Karishma Patel, 29, an ex BBC presenter and former Miss England Hertfordshire (2021), has been announced as a finalist for Miss Universe GB 2025. A vocal critic of media coverage on Palestine, Patel is using her platform to raise funds for the Gaza Great Minds Foundation, which provides education to children in makeshift tent schools and bombed-out buildings.
Patel, who has worked for UNRWA, shared her excitement about the pageant, saying:
“My life has taken yet another unpredictable twist! I’m putting down the microphone to pick up a crown, all in service of children in Gaza.”
She continued:
“I’ve thought carefully about how beauty can serve ethical causes and am keen to use this platform to raise awareness around education in Gaza. Miss Universe GB can be a powerful way to highlight these issues – especially on International Women’s Day. Today, I urge women to be bold, to take up space, and to champion what they care about.”
A Cambridge University graduate with a master’s in English Literature, Patel has built a stellar career in journalism, rising rapidly through the BBC’s ranks. She began as a researcher for BBC Asian Network in 2020, later becoming a Radio 5 Live newsreader in 2022. Audiences will also recognise her smooth, signature voice from BBC News Channel and BBC Two.
Beyond journalism, Patel is a model, pianist, composer, and writer, having contributed a chapter to the academic book Cultures of London: Legacies of Migration. She also holds Grade 8 in opera singing.
Currently, Patel is writing a book critiquing the concept of impartiality and media coverage of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Speaking about her long-standing commitment to education, she noted:
“I’ve long advocated for education, working with charities to teach and empower Indian, Afghan, and Syrian children. Now, I’m thrilled to be raising funds for Gaza Great Minds, which is working to educate Palestinian children who have suffered so much under devastating Israeli bombardment.”