Winner announced for Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge – the largest youth speaking competition in the world

Fifteen-year-old Princilla Agyemang from St Gregory’s Catholic Science College wowed a packed audience at the Cambridge Theatre on Monday, July 1 and was announced the winner of this year’s Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge – the largest youth speaking competition in the world with more than 20,000 young people taking part this year alone.

Just days after the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, Princilla spoke about a friend coming out and the reaction to it.

Speaking directly to her Grand Final audience of more than 1,000 people, Princilla said: “Every single person in this room is part of a minority, it just depends how you slice the pie.”

Pointing her finger to the middle of the room she continued “no one deserves to be discriminated against for their race, religion, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.”

Her considered and pointed speech was fact-checked and rich with emotive opportunities.

This year’s Grand Final judging Panel comprised a mix of award-winning journalists, high-profile business people and celebrities, all known for using their voice to make a change.