Hyderabad — Milla Magee, who represented England at the Miss World competition, has withdrawn from the event. Her departure came just over a week after arriving in India with other contestants. Magee left on May 15, citing personal reasons.
After her exit, Charlotte Grant, the first runner-up of Miss England, quickly stepped in to represent the country. She arrived in Hyderabad on Wednesday to take Magee’s place in the ongoing competition.
In a recent interview with British tabloid The Sun, Magee shared strong criticism of her experience. She said contestants were treated like “performing monkeys” and were forced to wear heavy makeup and formal dresses all day—even during breakfast. She also claimed they had to walk in front of wealthy male sponsors, which made her uncomfortable. Magee said she chose to leave to protect her self-respect.
However, Julia Morley, the Chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organization, rejected Magee’s claims. Morley stated that the contestant left due to a family emergency involving her mother’s health and that her return was arranged quickly upon request.
Morley stressed that the reports in some UK media outlets were false and damaging. “Milla’s statements are not based on facts and don’t match what actually happened,” she said.
To counter the allegations, the Miss World Organization released several unedited videos of Magee during her time in India. In the clips, Magee appears happy and thankful, praising the experience. These videos, according to Morley, clearly show a different story from what was reported in the media.
“Miss World stands for truth, dignity, and the idea of beauty with a purpose,” Morley added, emphasizing their commitment to honest representation and respect for all participants.
