Aleesha Hicks was crowned as the first-ever Miss Berkshire after a final showdown against her fellow finalists for the county title on Sunday July 13 hosted at Easthamstead Park. 

This is the first year that there has been a regional heat in Berkshire for the famous Miss Great Britain pageant. 

Aleesha will now go on to represent Berkshire at the national competition in October, with a chance to walk away as Miss Great Britain – a prospect made all the more exciting by the fact that it’s the long-running pageant’s 80th anniversary year. 

The new Miss Berkshire is 29 years old and has been working full time as an airline cabin manager for the past eight years. 

READ MORE: Not about bikinis: director of Miss Berkshire pageant rebuts stereotypes

Before going into the Miss Berkshire final, Aleesha told Bracknell News: “I am so excited for the final and have been putting in a lot of work to build my platform… I would love to be crowned the first ever Miss Berkshire and go onto the grand final.”

Of her experience with the pageant, Aleesha said she felt “so lucky” to be part of “this amazing sisterhood and meeting so many wonderful women from all backgrounds and walks of life”.

The then-finalist explained she had “absolutely fallen in love with the whole system and what pageantry has to offer”, and highlighted the charity fundraising she has done for Cancer Research UK, running two half-marathons and a 10K. 

Aleesha’s platform was called ‘YGT girls’, which she said stood for ‘you’ve got this girls’.

“This is a phrase I live by and I am inspiring and encouraging women to be the best they can be and building a community that reminds you to be true to you,” she said.

Aleesha also launched her own YGT running club to bring together women of all ages and abilities for “a run, walk, chat and chance to meet new people and build their confidence”. 

In the final Berkshire competition on Sunday, Aleesha faced down rounds including a fashion round, a swimwear round, and an evening wear round before emerging victorious. 

The competition also recognised a first runner-up, Jasmine Wardle, and a second runner-up, Rhiannon Howe. 

READ MORE: Miss Great Britain Berkshire finalists revealed

Jasmine, 22, is a musical theatre performer who persevered despite breaking her back in 2024.

Rhiannon, 20, is training to become a primary school teacher and currently teaches ballet to young children. 

Announcing the results of the final on Instagram, the official Miss Great Britain account offered “the biggest congratulations to Aleesha and her runners up!”