Beauty Queen Quits Major Pageant Over Shocking Allegations

Milla Magee, a 24-year-old who once dreamed of using her platform to spark global change, has walked away from the Miss World pageant—and she’s not going quietly.

Magee, who had been crowned Miss England and was set to compete at the Miss World finals, abruptly withdrew earlier this month. At the time, she cited “personal reasons.” But now, in an explosive interview with The Sun, she’s revealing the disturbing truth behind her decision—and it’s a damning indictment of the pageant industry.

“I went there to make a difference, but we had to sit like performing monkeys,” Magee said. “It was dehumanizing.”

According to Magee, contestants were “paraded in front of rich men” and expected to serve as entertainment for pageant sponsors. She says the experience left her feeling more like “a prostitute” than a role model.

“They dressed it up as charity work,” she explained. “But what I saw was young women being farmed out to please donors. It was disgusting.”

Magee’s account sheds light on what critics say is a long-standing problem in the beauty pageant world: a toxic blend of objectification, elitism, and outdated gender norms dressed up in glitter and goodwill.

A trained counselor and vocal advocate for women’s mental health, Magee says she entered the pageant believing she could use the global platform to raise awareness about emotional trauma and resilience. Instead, she says, she was silenced and sidelined.

“Morally, I couldn’t be a part of it anymore,” she said. “All the crowns and sashes in the world mean nothing compared to using your voice and standing for something real.”

The Miss England organization has since replaced Magee with the first runner-up, who will go on to compete against more than 100 contestants at the Miss World final on May 31. The organization has not issued a public response to Magee’s claims.

Magee, meanwhile, says she has no regrets—and no plans to return to pageantry.

“I’m done pretending,” she said. “If women want to change the world, we don’t need to be in heels and sashes. We need to be heard.”

Her departure is already stirring conversations online, with supporters praising her courage and calling on major pageants to confront their practices. For now, Magee is focused on what comes next.

“This wasn’t the end of my platform,” she said. “It’s the beginning.”