Art & Culture, Cover Stories

Miss Wales 2019, Gabriella Jukes: “I Love Proving People Wrong.”

7 May

You may have spotted the ever-beautiful Gabriella Jukes on screen, The former Miss Wales who’s now a sports broadcaster, is truly making an impact with her passion for sports and dedication to empowering women. It’s been quite the journey for Gabriella, transitioning from the glamour of pageantry to the fast-paced sports broadcasting industry. But she seems to be loving every minute of this path to personal fulfillment.

Now, you’d think Gabriella’s upbringing in a small- Industrial town of Port Talbot might have limited her ambitions, but not a chance. Instead, it forced her to relentlessly pursue her dreams. She first excelled academically, scoring a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science. Then it was a stint in modeling, where she even reached the final stages of Britain’s Next Top Model!
But despite those valuable experiences, her interest always remained in sports. So eventually, she completed an MSc in Sport Broadcast, paving the way for her dream career behind the mic.

When I asked her about being a former pageant queen now in sports broadcasting, Gabriella shared candidly: “I must admit, at first when people in the industry find out that I’m a former Miss Wales, they are both impressed, and a little sceptical of what that entails, but I love proving people wrong.”

“Once they get to know me and see what it’s all truly about, they genuinely do change their perspective on things, and the majority of people are really supportive of it. The truth is, pageant queens bring a unique perspective and skill set to any industry, including the sports world, and should absolutely be taken seriously.”

Hosting shows like BBC Squad Goals and Swans TV Live have been major highlights of Gabriella’s career so far. As she reminisced, “One particular memory that stands out is the excitement I felt, while on the pitch with Swans TV, surrounded by passionate fans, and capturing the excitement of a South Wales derby.”
Whether it’s interviewing players, engaging with fans, sharing the thrill of victories for the Cymru national teams, or directing that documentary on Welsh captain Sophie Ingle, each experience has only deepened Gabriella’s love for this industry.

Speaking of that documentary, she shared honestly, “Directing, producing, and editing the documentary on Wales captain Sophie Ingle was a labour of love and a deeply personal project for me.” Inspired by Sophie’s remarkable journey, she wanted to spotlight those achievements and the broader theme of women’s empowerment in sports. “Through the documentary, I hoped to inspire young girls and women to pursue their dreams fearlessly and to challenge the status quo in male-dominated fields.”

But Gabriella’s commitment to breaking barriers extends way beyond just broadcasting. Her involvement with Women’s Aid and the IOPC’s ‘Know Your Rights’ campaign is deeply personal, reflecting her passion for supporting survivors of domestic abuse and advocating for social justice. As she put it, “As a volunteer and ambassador for Women’s Aid for the past 10 years, particularly Thrive Women’s Aid based in my hometown of Port Talbot, I’ve had the opportunity to work directly with survivors and provide the support and resources they need to rebuild their lives. I’m also an Ask Me Ambassador which means I have undertaken courses to become more knowledgeable on spotting the signs of domestic abuse in our communities, and I can also signpost someone to help if they need it.”

Then there’s also the passion project she recently started – the ‘She Has a Goal in Mind’ podcast, born out of her desire to empower women in sports and amplify their voices. Each episode features in-depth conversations with incredible female athletes, coaches, and advocates who are breaking barriers and inspiring change. As Gabriella puts it, “What motivates me to continue producing the podcast is the opportunity to share stories of resilience, determination, and triumph with the audience.”

Don’t think for a second that’s where her work towards inclusivity ends though, as she is also a Be Football mentor and Her Game Too ambassador. Through those projects, she helps promote inclusivity and diversity in sports. Her approach is rooted in a genuine desire to make a real difference. “As a mentor, I strive to provide guidance, support, and encouragement to young women as they navigate their own journeys in the world of sports, and in this case, particularly football,” she explained.

Similarly, as a Her Game Too ambassador, she’s passionate about raising awareness on the importance of real inclusivity across sports as a whole. “I have hosted workshops with young girls about sexism, aiming to educate and empower them to challenge gender discrimination.”

Representing Wales at Miss World and pursuing her modelling career were both incredible experiences that shaped Gabriella’s perspective on beauty, representation, and empowerment too.

“During my time at Miss World, I had the opportunity to meet women from all walks of life and to celebrate diversity and cultural heritage on a global stage,” she reflected. Her modelling career also allowed her to challenge traditional beauty standards and embrace her own unique identity and expression. So what’s next for our friend Gabriella? Well, looking ahead, her aspirations are twofold: to keep making an impact in her career and advocacy work, while inspiring others to do the same along the way.

“In my career, I hope to continue pushing boundaries and challenging stereotypes in sports broadcasting. I want to use my platform to amplify diverse voices and stories, and also to advocate for greater inclusivity and representation in the industry,” she stated.

Beyond that, she remains committed to her advocacy work, fighting for women’s empowerment and social justice. Every career transition and pivot has just been a stepping stone for Gabriella, you see. “I’ve always been someone who loves a challenge and seeks out new opportunities for growth,” she said simply.