The Miss World pageant, currently being hosted in Telangana with the aim of promoting purposeful beauty continues to be mired in controversy.
Just recently, the organizers received backlash over local women washing the feet of contestants at the historic Ramappa Temple. Following the backlash,, a new issue surfaced, further tarnishing the eventโs image.
The emergence of the new controversy saw the withdrawal of a contestant, Miss World England 2025 Milla Magee over what she allegedly described as serious ethical concerns.
In an interview with British Tabloid The Sun upon her return to the UK, Miss World participant Milla Magee expressed her deep disappointment with the eventโs atmosphere, stating it did not reflect the pageantโs purported mission of โbeauty with a purpose.โ
“I went there with the intention of making a difference, but instead, we were treated like performing monkeys. The entire setup felt outdated and morally uncomfortable,” Magee said.
She described being forced into a highly controlled environment where appearance took precedence. Contestants, she claimed, were expected to wear full makeup at all times and remain in formal gowns throughout the day, even during breakfast.
Magee revealed that the turning point for her came during a dinner event where contestants were asked to “entertain” male sponsors.
“Two women were assigned to each table of six guests, and we were expected to stay with them all evening as a gesture of gratitude. I thought, โThis is completely wrong.’ I didnโt sign up to be used for someone else’s amusement.”
She told The Sun she felt as though the contestants were being “farmed out for entertainment” and said the experience made her “feel like a prostitute.”
โI came to inspire change and contribute meaningfully. Never did I imagine Iโd be put in a situation like that. Miss World claims to stand for empowering women, but what I experienced was the opposite, a system stuck in the past and disconnected from its values.”
Mageeโs departure has intensified criticism of the pageant, raising further questions about how it treats its contestants and whether its practices align with modern standards of dignity and respect.
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