Mary-Anna Jennings, an emergency responder from Grimsby and the current holder of the Miss Lincolnshire 2025 title, has been recognised for her original fashion approach at the Miss England semi-finals held in Wolverhampton. Known for her dedication to sustainability, Mary-Anna was honoured with the We Do Ethical Queen award following the presentation of a unique outfit crafted from repurposed potato sacks, originally from a local Lincolnshire farm.
Motivated by Marilyn Monroe’s famous potato sack dress, her design boasted a hand-fashioned corset, coupled with a sweeping A-line skirt and a cape constructed from Tencel, a sustainable fabric made at Grimsby’s Lenzing factory. The Lincolnshire-inspired ensemble intrigued the judges while simultaneously emphasising Mary-Anna’s commitment to circular fashion.
More broadly, Mary-Anna is having a noteworthy effect on her community. She organised a clothing swap event at LUSH Lincoln, resulting in over 300 items of clothing being saved from landfills. She also demonstrates her green ethos through fundraising efforts, having raised funds to plant 47 trees and maintaining an entirely ethical wardrobe in her Miss England campaign.
Residents nearby will have an opportunity to view her award-winning ensemble at the Freshney Place Shopping Centre in Grimsby, starting 28 October for the subsequent three weeks. Mary-Anna shared her pride in representing Lincolnshire, saying, “Participating in a beauty competition in a repurposed potato sack is odd but amazing, demonstrating my dedication to sustainability and our abundant agricultural history.”
Mary-Anna, who also promotes social issues through her initiatives SWIFS and Empowerment Education, will serve as Lincolnshire’s representative at the Miss England finals in November. Supporters can stay updated via the Miss England app, where voting can aid her in expanding her tree-planting initiatives.
This article was adapted from The Lincoln Post, based on original reporting from www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
