Miss England Quits Miss World 2025 in Hyderabad: “I Felt Like a Prostitute,” Says Milla Magee
Hyderabad : The Miss World 2025 pageant, currently underway in Hyderabad, India, has been shaken by controversy as Miss England 2024, Milla Magee, dramatically quit the competition mid-way, citing exploitation and outdated practices.
In an exclusive interview, Magee, a 24-year-old lifeguard and body positivity advocate from Cornwall, described her experience as “dehumanizing” and claimed contestants were treated like “performing monkeys” for wealthy sponsors.
“I Felt Like a Prostitute,” Says Miss England
In a powerful and candid interview with The Sun, Magee didn’t hold back:
“I felt like a prostitute. We had to sit like performing monkeys. I didn’t come here to be farmed out for entertainment.”
According to Magee, contestants were expected to wear full makeup at all times and remain dressed in evening gowns—even during breakfast. More troubling, she claims, was the forced socializing with male sponsors:
“We were paired two girls to a table of six men, and expected to entertain them all evening. It felt so wrong.”
Beauty with a Purpose—or Just a Facade?
The Miss World pageant promotes itself as “Beauty with a Purpose,” a platform meant to highlight humanitarian causes. Magee entered the competition with the aim of promoting her CPR awareness campaign, which is supported by Prince William. But what she found, she says, was a pageant stuck in the past.
“It became clear the focus wasn’t on making a difference. All the crowns and sashes in the world mean nothing compared to using your voice for real change.”
Magee said she eventually stopped wearing makeup and dressed casually, but received no support for her message-driven approach.
Historic First: Miss England Walks Away
This marks the first time in Miss World’s 74-year history that a Miss England contestant has voluntarily exited the global competition. The Miss World 2025 pageant is currently being held in Hyderabad from May 7 to May 31, featuring over 100 contestants from around the world. The grand finale will be held at HITEX Exhibition Centre on May 31.
Following Magee’s departure, Miss Liverpool, Charlotte Grant, has been appointed as England’s representative for the remainder of the pageant.
What’s Next for Miss World?
The incident has sparked a renewed debate about the relevance and ethics of global beauty contests in the modern era. While the Miss World Organization has yet to officially respond to Magee’s claims, public attention is now squarely focused on how the pageant balances tradition with progress.
