Leila Pacey, 24 years old, who is representing England, will be drawing on a family tradition of success when she competes in the 28th Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth and believes that her heritage enables her to feel truly international. Leila is no stranger to the contest as her mother, Michelle (nee Ward), is a previous holder of the title – winning in December 1991.
Leila told us: “I was born in East London and have now lived in Essex for the past 22 years. I’m Anglo-Indian with a mix of English, Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese, Dutch and German. My Great Grandfather (Nanny Pacey’s Dad) was born in China and my other Great Grandfather (Nanny Bunny’s Dad) was born in the Philippines. All four of my grandparents were born in India, in both Calcutta and Chikardapore, while my parents and I were born in England. With this connection to both my mixed heritage and my Western upbringing, representing England felt like the natural choice for me”
She attended Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls for her secondary education, before being awarded a Music Scholarship to study A-levels at Ashbourne College. Leila went on to complete a degree in Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, followed by a year long graduate internship with the Public Engagement in Dance department. She works now full time in the Admissions Department at Ashbourne College in Kensington. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending quality time with her family and friends, as well as her “two darling dogs”.
Leila added: Pageantry runs deep in my family. My mother, Michele Ward (now Pacey), won Miss Elegance, Miss Continental and was the 10th Miss Caribbean and Commonwealth. I also have a wonderful family connection to the world of pageantry through my third cousin, Maureen Hingert, a Sri Lankan actress and dancer who was crowned second runner up at Miss Universe 1955 and put Sri Lanka on the world map”
Ms Pacey is also an accomplished musician, with experience in piano, violin and classical singing. She regularly teaches piano and also volunteers by playing the piano at my local hospital and care home, because giving back to my community is very important to her. She believes her diverse musical background and versatile range of skills have helped shape her into a confident, well-rounded person.
“My strong background in music and dance, combined with my passion for performing and being on stage, brings a unique perspective to my pageant journey and allows me to stand out as a contestant”.
Leila first heard about the Miss Caribbean and Commonwealth title through my mother. “Growing up, I would always sit and look through my Mum’s photo book from her pageant career, where I learned about her experience competing and winning the 10th Miss Caribbean and Commonwealth title. After competing in my first pageant earlier this year, Miss International UK, it felt like the right decision to take part in the 28th Miss Caribbean and Commonwealth through which I already had such a strong personal connection.
As one of the younger contestants at 23, she hopes to bring energy, enthusiasm, dedication and a proactive attitude to the title. With a deep passion for music, dance and giving back to my community, she would be proud to use the title to inspire others, make a positive impact and continue pursuing the things I love. She participated in her first pageant this year, Miss International UK 2026, where I placed in the Top 20 and was honoured to receive the Natural Beauty Award.
Leila concluded by saying: “I hope to make my late Grandmother, Nanny Bunny (who sadly passed away 16th September 2026), extremely proud in the 28th Miss Caribbean and Commonwealth. I used to visit her every Saturday and excitedly tell her all about my pageant journey”.