Wolverhampton woman celebrates pageant victory with message of hope and healing

A Wolverhampton woman has been crowned UK’s National Ms 2026/2027 after impressing judges with her community work, authenticity and commitment to supporting people affected by grief.

Domanique Lake, who represented Wolverhampton on the national stage, secured the title after sharing her personal journey and advocacy work around bereavement.

Her path to the crown has been shaped by profound personal loss, following the deaths of her mother and grandmother within 16 months of each other. She has since used her own experiences to support others through her platform Loving Through Loss, which encourages open conversations around grief while highlighting that hope and joy can exist alongside loss.

This was Domanique’s second attempt at winning the title, after she was named first runner-up in 2025.

During her reign, she will continue to champion her platform and create opportunities for people to feel understood and supported through storytelling, community engagement and awareness initiatives.

Domanique has also written a children’s book inspired by her experiences of grief, designed to help young readers and families have meaningful conversations about love, loss and resilience.

“Winning UK’s National Ms is an incredible honour, but for me this crown represents so much more than a title,” she said.

“It’s a reminder that even after life’s darkest moments, there is still purpose, hope and joy to be found. If sharing my story helps just one person feel less alone, then this journey is already worthwhile.”

Away from pageantry, Domanique works as a senior animal educational presenter, inspiring children and families through wildlife education while combining her passion for conservation.

She is also a wife, mother and supporter of charitable causes, including Cancer Research UK, Compton Care and other community initiatives.

As UK’s National Ms, Domanique will spend the coming year representing the organisation at events across the country, promoting community service, empowering women and encouraging conversations around resilience, mental wellbeing and healing.

She said representing Wolverhampton was a “source of immense pride”.

“Wolverhampton has always been home, and I’m incredibly proud to represent our city on a national stage,” she said.

“I hope people see that no matter what challenges you’ve faced, your story can become your strength. This crown belongs to everyone who has ever had to rebuild their life after loss. And as we say in Wolverhampton, ‘Out of darkness, cometh light’.”

Domanique hopes her reign will inspire others to embrace their own journeys, celebrate moments of joy and understand that healing is not about moving on, but moving forward with love.