Georgia Harrison Receives MBE for Online Safety Campaigning
Reality TV star Georgia Harrison has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her tireless work in addressing online privacy and raising awareness about cybercrime, according to a report by The Independent. Harrison, 30, best known for her appearances on The Only Way Is Essex and Love Island, has dedicated herself to campaigning against violence against women and girls, a cause that has become particularly close to her heart following her own experience as a victim of revenge porn.
In an interview with the PA news agency, Harrison expressed her surprise at receiving the honour, saying: "Honestly, I’m completely blown away to be receiving an MBE – it’s one of my proudest achievements and something I didn’t expect to be coming through the letter box this summer." As The Independent reports, Harrison waived her right to anonymity in 2021 amid a trial that saw her ex-partner, Stephen Bear, accused of sharing a secretly recorded sex tape of her to adult content website OnlyFans. Bear, also a reality TV star, served 10 and a half months of a 21-month sentence after being found guilty of voyeurism and of two counts of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress.
Harrison’s campaigning work has taken her to the heart of British politics, where she has met with MPs and ministers to push for greater protections for women and girls online. As The Independent notes, in April 2023, she attended a demonstration, held outside Parliament by domestic violence charity Refuge, calling for specific protections for women and girls to be included in the Online Safety Bill. She also called for social media platforms to be "held accountable" for online harassment and abuse, and criticised the justice system for failing to "keep up". Later that year, she discussed the Bill in a Downing Street meeting with former technology secretary Michelle Donelan as it returned to the Commons for its final stages.
The Independent understands that Harrison’s work advocating for online safety and the prevention of violence against women and girls has earned her numerous accolades, including the activist gong at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards 2023. In an interview with The Sun in October 2023, Harrison revealed that she had had "serious conversations with a couple of Labour MPs" about a bid to represent an Essex constituency. While her political ambitions are clear, her focus remains on using her platform to make a positive difference in the lives of others. As she told the PA news agency: "I didn’t want anyone else to feel as alone or powerless as I did. I’ve tried to turn something painful into something positive, and this honour is a reminder that we can make change when we use our voices."
Harrison’s campaigning work has also led to her involvement in several high-profile projects, including the launch of a campaign about sexual consent titled Consent Conversations with Thames Valley Police in 2024. She has also explored the prevalence of deepfakes and image-based sexual abuse in an ITV documentary titled Georgia Harrison: Porn, Power, Profit, which was released earlier in the year. As The Independent reports, Harrison has taken part in a range of reality TV shows, including Celebrity Ex On The Beach and Channel 4 reality show Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, which she won with boxer Lani Daniels.
As Harrison prepares for the arrival of her first child with her partner Jack Stacey, she remains committed to her campaigning work. In a statement, she thanked everyone who has supported her along the way, saying: "Thank you to everyone who’s supported me along the way, to all of the MPs that invited me in to speak with open arms and to all the charities that supported me and my fellow survivors. I’ll never stop fighting for what’s right and I’ll always step up when and where I think I can make a positive difference for others." The MBE honour is a testament to Harrison’s dedication and perseverance in the face of adversity, and serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that one person can have on the lives of others.
The news of Harrison’s MBE honour was first reported by The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/lifestyle/kings-birthday-honours-2025-georgia-harrison-mbe-b2769688.html.
