Miss England Milla Magee Quits Miss World 2025 Over ‘Prostitute-Like’ Treatment, Calls Pageant Outdated
Hyderabad, India – May 24, 2025 – In a dramatic turn of events, Milla Magee, the reigning Miss England 2024, has walked out of the Miss World 2025 pageant being held in India, citing what she describes as exploitative and demeaning practices by the event organizers.
Magee, 24, who was representing the United Kingdom, announced her shocking decision during an exclusive interview with The Sun, stating that she felt “like a prostitute” and morally could no longer be part of the event. Her abrupt exit has ignited a wave of global conversation around the relevance, ethics, and treatment of contestants in international beauty pageants.
“Morally, I couldn’t be a part of it”: Why Milla Magee quit Miss World
Speaking candidly to The Sun Magazine, Milla shared distressing details about her experience at the pageant venue in Hyderabad, India. Her initial motivation to join the contest, she said, was to “make a difference,” not to be “farmed out for people’s entertainment.”
“We had to sit like performing monkeys. It’s stuck in the past,” Milla said, clearly disillusioned. “All the crowns and sashes in the world mean nothing compared to using your voice and making a difference in the world.”
The allegations are severe: Milla claimed contestants were assigned two per table of six guests, and were expected to engage in small talk for the entire evening as a form of entertainment—something she equated to being “treated like a prostitute.”
“I didn’t come here to be farmed out”
The former Miss England recalled feeling deeply uncomfortable during a dinner event, where she said the atmosphere reduced her and other women to passive entertainers.
“There were two girls to each table of six guests. We were expected to sit with them and entertain them as a thank you. I found that unbelievable,” she said. “At one point I tried to talk about the causes I was supporting, but it was obvious the men at the table were not interested.”
Milla emphasized that this experience clashed completely with the values she believed Miss World stood for—empowerment, advocacy, and public service.
“Miss World is supposed to have the same values. But it’s outdated and stuck in the past,” she added.
Backlash and support
Magee’s departure has led to an online outpouring of support from feminist groups, former pageant contestants, and netizens who see her move as brave and honest. The #ISupportMilla hashtag has already started trending on X (formerly Twitter), with many praising her for calling out “antiquated and exploitative beauty pageant norms.”
Former pageant finalist and women’s rights advocate Alicia James tweeted:
“Finally, someone is pulling the curtain back on what really happens behind the glam. Milla Magee is a hero.”
However, some pageant traditionalists have expressed disappointment over the public criticism, arguing that Milla could have addressed her concerns more privately or after the contest had concluded.
Replacement and next steps
With the grand finale of Miss World 2025 set to air in over 180 countries next week, Magee has already been officially replaced by Charlotte Grant, the runner-up of Miss England 2024.
Grant, 25, has not publicly commented on the situation but is expected to participate fully in the final events scheduled later this week.
Miss World organizers have yet to release a formal statement addressing Milla’s accusations.
Larger questions about the future of beauty pageants
Milla Magee’s exit has reignited a broader conversation that has been simmering for years: Are international beauty pageants still relevant in today’s society?
Critics have long argued that many global pageants continue to operate on outdated standards of femininity, focus heavily on physical appearance, and often lack transparency and accountability in their selection and evaluation processes.
Despite multiple rebranding attempts, including the addition of advocacy platforms and “beauty with a purpose” projects, events like Miss World and Miss Universe are often accused of being performative rather than transformative.
From glamour to grit: Who is Milla Magee?
Before winning the Miss England title in 2024, Milla Magee was known for her strong social justice initiatives and activism. A psychology graduate from the University of Manchester, she had launched several campaigns focused on mental health awareness, anti-bullying, and gender equality.
Her decision to step away from one of the world’s most prestigious pageants aligns with the same values she promoted during her reign as Miss England. Instead of walking the runway, she now appears to be walking the talk.
What comes next for Milla Magee?
While she hasn’t revealed detailed plans about her future, Milla hinted during her interview that she hopes to use her platform to advocate for change—especially in how women are represented in global arenas.
“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 said.
It’s clear that Milla Magee is done with the crowns and sashes. But her bold stand may have just crowned her as a new kind of queen—one who speaks up for what’s right, no matter the cost.
Milla Magee’s explosive exit from Miss World 2025 is not just a beauty pageant scandal—it’s a mirror held up to an industry that many feel has failed to evolve with the times. Her choice may cost her a title, but it’s already winning her widespread admiration. Whether it sparks real change in the world of beauty pageants remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Milla Magee is not afraid to challenge the status quo.
