Activist Georgia Harrison has been awarded an MBE for her incredible work campaigning against violence against women and girls, specifically intimate image-based abuse after becoming a victim herself within her relationship with Stephen Bear.
She took home GLAMOUR's Activist of the Year Award at the 2023 Women of the Year Awards, and continues to champion this important work, empowering and supporting victims. Here, she writes for GLAMOUR about how it feels to receive her latest accolade.
When I first learnt that I’d been awarded an MBE, it felt completely surreal. I honestly couldn’t believe it. It took quite a while to sink in that it was actually happening. Since then, I’ve felt a deep sense of elation and pride. Receiving such a prestigious honour is something I never imagined for myself.
It’s an incredible recognition, not just for me, but for the journey I’ve been on and the cause I’ve been fighting for. And to have the opportunity to meet the Royal Family – well, that’s something I’ll be forever grateful for.
What made it even more meaningful was that the work I’ve poured my heart and soul into was recognised. Campaigning isn’t easy. It’s not just about showing up, it’s travelling across the country, sometimes with very little notice, and constantly revisiting the most traumatic chapter of my life to educate others and push for change. It’s emotionally exhausting, especially when you’re sharing your personal story over and over again in order to make people understand the importance of consent, digital safety, and justice.
“I contemplated stopping posting images of myself but I didn’t want to let the misogynistic trolls get their way."
I don’t always post everything I do in relation to my campaigning. Sometimes it can feel repetitive, and honestly, a lot of campaigning is repetitive. It means turning up to event after event, whether the room is packed or nearly empty, whether it’s in Parliament or a small local event because someone in that room might be the person who can make a difference. You end up repeating the same message again and again, hoping that this time, someone listens.
But throughout it all, you never forget what you’re fighting for. So, when I found out I was being recognised with an MBE, it was nice to know that someone had been watching, that the work hadn’t gone unnoticed.
For those who don’t know my story, everything began in 2020 when my ex-partner, Stephen Bear, recorded and shared intimate footage of me without my consent. The violation itself was horrific, but what truly shocked me was how easily it all happened and the speed at which the footage spread and the fact that online platforms profited from my pain. It made me realise just how broken the system was. How could we live in a world where someone’s worst moment becomes another person’s source of profit? Where consent means nothing as long as the clicks kept coming?
After a nearly three-year-long legal battle, Bear was found guilty of one count of voyeurism and two counts of disclosing private sexual images. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison in March 2023. That courtroom verdict felt like a victory, but only a partial one. The personal battle was over, but the war for justice and protection for others was just beginning."
Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to fighting for legislative change, awareness, and support for victims of image-based sexual abuse (IBSA). I’ve worked to strengthen laws around non-consensual imagery and deepfake pornography, helping ensure that victims can now seek justice more easily.
I’ve given speeches across the UK on internet safety, met with government officials — including the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan — to discuss next steps, and collaborated with Thames Valley Police on consent campaigns. The campaign was shown on the main stage at Reading Festival about consent, particularly when alcohol or drugs are involved.
I’ve marched with Women’s Refuge, where I’m proud to serve as an ambassador, and spoken at select committees and roundtable discussions on online safety. Every single one of my efforts is about creating a safer, more respectful online environment – not just for women, but for everyone.
Women regularly approach me in the street to thank me for the work I’m doing. Online and in person, I’ve heard from survivors who say my decision to speak out gave them the strength to report their own abuse – whether that’s rape, image-based sexual abuse, or domestic violence. That, to me, is where the impact truly lies. I never anticipated the ripple effect that waiving my anonymity would have. But knowing that my decision helped others find justice, helped them feel less alone, is something I carry with pride. I didn’t just fight for myself – I fought, and continue to fight, for all of us.
Online safety is more important now than ever before. It’s encouraging to see the government finally taking real responsibility in this space. After filming two documentaries, including Porn, Power, and Profit for ITVX earlier this year, I’ve come to fully understand just how dark and complex the online world can be. But we have to keep pushing.
Technology must work for people, not against them. If we don’t act, the consequences will be dire. Imagine a world where someone can use AI to create realistic, sexualised videos of your child? Too late. That world already exists, and we must do everything in our power to stop it. Deepfake pornography is now officially illegal, but still some offences have a reporting window of just six months. That urgently needs to change, but until it does, it’s vital to act quickly and contact the police immediately.
Celebrating this MBE is not just about personal achievement – it’s a marker in the journey towards dignity, consent, and accountability. It’s a sign that the UK is finally taking online harm seriously, and a powerful message that those who use their voices to drive real-world change will be heard.
If you’re a victim of image-based abuse, including deepfakes, you can contact the Revenge Porn Helpline for support. You can also report online harms to Ofcom, which now oversees the implementation of the Online Safety Act. GLAMOUR UK is running an important Stop Image-based Abuse campaign to further strengthen laws around intimate image abuse. If you want to support that work, check out their social channels.
Glamour is campaigning for the government to introduce an Image-Based Abuse Law in partnership with Jodie Campaigns, the End Violence Against Women Coalition, Not Your Porn, and Professor Clare McGlynn.
Revenge Porn Helpline provides advice, guidance and support to victims of intimate image-based abuse over the age of 18 who live in the UK. You can call them on 0345 6000 459.
