Well, I’m absolutely chuffed to bits that, once again, our bold little Barry has hit the headline news as a town for its trailblazer talent.
Massive congratulations to local lass Darcey Coria who has become the first woman of colour to scoop the much-coveted Miss Wales crown – a feat of equality never achieved in its 70-year history.
Add to that the 21 year old is an active Black rights campaigner and we have one of our residents as a very real role model.
Inspirational Darcey is very closely involved in Together Stronger – the Criminal Justice in Wales Anti-Racism Delivery Plan.
She volunteers for the well-respected Race Equality First, helps women from ethnic minority backgrounds integrate in to the community through health and fitness.
The trained Ask Me Ambassador for Welsh Women’s Aid, who works in the care sector, is also a ‘dementia friend’ helping raise awareness and understanding of the condition too.
Brains and beauty – a fabulous and formidable combination.
And with the Miss Wales win, what a perfect platform, and privilege, for Darcey to keep on keeping on with fight against the racism so often rife in our society.
I am also so sure that this is the start of Miss Wales’ journey into diversity with our very real model for all those young girls who have now seen someone like them lift that coveted crown.
Respect to the organisers too for awarding Darcy with the ‘Spirit of Miss Wales’ Award for her tireless work to combat racism.
A girl after my own heart, the newly crowned winner will spend a year in her role making appearances, representing Wales at Miss World and no doubt spreading the anti-racism rallying cry.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it loudly again, it’s not enough to be passively non-racist, we must be actively anti-racist.
God didn’t gave me this big, booming voice as a blessing for nothing so I intend to keep on using it to shout for racial, and all other, equality.
We must all be both visible and vocal if we are to stand squarely in solidarity with our ethnic minority neighbours.
So thanks Darcy for your activism and, of course, congratulations for the massive Miss Wales win.
Like all those family and friends, we are so proud.
What do you think.
Mrs SVJ
The Voice of Our Community
Sue Vincent-Jones, blogging as Mrs SVJ, is a Barry born journalist, editor, and activist. She writes about Barry – and her life in the wider world, through the eyes of a, quirky and queer, local girl done good.
Written exclusively for the Vale’s newest newspaper, and digital platform, The Glamorgan Star, her latest ‘Passing Comment’ column, an addition to the infamous Sue’s Views collection, can be found here.
Mrs SVJ, Barry’s Boldest Blogger, can be contacted here.