I’m proud because

“I'm proud to be from Birmingham because of its cultural diversity and inclusivity, that’s a big deal to me. It’s a vibrant big city with lots happening in culture and arts. It’s a very inclusive place to live and connects communities together. When you go into your local areas, that what’s we see, we see the diversity of people and that’s what I love about our city.

During the pandemic and having been in lockdown, it made me realise that with all the people I aspire to, what I actually needed was my friends, my family, my community, my workplace and people close to me. I didn’t need to want to be Madonna anymore, I just needed to have the people I love in my life.

I'm looking forward to the Commonwealth Games and seeing lots of different people, the bringing together of communities and further diversity into the city.

My biggest dream having grown up around disability is to see a more inclusive community. There’s still a lot of challenges for people I know and my friends and there’s always more that can be done.”