Decade-old rule broken: Miss England finalist competes without make-up for first time

The reason for Melissa Rauf from London, who stated that she wants to promote inner beauty, while challenging the beauty standards that are perpetuated on social media.

After appearing makeup-free in Monday's semi-final, Rauf will now compete with 40 other compatriots for the title of Miss England at the pageant in October.

The organizers they note that the option to go makeup-free has existed before, but this is the first time someone has chosen to do so.

Rauf, who is also expected to wear no make-up in the final, described the experience "scary but amazing".

The 20-year-old broke an "institution" that lasted almost a century

“It means a lot to me as I feel like a lot of girls of different ages wear makeup because they feel pressured to. If someone is happy with their skin, they shouldn't be forced to cover it up with makeup. Our imperfections make us who we are and that's what makes each person unique. I think people should love and embrace their imperfections as true beauty lies in simplicity," said the 20-year-old.

As she adds, she "never felt comfortable" with her skin, which is why she started wearing makeup from a young age. "I recently accepted that I'm beautiful in my skin and that's why I decided to compete without makeup," she added.

Rauf will compete for the Miss England title in OctoberCNNi

Rauf is getting a lot of support from young women her age who say that with this move, it helps them feel more confident about themselves.

"I want to do all girls feel good. I want to remove all beauty standards. I feel all girls are beautiful in their own way. I'm doing this for all the girls," she emphasized.