Miss Somerset, 21, dies suddenly as tributes pour in

Tributes had been paid after Miss Royal Somerset champion Chloe Roberts passed away suddenly, aged 21. The Minehead-based pageant queen and nurse was a courageous advocate for mental health awareness and had dedicated her platform to a friend who had died from suicide.

Royal UK Pageants announced the tragic news on Saturday, January 25, writing: "It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our Miss Royal Somerset Chloe[.] Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this difficult time. Rest in peace Queen [...] forever Miss Royal Somerset".

Somerset Live had the pleasure of speaking to Chloe a few weeks ago. She was looking forward to the chance to compete at an international competition in Florida, but was much more excited to use her platform to advocate for mental health awareness. Chloe ran a podcast called Talk It Out which broke taboos about mental health conditions.

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Earlier this month, Chloe said: "The reaction has been a bit mixed. There has been a few negative people saying 'maybe you shouldn't be talking about this'.

"But at the end of the day, with what I've been through, losing a friend... I don't think there's anything wrong with speaking about mental health."

She was planning to enter a competition for 'best spokesmodel' this year, where Miss Royal UK contestants make a two-minute speech on a topic dear to their hearts in a costume themed around the issue. Chloe had designed her costume herself and was very excited for the competition: "I already have the outfit in my wardrobe for [the spokesmodel competition], it just needs a few touch-ups. It's going to be a big secret that'll be revealed on the day.

"All I can say is it's going to be mental health-based and focused on my platform with Talk It Out."

Chloe, who trained as a nurse, was trying to battle negative attitudes towards beauty pageants after she became Miss Royal Somerset for 2025. She first started competing in beauty pageants in 2019, and won the Miss Royal East Yorkshire title for 2024, having studied nursing at the University of Hull. She moved to Minehead with her family three years ago.

Warm tributes have been paid in Chloe's memory following her death. One person wrote: "Such a beautiful young lady[.] My heart goes out to her family and friends[.] You'll always be remembered." One person, who said they competed in pageants with her, described Chloe as "amazing" and "so friendly".

Another wrote: "Chloe Roberts my girl what can I say? You were a bright light in this crazy world to so many people. Thank you for always being there for everyone else. We will miss you. You beautiful human. So young but so strong. You did your best. Love you forever."

On Facebook, one friend said: "I honestly don’t have the words to express my love for Chloe Roberts and I’m heartbroken but hoping this poem I wrote can explain just a little bit of how amazing and such a beautiful soul she will forever be …"

When I was at one of my lowest

A little butterfly landed

She filled my world

And understanded

Everything I communicated

She was full of love for others

Funny , friendly , fierce

Inside hidden by a smile

Was something deeper than this

She will forever be a blossoming flower

Too young for the world

To have taken her power

A gorgeous butterfly

With purple wings

She will forever flutter

No matter what life brings