In a dramatic and historic move, Miss England 2024, Milla Magee, has walked out of the Miss World 2025 pageant, currently being hosted in Hyderabad, Telangana. This marks the first time in the 74-year history of the competition that a reigning Miss England has quit mid-way. The 24-year-old lifeguard and plus-size advocate from Cornwall revealed her shocking experience to The Sun, accusing the pageant of parading contestants like “performing monkeys” in front of wealthy male sponsors. “I felt like a prostitute,” she stated bluntly, criticizing the forced glamour, constant makeup, and uncomfortable seating arrangements with men, which she described as deeply inappropriate.

Magee joined Miss World with hopes of promoting meaningful causes, particularly her CPR awareness campaign supported by Prince William. But she claims the reality was far from her expectations. “It’s stuck in the past,” she said, accusing the organizers of masking traditional beauty pageantry with hollow slogans like “beauty with a purpose.” Milla stopped wearing makeup and dressing formally as a silent protest, noting that no one seemed to care about her real message. Her experience sheds light on what she calls the “cracks in the system” of an event that prioritizes image over substance.

Despite the controversy, the Miss World 2025 event continues in Hyderabad with over 100 contestants from around the globe. The pageant, which began on May 7 and concludes on May 31 at the HITEX Exhibition Centre, features talent shows, charity drives, and cultural showcases. Following Magee’s departure, Charlotte Grant from Liverpool has stepped in to represent England in the finale. While the event celebrates global beauty and purpose on paper, Milla Magee’s departure has sparked serious discussions about how much of that promise still holds true in today’s world.