Now Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers has topped it all by becoming a government minister on the Caribbean island of Anguilla – and she's still only 27. She joined the government after a stunning election victory in which she defeated Victor Banks, the 72-year-old premier of the British overseas territory. He had held a seat on the assembly for more than 40 years. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers (above), who made history as the first black Miss Universe Great Britain, has now become a government minister in Anguilla - and she's only 27 It is another stunning achievement for a young woman who grew up on a humble farm on the island. Speaking to The Mail on Sunday last night, she said that she was 'drunk on sleeplessness' from lengthy celebrations after a campaign in which her opponents tried to dismiss her as nothing more than a pretty face. 'It's just lazy prejudice, ' she said. 'It was definitely there during the campaign. There was a feeling that I'm not prepared, that because of my past in Miss Universe, I couldn't qualify as an opponent.
Sixteen shops are closing down EVERY DAY fuelling fears our high streets are becoming ghost towns due to sky-high rents and the rise of online retail More than a hundred High Street shops are closing every week, study shows Pubs, bars and restaurants closed at a high rate as did estate agents and banks The situation could get worse as fashion stores run 'panic sales' on autumn stock Published: 00:06 GMT, 11 September 2019 | Updated: 07:53 GMT, 11 September 2019 High-street chains are closing outlets at a record rate of 16 a day in ghost town Britain. Sky-high rates, parking charges and a shift to online shopping are devastating bricks-and-mortar businesses. Big names such as House of Fraser, Marks & Spencer, Prezzo and Jamie's Italian shut 2, 868 outlets in the first six months of the year – 110 a week. The closure rate is the highest since the Local Data Company and PwC started the survey in 2010. Store openings resulted in a net decline of 1, 234. The research shows the biggest decline in chain stores involved fashion retailers such as LK Bennett, New Look and Blue Inc. Pubs, bars and restaurants also closed at a high rate as did estate agents and banks [File photo] The situation may worsen because fashion stores have been running 'panic sales' on autumn stock.
From how we socialise to the way we shop, the coronavirus pandemic has shaped every aspect of our lives. So it is of little surprise to learn Covid-19 will have a dramatic impact over how we design and furnish our homes over the next 12 months. Property experts at online design and renovation platform Houzz have shared their predictions on the trends that will dominate the industry in 2021, from a love of nature-inspired colours to even more smart technology in the home. Many of the trends reflect our way of life in a Covid-19 world, with all-white kitchens that 'look clean' high on the list of priorities. Outdoor seating areas with pizza ovens and fire pits that can accommodate socially-distant get-togethers have also become more desirable. Here, a look at nine of the trends expected to grow in popularity this year... ALL-WHITE KITCHENS Sleek and clean: Photos of white kitchens are receiving more interest on Houzz, a trend that is expected to continue into next year. Experts suggest the choice could reflect a ' pandemic-fuelled desire for clean-looking cook spaces' It seems this neutral, light-enhancing choice for the hardest-working room in the house is growing in popularity, with searches for 'white kitchen' rising significantly this year compared to 2019.
ANTI-BACTERIAL BATHROOMS Safe and stylish: Antimicrobial tap materials are also gaining traction, as homeowners look to increase hygiene amidst the pandemic. Colourful bathrooms are also becoming more popular Antimicrobial tap materials are also gaining traction, as homeowners look to increase hygiene amidst the pandemic. Professionals report a rise in requests for copper-based fixtures, which benefit from these properties. There is also a shift towards colourful bathrooms. The most popular combinations and features include featuring pink cabinetry, gold grouting, pastel sanitaryware and rich zellige tiles. Meanwhile, 'pink bathroom', 'navy bathroom' and 'gold bathroom' were brandnew additions to the most popular search terms on Houzz in the latter half of 2020, with designers predicting further growth for these trends in 2021. GARDENS TO ENTERTAIN... AND GROW-YOUR-OWN Dining al fresco! Outdoor dining and entertaining options and accessories, such as pizza ovens, are becoming more popular as we face spending more time socialising outside Self-reliant: Vegetable patches are also becoming more popular amid the Covid-19 crisis Another new addition to the most-searched terms on Houzz this year, 'vegetable garden' speaks to a rising interest in all things horticultural, with many dabbling in growing their own vegetables for the first time.
