In a rare and headline-making decision, Milla Magee, a finalist from the Miss England pageant, has voluntarily withdrawn from the Miss World competition, becoming the first contestant in the event’s 74-year history to do so. Her departure came during a pre-event promotional tour in Hyderabad, India, where she claims she was made to feel morally objectified. Milla Magee had originally claimed a family emergency as the reason for her departure from the competition.
Milla Magee Quits Miss World
Recently, though, Milla Magee gave a much more disturbing account in an interview with The Sun. Having arrived in Hyderabad on May 7, Milla Magee was engaged in a string of media and publicity appearances before the international pageant. Only nine days later, on May 16, she pulled out of the contest in its entirety. As reported by Milla Magee, the situation she found herself in was extremely uncomfortable and conflicted with her values.
She explained a specific promotional dinner in which contestants sat at tables with male guests, to work with them for the evening. She reported that she was more of a performer than a competitor in an international contest, comparing it to being paraded around for people’s amusement. Milla Magee described efforts to discuss the philanthropic endeavours she was enthusiastic about being largely disrespected by the attendees, who she felt were more interested in shallow interaction than substance. The experience, she described, left her feeling dehumanised and misrepresented the intent of the competition, which professes to empower women and advance social causes.
The 23-year-old was particularly angry at the Miss World organisation, describing it as old-fashioned and out of touch with contemporary values. She was dismayed that although the pageant paints a picture of empowerment, in her own experience, it was more like the reverse. Charlotte Grant, the initial runner-up in the Miss England pageant, was flown in following her departure to replace Magee. Grant is said to have arrived in India at some point this week and has since been greeted warmly by organisers and fellow contestants.