'More pageants should have male categories'

Jason Read said he was trying to encourage more pageants to include male categories

More pageants should have male categories, said a man who recently won a national competition.

Jason Read, from Nuneaton, spoke to BBC CWR while wearing his Mr Diamond UK winning sash and scarf and said he began his journey with pageants online during the pandemic.

Once lockdown lifted, the 37-year-old took part in charity competitions and then moved to the national stage, where he took his first crown.

Mr Read said: "To be told I was the overall winner was a massive shock. From there it kind of gave me the pageant bug."

After a friend involved in theatre encouraged him to get involved, Mr Read said part of the pageantry process was to pose in different outfits, take part in charity work and attend local events.

"It's not just luck", he added.

He competed in the Mr Diamond section of the Diamond UK pageant last year, and was disappointed to come second.

He said it motivated him to work harder, which led to his 2025 win.

"I just thought, I'll treat this as a learning curve and we move on to the next one. We have to pay to enter the pageants, which goes towards the prizes.

"Of course, now this year I am Mr Diamond."

Mr Read said he was now trying to introduce more males to the competition world, to encourage more pageants to include male sections.

He said: "There's pageants all over the country but very few have male categories. My friends and family are all very supportive and wonderful.

"In the future I'd love to carry on."