Miss Universe Great Britain, Paula Abbandonato, said she was “absolutely delighted” by Rogers’ win. 

“I took over this role in 2008 and I can honestly say there is no better gift [than] having our first black winner to celebrate 10 years in the job,” she said. “Dee-Ann is a true role model for all women of all skin colours and with her dynamism off the stage, coupled with her presence on the stage, I genuinely believe Great Britain has a chance at the Miss Universe crown this year.”

Fans on Twitter welcome the new beauty queen and lauded the historic move.