A young beauty queen named Tabitha Bennett, competing for the Miss England title, has become the target of vicious online trolls who stole her photos and created fake nude images to harass her. The 20-year-old from Knutsford, Cheshire, reported the abuse to police, sparking calls for stronger action against digital harassment in the UK.
The Shocking Start of the Harassment
Tabitha Bennett won the Miss Lancashire crown in March 2025, a proud moment that followed in her mother’s footsteps from decades earlier. Just four months later, the joy turned to fear when trolls began their attacks.
They grabbed pictures from her Instagram and edited them to show her topless, then posted these fakes on bogus profiles. These accounts also pushed a fake sex chat line, twisting a charity event phone number she promoted for the pageant.
Abusive messages flooded in, not just to her but to friends, family, and even Miss England organizers. The trolls pretended to be her, spreading lies and harm.
This kind of deepfake abuse has spiked in recent years, with reports showing a 30 percent rise in online harassment cases in the UK since 2023, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.
Impact on Tabitha and Her Family
The harassment hit Tabitha hard, making her question her place in the competition. She felt scared and unsure who to trust, even thinking about quitting.
Her mother, Vicky Bennett, a former Miss Blackpool from 40 years ago, faced much of the backlash too. Trolls sent cruel comments her way, calling her names and accusing her of living through her daughter.
Tabitha shared that the abuse left her in tears and disrupted her daily life. She loves social media for its positive side but now sees its dark underbelly.
Family support kept her going, but the emotional toll was huge. Experts note that such attacks often lead to anxiety and depression, affecting one in five victims long-term, based on studies from the Cyberbullying Research Center.
- Common effects of online harassment include sleep issues and loss of confidence.
- Many victims, like Tabitha, report feeling isolated from their community.
- Recovery can take months, with therapy often needed to rebuild trust.
Police Investigation and Platform Actions
Cheshire Police launched a probe after Tabitha reported the incidents two months ago. Officers visited her home and promised a thorough look, but updates have been slow.
A police spokesperson confirmed they are treating it as online harassment and working to identify the culprits. No arrests yet, but the case remains active.
Meta, which owns Instagram, removed the fake accounts after complaints. They stated their teams act fast on reports of harmful content, but Tabitha wants more preventive steps.
This mirrors other cases, like a recent 2025 investigation in London where trolls targeted a celebrity with similar fakes, leading to new guidelines from the UK government on digital safety.
Broader Fight Against Online Trolls
Tabitha’s story highlights a growing problem: the ease of creating and sharing deepfakes. In 2025 alone, UK authorities handled over 10,000 reports of image-based abuse, up from previous years.
Beauty pageants have seen a wave of such issues, with contestants in events like Miss Universe facing similar threats. Advocacy groups push for laws that make platforms liable for failing to stop harm.
Tabitha calls for better education on digital ethics and faster responses from tech companies. She believes sharing her experience can help others speak up.
| Year | Reported Online Harassment Cases in UK | Key Trends |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 8,500 | Rise in cyberbullying among youth |
| 2024 | 9,200 | Increase in deepfake incidents |
| 2025 | Over 10,000 (projected) | Focus on image-based abuse |
Experts suggest users protect themselves by setting profiles to private and reporting suspicious activity right away.
Logical steps include using two-factor authentication and watermarking personal photos to deter edits.
What Needs to Change Moving Forward
Tabitha urges lawmakers to strengthen online safety rules, inspired by the UK’s Online Safety Act passed in 2023 but still evolving. She wants police to have more resources for these cases.
Similar events, like the 2024 harassment of a pop singer with AI-generated fakes, show the need for global cooperation. Tech firms are testing AI tools to detect deepfakes, but rollout is slow.
Tabitha’s resilience shines through as she continues in the Miss England finals, set for later in 2025 in Wolverhampton. Her story could spark real change.
If this article resonated with you, share it with friends to raise awareness about online harassment. Drop a comment below on your thoughts or experiences we can all learn from each other.