Photos of white kitchens are also receiving more interest on Houzz, a trend that is expected to continue into next year. Experts suggest the choice could reflect a ' pandemic-fuelled desire for clean-looking cook spaces, with people spending more time in the kitchen wanting an uncluttered feel. MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SPACES Making the most of what you have: This year changed how many use their homes, with households having to live, work and play in one space during lockdown. Pictured, a desk concealed behind doors in a modern kitchen This year changed how many use their homes, with households having to live, work and play in one space during lockdown. As a result, more design professionals are starting to incorporate more hybrid designs, detachable units, and convertible pieces to create a home suited to the 'new normal'. One example which saw a surprising rise in popularity this year is the 'murphy bed', which gives the option of 'pulling down' a bed from the wall. The experts said: 'This suggests a need for homeowners to hide away large pieces of furniture in bedrooms or spare rooms during the day, so they can double as offices while many of us work from home for the foreseeable future. '
The Daily Mail has repeatedly highlighted the crisis in the retail sector, which threatens to ruin many of the country's town centres However chicken shops, which are often blamed for fostering childhood obesity, grew in number. Greater London had the biggest number of chain closures with a net fall of 326, ahead of the South East at 167, the South West at 123, the East of England at 118 and the West Midlands on 113. The closures relate only to the UK's 500 most popular shopping streets and do not include the many thousands of independent stores lost elsewhere. The Daily Mail has repeatedly highlighted the crisis in the retail sector and has led calls to reform a business rates system under which high street retailers often pay more than internet-based firms. Helen Dickinson of the British Retail Consortium said: 'Stuck between weak demand thanks to Brexit uncertainty, and rising costs resulting from business rates and other public policy costs, many retailers are struggling. The Government should take the opportunity to reduce the heavy cost burden holding back retail investment. '
But it was actually becoming Miss Universe GB, rather than a barrister, that stirred me to take a more active interest in social development. 'Many people see beauty pageants as the antithesis of feminism, but I used my role to highlight female genital mutilation and acid attacks. ' As a teenager, she ran the 400m at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi for Anguilla, then followed her father and aunts into law, travelling to England to study at Birmingham University. Ms Kentish-Rogers and her Anguilla Progressive Movement, which won seven of the 11 seats in the election last Monday, want to tackle corruption on the island to benefit its population of 15, 000 Ms Kentish-Rogers also competed for Anguilla in the Women's Heptathlon Javelin during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games While still a student, Ms Kentish-Rogers competed at the 2014 Games in Glasgow, finishing 11th in the heptathlon. After finishing her degree, she returned to the Caribbean and became Miss Anguilla in 2017 before a second spell in Birmingham to complete her legal qualifications.
LUXURY VINTAGE Sustainability, climate change and the impact we have on our planet continue to be a big theme for next year. Professionals are reporting a growing interest in high-end, second-hand furniture, which aligns with the interest in sustainability experts have seen on the platform. Pre-loved: Designers are still seeing an interest in vintage pieces as customers look to furnish their homes in a more sustainable fashion
Experts expect to see this trend continue into next year, as those with even the smallest amounts of outdoor space, make use of window sills, balconies and planters to enjoy the benefits of home-grown produce. Unsurprisingly, given the restrictions in place over the summer, there's been huge interest in outdoor spaces on Houzz. Homeowners have increasingly been searching for 'summerhouses', 'firepits', 'hot tubs' and 'outdoor kitchens, which have all risen in popularity as search terms this year. We expect to see more of these features in gardens next year. And it's not just for the summer months, professionals report an increase in demand for designs that will extend the garden's use later into the evening and year. Particularly dining outdoors, with pizza ovens a popular request for 2021. CHIC EXERCISE SPACES Exercise at home: The unpredictable nature of gym openings mean more of us want space to exercise at home or in the garden. Pictured, an example of a chic home studio More homeowners are seeking out 'home gym' and 'garden gym' ideas, which have both seen a dramatically rise in popularity this year.
She was called to the Bar a year later. By that time, she had set her sights on the Miss Universe GB competition and won the title that same summer, going on to compete at the global final in Thailand. The significance of becoming the first black woman to win the British crown passed her by initially, she said, but now she feels 'privileged' to be a role model. 'When people tell me that I've been an example to their daughters, those messages floor me and make me understand what an honour it is to inspire others by becoming the first black winner, ' she said. After gaining an insight into British politics while in Birmingham, Ms Kentish-Rogers and her Anguilla Progressive Movement – which won seven of the 11 seats in the election last Monday – say they want to tackle corruption on the island to benefit its population of 15, 000. Ms Kentish-Rogers, who has now been appointed minister for social development and education in Anguilla's new cabinet, also boasts a career as a barrister But in the short term, her job is to help Anguilla grapple with a financial crisis caused by coronavirus.