As the only British Bangladeshi Muslim finalist in Miss Great Britain London 2026, Tanisha Zaman is using her platform to challenge colourism, promote representation and encourage young South Asian women to embrace their identities. A youth activist, researcher and mentor, she believes pageantry is about far more than a crown. In a conversation with Asian Voice, she discusses faith, identity, confidence and why creating spaces where everyone belongs matters most.
As a British Bangladeshi Muslim woman, how have your faith and heritage shaped your journey in pageantry?
My faith and heritage are the reason I entered pageantry, not something I had to overcome. Growing up, I never saw women who looked like me on a pageant stage. As the only Muslim and one of the only openly British Bangladeshi finalists, I realised I wasn't just competing for a title, I was showing that women like us belong in spaces where we've rarely been represented.
I also grew up hearing comments about my skin tone and appearance, which affected my confidence. Entering pageantry became my way of challenging those beliefs, not only for myself but for every girl who has questioned whether she belongs. My faith has always grounded me, reminding me that compassion, humility and service matter more than any crown.
What did the decision of wearing a burkini throughout the competition represent personally, and what conversations has it started?
Wearing a burkini wasn't a compromise. It was freedom. Confidence doesn't come from revealing more of yourself physically; it comes from being comfortable with who you are.
Walking onto that stage meant I wasn't asking for permission to belong. I was saying that modest women deserve to belong too. Since then, I've received messages from Muslim women and others who dress modestly saying they had never considered pageantry because they didn't think there was a place for them. If my decision helped even one person feel seen, it was worth it.
What changes would you most like to see within South Asian communities and the beauty industry when it comes to colourism and representation?
I think we have to stop pretending colourism is a thing of the past.Many of us grew up hearing comments like, "Don't stay in the sun," or "You'd be prettier if you were lighter." They're often dismissed as jokes or tradition, but those comments shape how young people see themselves.
I know they shaped me. I'd love to see South Asian communities celebrate all shades of beauty instead of treating darker skin as something to apologise for or fix. Beauty shouldn't come with conditions.
The beauty industry also has a responsibility. Representation isn't just ticking a diversity box with one South Asian model. It's showing darker skin tones, different body types, disabilities, different faiths and different experiences. Real diversity means recognising that there isn't one way to look South Asian.
Beyond the titles and labels, who is Tanisha Zaman, and what values have guided your journey?
I'm someone who remembers what it felt like to believe I wasn't enough. People often see the public side of my life, but not the years I spent struggling with confidence.
Whether I'm mentoring young women, working in policy or speaking in schools, my goal is always the same: to help someone leave feeling more confident than when they arrived. Kindness, authenticity and intellect are the values that guide me. Success has never been about collecting titles; it's about opening doors that once felt closed.
Five years from now, what impact do you hope your work will have on the next generation of South Asian girls?
I hope a young British Bangladeshi or Muslim girl won't question whether she belongs in pageantry, leadership or public life. I don't want girls to believe they have to change their skin tone, hide their faith or become someone else to succeed.
If one girl enters a competition because she finally saw someone like herself on stage, or feels proud to wear modest clothing instead of apologising for it, then I've achieved what I set out to do. Representation matters, but belonging matters even more. I hope to help build a future where seeing women like us in these spaces is no longer remarkable, but simply ordinary.