The decision of Milla Magee, the 24-year-old titleholder of Miss England, to withdraw from the 72nd Miss World pageant in Telangana, India, has sparked widespread discussion about the relevance and ethics of contemporary beauty competitions. Initially attributing her sudden exit on 16 May to “personal reasons,” Magee later disclosed in an interview with The Sun that her departure stemmed from deep ethical concerns and a profound sense of disillusionment with the event’s structure and values.
Magee expressed her discomfort with the performative expectations imposed upon contestants, characterising the environment as exploitative. She reported that participants were instructed to appear in full makeup and evening gowns at all times, including during breakfast, which she interpreted as an attempt to control and commodify their appearances. A particularly distressing episode occurred during a formal dinner, where Magee and other contestants were paired with male donors and instructed to “entertain” them as a gesture of gratitude for their financial support. Magee described this as a humiliating experience, likening it to being treated like a “prostitute” and expressing that her attempts to engage in meaningful dialogue about her advocacy work were met with disinterest.
A committed campaigner for CPR awareness and an advocate for body positivity, Magee had previously made headlines as the first plus-size candidate to represent England at Miss World. She had also taken bold steps such as appearing makeup-free in pageants to challenge narrow beauty standards and promote authenticity. However, she asserted that her experience at Miss World stood in stark contrast to the ideals of “beauty with purpose” championed by Miss England.
Magee ultimately concluded that participating in a pageant that prioritised spectacle over substance was incompatible with her moral convictions. Her replacement, the Miss England runner-up, is expected to compete in the Miss World final on 31 May, joining 107 other contestants from around the globe.
