The 72nd Miss World pageant, hosted in Hyderabad, Telangana, from May 4 to May 31, 2025, was rocked by controversy following the abrupt withdrawal of Miss England 2024, Milla Magee, who alleged exploitation and disrespect by organizers. The Telangana government and Miss World officials have dismissed her claims as baseless and fabricated, launching a high-level probe to address the allegations, which have drawn global attention and criticism.
Milla Magee’s allegations
Milla Magee, a 24-year-old lifeguard and plus-size campaigner from Newquay, Cornwall, quit the Miss World pageant on May 16, just nine days after arriving in Hyderabad on May 7. In an explosive interview with British tabloid The Sun, Magee claimed she felt ‘like a prostitute’ due to the pageant’s practices, becoming the first Miss England in the competition’s 74-year history to walk out. She alleged contestants were pressured to ‘entertain’ wealthy middle-aged male sponsors at a dinner on May 13 at Chowmahalla Palace, describing the experience as being forced to ‘sit like performing monkeys.’ Magee further claimed contestants were required to wear heavy makeup and ball gowns at all times, even during breakfast, and faced superficial treatment that clashed with the pageant’s ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ motto. She criticized the event as ‘outdated’ and morally misaligned, stating, ‘I went there to make a difference, but I couldn’t be a part of it.’ Magee also expressed discomfort with the poverty she witnessed in Hyderabad, which she felt was inadequately addressed by organizers.
Initially, her departure was attributed to a family emergency involving her mother’s health, as stated by Miss WorldCEO Julia Morley. However, Ms. Magee’s subsequent allegations shifted the narrative, sparking international outrage and raising questions about the treatment of contestants in global beauty pageants.
Telangana government responds
The Telangana government, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, responded swiftly, ordering a high-level investigation on May 25, conducted by three senior women Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. The probe, overseen by Special Chief Secretary of Tourism Jayesh Ranjan, focused on Magee’s claims, particularly the Chowmahalla Palace dinner. Ranjan dismissed the allegations as ‘completely baseless and lacking even one percent of the truth,’ citing CCTV footage from the May 13 event showing Magee seated with a senior IAS officer, his wife, daughter-in-law, and a female friend—contradicting her claim of being forced to entertain male sponsors.
Mr. Ranjan interviewed over a dozen contestants, including Miss Wales, who sat with Magee, and reported no complaints of mistreatment, though some noted discomfort with excessive selfie requests from locals. He suggested Magee’s allegations might stem from an ‘outdated’ perception of India, possibly influenced by ‘1950s movies,’ and hinted at a possible ‘conspiracy to defame India and Hyderabad.’ The Miss World Organisation, backed by Ranjan, plans to sue Magee for defamation, citing unedited videos where she expressed gratitude for Telangana’s hospitality, calling the biryani and curry ‘wonderful’ and the treatment ‘overwhelmingly accommodative.’
Reactions and Fallout
The controversy has fueled political tensions in Telangana. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao condemned the alleged mistreatment, calling it a betrayal of Telangana’s ‘rich culture of respecting women.’ In a post on X, KTR apologized to Magee, stating, ‘As a father of a girl child, I wish no woman or girl ever has to go through such horrific experiences,’ and demanded an impartial investigation, criticizing the government’s initial dismissal as ‘victim gaslighting.’ BRS leaders also highlighted a prior incident at Ramappa Temple, where a local woman was seen washing contestants’ feet, sparking outrage over perceived disrespect to Telangana’s women.
The Miss World 2025 pageant, hosted at Hyderabad’s HITEX Exhibition Centre with a grand finale set for May 31, aims to boost Telangana’s tourism under the slogan ‘Telangana Zaroor Aana.’ The event, attended by contestants from 116 countries, included cultural tours to sites like Charminar, Warangal Fort, and Ramoji Film City. However, Ms. Magee’s allegations and the earlier Ramappa Temple controversy have had an effect on these efforts.
For contestants, the incident highlights ongoing criticisms of beauty pageants’ treatment of women. Ms. Magee’s exit, replaced by Miss England runner-up Charlotte Grant, has reignited debates about the relevance of such events, with her comments on objectification resonating with advocates for reform.