In a bold move that has sparked global attention, Milla Magee, the 24-year-old Miss England, has officially withdrawn from the 72nd Miss World competition held in Telangana, India. Her shocking departure was initially explained as due to “personal reasons,” but Magee has now spoken out, citing deep concerns over how contestants are treated.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Magee revealed that she felt the pageant promoted outdated values and placed female participants in demeaning roles. “I entered this competition to make a positive impact,” she stated. “But what I experienced felt more like being part of a performance — we were expected to act like decorative objects.”
Magee described how contestants were required to wear makeup and formal attire at all hours — even during breakfast. She also claimed that officials criticized the group for appearing “unengaging” during certain events.
The final straw, Magee says, came during a dinner where pairs of contestants were seated with groups of male donors, whom they were expected to “entertain” as a show of gratitude for their financial support of the event.
“I remember thinking, ‘This is not what I signed up for.’ It felt demeaning,” she explained. “When I tried to discuss meaningful causes, the men seemed uninterested. The atmosphere made me incredibly uncomfortable.”
Known for being England’s first plus-size candidate to enter Miss World, Magee has long championed self-confidence and social causes. She previously made headlines by attending beauty events without makeup and launching a CPR awareness campaign as part of her platform.
“I believe in empowering women and using this platform to inspire real change,” she said. “No title is worth compromising your values.”
Magee’s decision has ignited a larger conversation about the relevance of global beauty pageants in the modern era — and whether they still align with their claimed missions of empowerment and purpose.