ABOUT | Rehema Muthamia

"Because I have a voice"

Let me tell you a bit about my journey. It’s one shaped by resilience, a lot of determination, and more twists and turns than I could have ever imagined.

I was born in London in 1996, to a single teen mum who had immigrated from Kenya. From day one, I was a vibrant and chatty little girl. In fact, one of my earliest memories is from when I was just 4 years old. My mum, probably exhausted from my nonstop talking, asked me, “Rehema, why do you talk so much?” and without skipping a beat, I told her, “Because I have a voice!” Little did I know at the time, but that simple statement would define my life.

Raised By Strong Women

Growing up in a matriarchal household, I was surrounded by powerful, visionary women who taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and education. My mum worked relentlessly to give me the best opportunities she could - even working non-stop to send me to an elite private boarding school in Kenya. It wasn’t easy, but through her, I learnt that there’s nothing you can’t achieve if you work hard.

The Academic and The Creative

I’ve always been a bit of an enigma, with two very different sides to me - both the academic and the creative. At one point, I had plans to become a paediatric neurosurgeon, but....turns out life doesn't always work out the way you planned! As I was racing to become the female equivalent of Ben Carson, I was also keeping busy developing my creative passions. I surprisingly had a short stint as a child actor, performing in commercials and productions at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (my true claim to fame).

No matter what I was doing, there was always an underlying theme: The need to use my voice. I was always passionate about speaking up, telling stories, and making an impact, whether that was in a lab, or on a stage.

Hitting Rock Bottom

In my early 20s, life threw me a challenge that I never expected. I spent years in an abusive relationship that left me broken and questioning everything I thought I knew about myself. But instead of letting that experience define me, I used it as a catalyst for change. I began a journey to rebuild myself, rediscover my identity, and emerge stronger than I ever thought possible.

It was during this time that I found pageantry, and it became an unexpected source of healing. When I won Miss England in 2021, it wasn’t just about the title; it was about reclaiming my voice and finding my purpose. I used the platform to speak out for others who were going through what I had experienced and to shine a light on the issue of domestic abuse.

Turning Pain Into Purpose

From there, my new chapter began. I started sharing my story on platforms across the world, became an award winning advocate and charity ambassador, got involved in transformative campaigns and became a public speaker. I’ve shared my story of freedom, healing and resilience, with the hope that it could inspire even just one woman, to believe that she too, can rise above adversity.

Building Empower Essence

In 2024, I took a leap of faith and launched Empower Essence, an community birthed from my passion to help women be empowered, and realise their full potential. It’s the culmination of everything I’ve learned: that women are strong, that every voice matters, and that pain can be turned into power.