Miss England 2024 Milla Magee has made severe headlines by stepping away from the Miss World 2025 pageant, which is currently taking place in Telangana, India.

She reported a few experiences that made her feel exploited and objectified during the competition in Hyderabad. Her departure gained significant eyeballs because it happened for the first time in the pageant's 74 year history that a Miss England had exited from the middle of the competition.

Allegations of Exploitation

Magee, a 24 year old lifeguard from Newquay, Cornwall, described that she was made to feel like a "performing monkey" and "prostitute" during the event to The Sun. She informed that contestants were expected to wear ball gowns throughout the day and socialize with middle aged businessmen as a form of gratitude for their financial support as sponsors.

Magee found these expectations demeaning and contrary to the values she believed the pageant should emphasize. She also mentioned instances where organizers disrespected contestants, including clapping in their faces to command attention.

She stated:

I went there to make a difference, but we had to sit like performing monkeys. It’s stuck in the past. Morally, I couldn’t be a part of it. As far as I could see, it hasn’t changed and is stuck in the past. All the crowns and sashes in the world mean nothing compared to using your voice and making a difference in the world.

Contradictory Statements and Responses

Initially, Magee cited a family emergency involving her mother's health as the reason for her withdrawal. However, she later admitted that this was a pretext to leave what she perceived as an exploitative environment. In response, the Miss World Organization attempted to counter her claims as "false and defamatory" and released unedited footage showing Magee appearing joyful and appreciative during her stay.

A statement from the organiser noted:

Earlier this month, Milla Magee requested to leave the competition due to a reported family emergency involving her mother’s health. As a mother and grandmother herself, Julia Morley CBE, Chairwoman of Miss World, responded to Milla’s situation with compassion and immediately arranged her return to England, placing the well-being of the contestant and her family first.

Following her departure on May 16, Magee returned to Cornwall. Charlotte Grant, the first runner-up and Miss Liverpool, has taken her place in the competition. Angie Beasley, director of Miss England, expressed full support for Magee's decision, emphasizing the importance of personal well-being.

Telangana minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao shared her story in a post on X, and said:

It takes a lot of guts to stand up and call out misogynistic mentality, especially on international forums like the Miss World. You are a very strong woman, Milla Magee and I am truly sorry you had to go through this in our state of Telangana. Unfortunately, what you had experienced doesn't represent the real Telangana. I hope you do feel better soon. As a father of a girl child, I wish no woman or girl ever has to go through such horrific experiences. Also, I strongly condemn the attitude of victim gaslighting and demand a thorough investigation into the allegations made by Miss England Milla Magee.

Personal Reflection

Milla's revelation has given rise to widespread controversy and reignited debates about the authenticity of beauty pageants and the moral values they claim to uphold. Being associated with the entertainment and glamour industry myself, I could relate to what is being spoken of.

In an industry where most of the people are blinded by the dazzling rays of glitz and glam, kudos to Milla that she gathered the courage to speak up for herself and exposed the dark realities of the beauty industry on behalf of so many naive and exploited individuals who never got a chance to be heard.

Despite advocating discourse around changing beauty standards, I still somehow feel we are extremely "outdated" when it comes to empowering women, especially in the entertainment industry. It breaks my heart to see how long women have been subjected to objectification and humiliation, and treated as an aid for amusement. It's high time we start honouring women as human beings made of blood and flesh and encourage them to spread their wings so they can fulfil their dreams with dignity and respect.

Is it too much to ask for a little compassion? When can we finally receive our due respect as individuals, as artists, and as equal beings?

#MissEngland #MillaMagee #MissWorld2025 #PageantNews #ExploitationAwareness