'Made me feel like a prostitute': Miss World contestant quits pageant, cites ethical concerns

Hyderabad: Controversies continue to plague the international Miss World pageant, which the Telangana government has been hosting with great fanfare to promote the state globally. Following an earlier uproar over local women washing the feet of beauty pageant contestants during their visit to the iconic Ramappa Temple, another controversy has cast a shadow over the competition as one contestant has withdrawn from the event.

Miss England 2024 Milla Magee has withdrawn from the ongoing Miss World 2025 pageant being hosted in Telangana, citing personal and ethical concerns for her decision. The 24-year-old, who arrived in Hyderabad on May 7, returned to the UK on May 16, ending her participation in the global beauty competition.

In an interview with British tabloid The Sun following her return to the UK, Magee expressed disappointment with the pageant's environment, stating that it did not align with her expectations of "beauty with a purpose." However, Miss World organisers have refuted her claims. Following her exit from the competition, Miss England runner-up Charlotte Grant has stepped in to replace her.

According to The Sun, Milla Magee reportedly "fled the competition," citing "superficial treatment and lack of respect toward contestants." She claimed to have quit the Miss World beauty pageant because she felt organisers were exploiting her.

"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," Magee told The Sun.

The publication also reported that Magee said she "felt like a prostitute" and was "farmed out for entertainment" by Miss World organisers. She said she decided to take a stand after being paraded in front of wealthy male sponsors.

"Contenders were told to wear make-up 24/7 and ball gowns all day, including at breakfast," she said in the interview.

According to The Sun, Magee said the final straw came when contestants were told to entertain middle-aged men as a "thank you" for their financial support of the show.

"There were two girls assigned to each table of six guests. We were expected to sit with them for the whole evening and entertain them as a thank you. I found that unbelievable. I remember thinking, 'This is so wrong.' I didn't come here to be farmed out for people's entertainment. Miss World is supposed to have the same values, but it's outdated and stuck in the past. They made me feel like a prostitute," The Sun quoted Magee as saying.

"I went out to make a difference, to help create a different future, perhaps inspire young people. Never in a million years did I expect to find myself in that situation. We were there to please these people and sit like performing monkeys. I couldn't stand it."

She also claimed that one official reprimanded contestants for being "boring" after an event.

Responding to Magee's allegations, Miss World Organisation CEO and Chairperson Julia Morley CBE's office stated that earlier this month, Milla Magee had 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, said she responded to Magee's situation with compassion and immediately arranged her return to England, prioritising the well-being of the contestant and her family.

Following Magee's departure, Charlotte Grant, the first runner-up of Miss England, stepped in to represent her country. Charlotte arrived in India on Wednesday and has since been welcomed into what the organisation calls "the Miss World sisterhood."

"Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that certain UK media outlets have published false and defamatory statements, allegedly made by Milla Magee, regarding her experience in India. These claims are completely unfounded and inconsistent with the reality of her time with us. In response, the Miss World Organisation is releasing unedited videos recorded during Milla's stay in India, in which she expresses gratitude, joy, and appreciation for the experience. These videos reflect her own words and sentiments and serve as a direct contradiction to the recent false narratives," the organisation stated.

The Miss World Organisation maintains its commitment to "truth, dignity, and the values of Beauty With a Purpose," the statement from Julia Morley's office said. The Miss World final will air in over 180 countries next Saturday.