Miss England dropped out of the 72nd Miss World pageant in Telangana, India, criticizing the “outdated” competition for exploiting and objectifying its contestants.

24-year-old Milla Magee originally attributed her May 16 departure to “personal reasons,” but revealed exactly why she “couldn’t take it anymore” in a bombshell interview with The Sun.

“I went out to make a difference,” Magee said. “Never in a million years did I expect to find myself in that situation. We were there to please these people and sit like ­performing monkeys.”

Magee said the contestants were instructed to wear makeup and gowns at all times, even breakfast. After one event, an official reportedly scolded Milla and her peers for being “boring” at an event.

She reached her limit at a dinner where pairs of contestants were assigned to tables of six men, who they were told to “entertain” for the evening as a “thank you” for their financial contributions to the show.

“I remember thinking, ‘This is so wrong. I didn’t come here to be farmed out for people’s entertainment,'” Magee recalled. “They made me feel like a prostitute.”

“At one point I tried to talk about the causes I was supporting, but it was obvious the men at the table were not interested,” she told The Sun. “Instead there was weird small-talk that left me feeling uncomfortable.”

A lifeguard, surfer, and England’s first plus-size Miss World candidate, Magee emphasized her commitment to Miss England’s mission to embody “beauty with purpose.” She’s used her platform to highlight her CPR awareness campaign, and attended pageants makeup-free to empower young women to embrace their natural beauty. But at Miss World, she felt reduced to her appearance and pressured to conform.

“Morally, I couldn’t be a part of it,” she told the tabloid. “All the crowns and sashes in the world mean nothing compared to using your voice and making a difference.” (Latin Times)

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Sri Lanka’s Anudi Gunasekara has advanced to the 20 finalists of the Head to Head Challenge at the 72nd Miss World, underway in Hyderabad, India. 

Anudi has been named among the Top 5 finalists from Asia, a historic achievement, as she becomes the first Sri Lankan ever to be placed as a finalist in this segment.

Anudi has also set another incredible record, becoming the only contestant from Asia to be a finalist in both the Head to Head and Talent rounds this year. 

The Head to Head Challenge at the 72nd Miss World offers a global platform where contestants can highlight some of the most pressing issues affecting communities today. 

The 72nd Miss World, which commenced on 07 May, will see the reigning Miss World, Krystyna Pyszková from Czechia, crown her successor on 31 May. (Newswire)

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Anudi Gunasekara will represent Sri Lanka at the 72nd Miss World pageant, scheduled to take place in Hyderabad, India, from May 7 to May 31. Miss World is one of the world’s premier beauty competitions.

Gunasekara earned the national title of Siyatha Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World 2024. Raised in the historic city of Anuradhapura, Anudi studied at Anuradhapura Central College. The 25-year-old holds a degree in International Relations from the University of Kelaniya.

She began professional modeling in 2020 under the guidance of Brian Kerkoven and entered the industry part-time while attending university. She currently works as a model and social activist.

Gunasekara is the founder of the “Saheli”Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on addressing period poverty in Sri Lanka. The initiative, which began as a university project, aims to raise awareness about menstrual health, distribute hygiene products, and reduce the menstrual poverty rate, which affects an estimated 50% of women in the country.

Her advocacy is centered on breaking social and cultural taboos surrounding menstruation and providing education and resources to women across all social backgrounds.

Gunasekara is currently preparing for the upcoming Miss World competition.

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