Sexual abuse campaigner and former reality star Georgia Harrison has been awarded an MBE, an honor she described to the BBC as a great privilege.
Harrison, 30, receives the award for her tireless work combating violence against women and girls. This includes significant contributions to the 2023 Online Safety Act.
She emphasizes a deep sense of responsibility to support women victimized by crimes like intimate image abuse and deepfakes.
Her ex-partner, Stephen Bear, received a 21-month prison sentence in 2023 for uploading sexual footage of Harrison to OnlyFans without her consent.
Harrison, receiving her MBE as part of the King’s Birthday Honours, recounted rereading the letter from King Charles multiple times, overwhelmed by the news.
“It’s truly unexpected, and it feels wonderful to have my work recognized. Campaigning often feels like a thankless task,” she shared with the BBC.
The former reality television personality gained widespread recognition through appearances on ITV shows like *The Only Way is Essex* (2017) and *Love Island* (2018).
In 2019, she appeared on MTV’s *The Challenge*, where she met Bear.
Their on-again, off-again relationship ended with Harrison discovering in December 2020 that Bear, now 35, had uploaded intimate CCTV footage to OnlyFans without her consent.
Following her report, Bear was convicted of voyeurism and two counts of disclosing private sexual images.
Harrison subsequently received compensation in a damages claim and donated a portion of the £207,900 to charity.
She feels compelled to help others, deeply concerned about the rise of social media influencers promoting misogyny and sexism.
Harrison, expecting her first child, expressed anxieties about the current climate: “Honestly, I’d be terrified to have a teenager now.”
She cited figures like Andrew Tate, highlighting a disturbing trend of men mistreating women with impunity.
Her message to women: “You deserve fair treatment, consent, and bodily autonomy.”
A recent UK teacher poll revealed that three out of five believe social media negatively impacts student behavior, with Tate frequently cited as a contributing factor.
Harrison has observed consent workshops in primary schools, praising their effectiveness.
She hopes these educational initiatives will positively impact future generations.
“I hope things will be much better by the time my child faces these issues, as we’re finally educating about consent – something unprecedented in this generation,” she added.
Harrison notes that her case has inspired many women to pursue justice for rape, domestic abuse, and intimate image abuse.
Since Bear’s 2022 conviction, she has actively campaigned for improved support for victims, contributing to the Online Safety Act and working with the Women and Equalities Committee.
She’s collaborated with the committee on streamlining reporting timelines for victims, currently limited to six months post-incident.
“It took me four months to even realize I was a victim, highlighting the need for a more accessible and streamlined system for women,” she stated.
Harrison also receives numerous messages from deepfake victims.
There are growing concerns about schoolchildren using apps to share illegal AI-generated deepfakes.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reported a 380% increase in AI-generated child sexual abuse material reports in 2024 (245) compared to 2023 (51).
“Deepfake technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated and accessible,” Harrison warned.
The government recently introduced legislation to combat AI-generated child sexual abuse material, criminalizing its creation, distribution, and possession.