The youngest mayor in Britain, Cllr Mayor Bright, is making waves as she steps in aged 29. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, she shares her main mission to pave the way for women like her.
The newly appointed Mayor of Barking and Dagenham has made headlines due her breaking the record of ‘youngest mayor’ in the UK.
Mayor Princess Bright, 29, spoke exclusively to the Mirror to share what it means to be a young Black woman in office – her main objective: to “break down barriers” and encourage women of colour to step into leading roles in politics.
Surprisingly, Mayor Bright’s interest in politics began as a preteen, where she recalled her first mentor in politics was none other than her mother, councillor and author Sade Bright, who acted as a London civic mayor nearly 20 years before. She said: “I’m 29, but in 2006, my mom was actually the civic mayor of Hackney. So my journey to politics actually began very very early on”.
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In 2006, a young Bright, aged 11, aided her mother’s run for civic mayor, after acting as a counsellor. Bright stated: “Out of all of my siblings, I was the only one who was interested in the work that my mom was doing because I just had a passion from being out in the community,” adding that even as a child, she was able to grasp “what it means to door knock, what it means to campaign”.
She now celebrates “inheriting” the same civic role as her mother, with the circular progression being a direct result of her dedication to politics and leadership roles throughout her schooling.
“I was a deputy head girl in my secondary school,” Mayor Bright tells us. “In university, I was the course representative for the course that I studied, BSE accounting with financial management. So I always held up leadership positions where I was advocating for others”.
The mayor also shared how these early roles led her to realise “how local decisions really impact everyday life,” saying: “It was really important to be that mouthpiece for individuals whose voices are sometimes unheard or who do not necessarily have a seat at the table”.
From handing out leaflets to being Barking and Dagenham’s mayor, Bright continues her advocacy for women “like her” in politics. She shared: “One thing that really warms my heart is the vast amount of young people who are just happy to see someone that looks like a person that they can relate to holding such a position”.
Paving the way, she described her election as “humbling, especially as a Black woman in the UK,” and that it “definitely carries profound significance” that is more than just a personal achievement, but “a powerful statement about representation, progress and possibility. In the sense of ‘if I can do it, any other young person from whichever diverse background that they represent, can achieve it [too]’,” added the mayor.
Mayor Bright also highlighted how, more often than not, “women of colour are under-represented – not just in politics, but in leadership and in the corporate world”. She claimed her title will “open up the doors for women of colour who are keen to break down barriers and to be the next generation of leaders”.
Her method of action? The launch of a new committee, one which “will really reflect the diversity of the borough”. The committee will be “regardless of social economic background and diverse,” insisted Bright, who wished for a borough proud of their representation.
In the face of “daunting times,” the young mayor promised: “I’m that beacon of hope that can show any person in the community, regardless of their background and what their views are, that they can definitely accomplish and thrive for greatness”.