Miss England Milla Magee’s departure from the Miss World 2025 pageant in Hyderabad has sparked global outrage over reported disrespect and exploitation of contestants, overshadowing Telangana’s efforts to showcase its culture and boosting tourism.
The Miss World 2025 beauty pageant, intended to be a festival of international glamour and cultural pride, has recently become engulfed in scandal, overshadowing its proceedings in Hyderabad. Initially heralded as a diplomatic success and a promotional opportunity for Telangana, the event now faces significant backlash due to serious allegations made by the reigning Miss England, Milla Magee, and instances of culturally insensitiveness that have raised eyebrows both locally and internationally.
Magee made headlines upon her exit from the pageant, accusing organisers of “superficial treatment” and a lack of respect for participants. Her candid remarks in an interview with The Sun described how contestants felt objectified, with her stating that they were “farmed out for entertainment” and treated merely as eye candy to entertain male sponsors. “We were there to please these people and sit like performing monkeys,” Magee claimed, illuminating her discontent with an atmosphere that prioritised entertainment over the meaningful advocacy the participants sought to promote. When she attempted to engage sponsors with discussions about her advocacy work, she reported a lack of interest that only served to heighten her discomfort.
Adding fuel to the fire, Magee highlighted a particularly degrading incident where a female official reprimanded contestants for perceived dullness, further evidencing a disheartening culture within the pageant. She recalled, “It was so disrespectful, like she was addressing children,” underscoring the feelings of humiliation that many contestants reportedly faced.
Compounding the issue was a separate, shocking incident that occurred at the Ramappa Temple, where women were made to wash the feet of pageant contestants. This act, deemed both exploitative and culturally tone-deaf by many observers, further crystallised the emerging narrative of mismanagement and disrespect surrounding the event.
The fallout from these controversies has created considerable political embarrassment for the Telangana government, which has invested heavily in promoting the pageant as a key driver of tourism and an integral aspect of its cultural image. Local officials, including ministers from the Congress party, had previously touted the event as an opportunity to boost global interest in the state, unveiling a new tourism tagline, “Telangana Zaroor Aana,” aimed at attracting visitors during this period of international attention.
However, the outcome of Magee’s allegations, paired with the Ramappa Temple incident, has prompted widespread scrutiny of the event’s organisation and its implications on India’s global reputation. Critics have begun to question the integrity and capabilities of the Miss World organisers, suspecting that the pageant may tarnish India’s image rather than enhance it. Observers fear that the unintended consequences of the event could overshadow its original purpose of celebrating beauty and cultural exchange.
Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, the Miss World Organisation has yet to respond formally to the growing discontent and calls for accountability. Stakeholders now eagerly await whether the organisation can rectify its tarnished image and restore dignity to the competition. Unfortunately, what once promised to be a celebration of empowerment has now devolved into a cautionary tale of mismanagement and insensitivity, leaving Miss World 2025 at risk of being remembered for its controversies rather than for crowning a queen.
The disparity between the aspirational goals of events like Miss World and the realities faced by participants highlights a deeply entrenched issue within the beauty industry—as evidenced by Magee’s concurrent campaign to promote CPR education through her own ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ project. This initiative, which aims to include life-saving skills in schools and highlights her commitment to meaningful advocacy, serves as a stark contrast to her experiences at the pageant.
As the competition draws to a close, the onus is on the organisers to reflect on the representation of women and the standards they uphold. Only time will tell if they can reorient Miss World 2025 towards a more respectful and inclusive celebration of global cultures.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://ythisnews.com/miss-world-2025-in-turmoil-miss-englands-exit-sparks-global-controversy-in-hyderabad/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.missworld.com/news/miss-england-joins-st-johns-ambulance-to-extend-her-beauty-with-a-purpose – Miss England 2024, Milla Magee, has partnered with St John’s Ambulance to promote her ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ project, #GoFarwithCPR. She aims to raise awareness and teach life-saving CPR skills across schools in England, advocating for its inclusion in the national curriculum. Magee, a qualified lifeguard, emphasizes the importance of CPR training, sharing her personal motivation stemming from family heart attacks. She encourages others to volunteer with St John’s Ambulance to support the NHS and community health initiatives.
- https://www.missworld.com/news/miss-world-englands-2025-bwap-project – Milla Magee, Miss World England 2025, is leveraging her platform to promote CPR education through her ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ project, ‘Go Far with C.P.R.’ She is traveling across England to teach young people about CPR, with the endorsement of Prince William, who met Magee and supported her campaign. Magee is collaborating with her local Member of Parliament to make CPR training mandatory in UK schools, emphasizing the life-saving potential of widespread CPR knowledge.
- https://fashnfly.com/2025/04/beauty-pageant-replaces-bikini-round-with-cpr-skills-challenge/ – In a significant shift, the Miss England pageant has replaced its traditional swimwear segment with a ‘CPR Queen’ challenge, focusing on contestants’ proficiency in life-saving skills like chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. This change, initiated by current titleholder Milla Magee, aims to modernize the competition and highlight meaningful contributions. Magee, a trained lifeguard and CPR advocate, emphasizes the importance of practical skills in beauty pageants, moving away from outdated swimwear rounds.
- https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/19/woman-bullied-weight-school-becomes-first-size-16-miss-england-20867875/ – Milla Magee, 23, has made history by becoming the first size 16 Miss England. Overcoming childhood bullying for her weight and height, Magee now embraces her body and promotes body positivity. As a lifeguard and part-time model, she advocates for normalizing diverse body types in beauty standards. Magee’s victory challenges traditional perceptions of beauty, encouraging others to embrace their natural selves and defy societal pressures.
- https://telanganatoday.com/miss-world-vs-formula-e-telangana-congress-hypocrisy-exposed – The Telangana Congress party’s stance on hosting the Miss World 2025 pageant has been criticized for inconsistency. Previously, the party opposed events like the Formula-E race, citing lack of benefits to the city. However, the Congress now supports hosting Miss World 2025, allocating ₹200 crore for the event. This shift has raised questions about the party’s priorities and the actual benefits of hosting such international events for Hyderabad.
- https://lawstreet.co/executive/telangana-to-host-miss-world-pageant-2025-amid-fund-crunch-whats-the-controversy – Telangana is set to host the Miss World 2025 pageant in Hyderabad, with the state government allocating ₹200 crore for the event. This decision has sparked controversy amid a ₹71,000 crore revenue shortfall. Critics question the financial priorities of the government, especially when the state is facing a fiscal deficit. The pageant aims to showcase Telangana’s cultural heritage and boost tourism, but the substantial expenditure has raised concerns about its economic justification.
