There is a lot going on in Zuzanna Smolen’s diary at the moment. The Newton-le-Willows teenager plays in goal, has just qualified as a football referee, volunteers at a local stables and gives up her time for charity fundraising – and she has now been crowned Miss Merseyside 2026 and won a place in the grand final of Miss Teen Great Britain.
Zuzanna, a student at Rainhill High School, fits her training around a busy schedule. She has played as a goalkeeper for many years and takes part in development programmes and academies linked to the Football Association. That dedication recently led to another milestone, as she gained her FA refereeing qualification and is now an official referee.
Away from football, she is a keen horse rider and volunteers at a local stables, helping with the daily care of the animals.
In recent months she has also become more involved in community and charity work, and was appointed a Young Local Heroes (5AM Heroes) Ambassador, a role that recognises young people making a positive difference where they live. She helped organise a fundraising campaign for a seriously ill woman from Liverpool and put together care packages and gifts for girls living in a children’s home.
It is that mix of interests and effort that she has carried into the Miss Teen Great Britain competition. The semi-final stage was strongly contested, so reaching the grand final among the country’s top finalists is a real achievement.
Speaking about her success, Zuzanna said: “I am incredibly proud to have won the Miss Merseyside title and to represent my region in the Grand Final. It motivates me to keep working hard, developing myself and never giving up on my dreams.”
The Miss Teen Great Britain 2026 grand final takes place in October at the Globe Theatre in Blackpool, where finalists will spend a weekend taking part in rehearsals, workshops and social events.
Zuzanna said reaching the final is already a huge honour: “I am very happy to be in the final and to represent our region. I simply want to do my best and enjoy every moment of this experience.”