‘Is it because I’m from Syria?’: UK’s Mrs World hopeful denied entry to US for pageant finale

CAMPAIGNER: Leen Clive

EXCLUSIVE: By Simon Bristow

An equality campaigner who planned to celebrate her journey as a refugee at a global beauty pageant this weekend may no longer be able to take part after being denied entry to the United States.

Leen Clive, 29, was crowned Mrs UK World in August 2020, and was due to represent the United Kingdom at the Mrs World pageant, a seven-day event starting in Las Vegas on January 9.

But those plans are now in disarray after the US Embassy in London denied her entry to the country under the Visa Waiver Program - a refusal Leen believes can only be related to her Syrian background.

Her husband Nigel Clive, a barrister from Hull, and their six-month-old daughter Arabella, were both granted authorisation to travel as part of the same online application process, which usually takes about three hours.

‘FRUSTRATED AND UPSET’: Leen and Nigel Clive check her visa application at their home in Hull

Unless the matter is resolved, and quickly, it will be the first time the UK has not been represented at the event in its 37-year history.

Leen is now hoping the embassy will urgently review her case and reverse its decision.

She is being supported by the event organisers - who describe it as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” - and her local MP Emma Hardy, who have both contacted the embassy urging it to reconsider.

Speaking at her home in Hull, Leen told The Hull Story: “It feels hopeless in a way. I’ve tried to sort it out and it just feels like it’s not happening.

BEAUTY QUEEN: Leen Clive after being crowned Mrs UK World

“I’m really frustrated, really upset. I’ve worked really hard for it for a full year, hard work and effort, and it’s not only me; I’ve had a team behind me supporting it, and it feels like all that work has been wasted now.

“It’s not because of a proper reason. Sixty countries are eligible to go and I’m the only one that’s not eligible. I’m British but coming from a certain background. It’s because of my Syrian background.”

Leen has contacted the embassy to explain her predicament and was advised to make an appointment - but the earliest she can get is in October.

Her participation in the event would be another triumph in a remarkable life story in which Leen has repeatedly shown that determination and talent can overcome adversity.

CELEBRATION: Nigel and Leen Clive with their daughter Arabella

Leen, who was born in Damascus, fled Syria with her mother in just the clothes they stood up in and arrived in the UK in 2013.

She could not speak English but studied the language alongside a degree in biomedical science at Sheffield Hallam University, where she graduated in 2019.

She was granted British citizenship in August 2020.

Leen, who is about to embark on her final training to realise her dream of becoming an NHS doctor, is also an ambassador for several charities and an interpreter for UNHCR, while also being a model and a presenter on Albanian TV.

“She’s done more here than I have in my entire life,” Nigel said.

DEDICATED: Leen Clive, who is training to be an NHS doctor

The couple met at a week-long intensive fight training camp in Transylvania, Romania, nearly five years ago.

“After her experience of upheaval as a refugee, Leen believes that every woman should be able to defend herself,” Nigel said. “I fell for her after she chipped a tooth but got straight back into the fight.”

One of the organisations Leen represents is Sona Circle, a non-profit social enterprise which works with employers to provide work opportunities for refugees. It was one of the projects she was intending to champion as part of her bid to be Mrs World, a situation she now finds ironic.

GRADUATE: Leen Clive with her degree from Sheffield Hallam University

“Sona Circle support people who have been treated unfairly,” she said. “It was my message to talk about it and take it worldwide – I am talking about it worldwide now, but just in a different way.”

Leen said “the UK has given me everything”, and said of her candidacy: “I came here as a refugee because it was a life-threatening situation. We had to escape, it wasn’t planned, we just left with our handbags, me and my mum.

“My campaign was all about equal opportunities – it doesn’t matter what your background is, if you’re willing to put the work in you can get there. It was a reflection of how I’ve felt in the UK.

“I’ve been treated the same as anyone else, they never made me feel an outsider, but I feel like an outsider now this has happened.”

She added: “It’s such a shame. I was really looking forward to all of it. The UK has been present for 35 years and this will be the first time it’s missing.

APPEAL: Leen Clive is hoping the US Embassy will think again

“I still have a bit of hope, that if someone picks up this story they will be able to sort my visa out. It’s just to have a bit of attention to what’s happened to try to sort it out.”

Appealing to the embassy to grant Leen a visa, Elaine Marmel, the president and CEO of Mrs World, wrote: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Mrs Clive to compete at the Mrs World pageant, and this is a huge honour for the United Kingdom to have their delegate … represented at the most prestigious pageant in the world.”

Ms Hardy, the Hull West and Hessle MP, said: “I’m keen for this matter to be resolved as quickly as possible. It’s fantastic that Leen is using this platform to promote equality and her story, going from a refugee to representing our country.

“As her local MP I’ll use what influence I have to try to get this resolved as soon as we can.”

The US Embassy has been approached for comment.