Tanisha Zaman has spoken about the lack of representation that motivated her participation in beauty competitions. For years she wondered if events like pageants had room for someone with her background. As a British Bangladeshi Muslim woman she rarely saw others sharing her identity in mainstream beauty settings. This experience strengthened her resolve to question standards that left many young women feeling left out. Now a Miss Great Britain London 2026 finalist, youth activist, researcher and public speaker, she uses her position to address colourism, promote diversity and broaden ideas of representation. Outside pageants her efforts to support working-class and South Asian young women focus on building confidence, leadership and inclusion. Her community work earned her the SHE Award as Community Champion 2026. In a recent interview she reflected on her journey in pageantry, the importance of representation and her aim to encourage younger women. Many young women are influenced by seeing people with similar backgrounds in fields they hope to enter. Tanisha noted that the absence of British Bangladeshi and openly Muslim women in pageantry affected her early views of events like Miss Great Britain. She explained that the lack of representation inspired her and that she saw few British Bangladeshi or openly Muslim women even among South Asian participants. She never felt that someone like her belonged on a pageant stage and once believed pageantry was not for girls like her. Reaching the final carries special meaning. She believes she is the only British Bangladeshi and openly Muslim finalist this year, a fact that fills her with pride. If one young Bangladeshi or Muslim girl sees her and thinks she too can take part, the experience has already been worthwhile. For Tanisha the competition serves as a platform for important discussions about identity and belonging rather than simply a title. It allows her to challenge stereotypes and show young women they need not alter themselves to fit in. While pageants have faced criticism for limited representation, she observes that Miss Great Britain is becoming more inclusive. She pointed to last year’s London winner as an example of greater diversity and welcomed the direction of change. Still she believes more progress is needed. London ranks among the world’s most diverse cities yet stages do not always reflect that fully. She would like to see greater variety in ethnicity, faith, body types and life experiences to match the city’s reality. Her advocacy ties closely to personal encounters with colourism. As a darker-skinned Bengali girl she often felt she did not match either British or South Asian beauty ideals. She recalled not fitting the typical British standard with her black wavy hair, brown eyes and South Asian features, nor feeling accepted under South Asian standards because of her skin tone. These feelings started early. She was among the darkest in her family and faced comments at school and home urging her to avoid the sun or suggesting lighter skin was preferable. Though often dismissed as jokes, such remarks affected her deeply as she formed her sense of self. The comments shaped her views on appearance and confidence, leading her to question whether she was enough. She noted that people may not grasp the lasting effect colourism can have on a young girl’s identity and that a passing remark can linger into adulthood. She was even asked whether she was truly Bengali because of her skin tone, leaving her feeling out of place in her own community.
