Milla Magee, 24, the Miss England 2024 titleholder representing the United Kingdom at the Miss World 2025 pageant in Telangana, India, has shocked the pageant world by withdrawing from the competition. Speaking candidly in an interview with The Sun Magazine, Milla revealed she felt exploited and uncomfortable with the event’s outdated and morally questionable practices.
Milla explained that she had joined the pageant hoping to make a positive impact and inspire change. However, her experience was far from what she expected. “I went there to make a difference, but we had to sit like performing monkeys,” she said. “It’s stuck in the past. Morally, I couldn’t be a part of it. All the crowns and sashes in the world mean nothing compared to using your voice and making a difference in the world.”
The former Miss England expressed deep discomfort about how contestants were expected to engage in prolonged small talk with male guests. “There were two girls 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,” Milla shared. “They made me feel like a prostitute. I didn’t come here to be farmed out for people’s entertainment.”
Milla also revealed that attempts to discuss meaningful causes and advocacy were met with disinterest from the guests. “It was obvious the men at the table were not interested. Instead, there was weird small talk that left me feeling uncomfortable. 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.”
Following her withdrawal, Miss England runner-up Charlotte Grant, 25, has been named as Milla Magee’s replacement in the competition. The Miss World 2025 finale, hosted in Hyderabad, Telangana, is scheduled to be broadcast in over 180 countries next week.
Milla Magee’s revelations have sparked discussions about the relevance and ethics of beauty pageants, especially those with deep-rooted traditions that may clash with contemporary values of empowerment and respect.
Sources By Agencies
