Miss England Maggie quits Miss World contest halfway in India

ISLAMABAD: There has been a ruckus in south Indian city of Hyderabad after the statement of Miss England Mila Maggie, generating a controversy about the Miss World contest.

Miss England Mila Maggie has created a sensation after giving an interview about the event. Since this year the competition is being held in Indian city of Hyderabad, stirring a lot of politics on the issue. Ms Maggie, who left the competition midway and returned to England, has given an interview to British tabloid The Sun, where she said: “They (organisers) made me feel like I am a prostitute”. Miss England returned to Britain leaving the ongoing Miss World pageant in India midway.

“I went there with the aim of bringing about a change, but on the contrary, I had to sit there like a puppet. My moral standards did not allow me to stay there anymore. The organisers thought I was there just to have fun. They forced me to think of myself as a prostitute. After appearing before rich male sponsors, I felt I had to take a decision. The good times for the Miss World pageants are over. It is useless to win these crowns and titles before raising your voice to change the world,” Ms Maggie said.

The Sun magazine wrote in its article that Maggie was being asked to woo some middle-aged men on the pretext of gratitude, which made her angry. “Two girls were seated at each table with six guests.” Maggie said she was asked to sit with those guests all evening and entertain them. “I found it very wrong. I did not go there to entertain people. Miss World should have some moral values.” Maggie called her mother and told her about her “harassment and abuse”.

Meanwhile, the BRS party has reacted strongly to the issue. In a post on X, it wrote: “(Anumula) Revanth, the Chief Minister of the Congress government, has tarnished the reputation of Telangana and Hyderabad internationally by spending Rs250 crore from the state exchequer!”

The Miss World organisers responded to Mila Maggie’s allegations, describing them “false”.

“Miss England 2025 winner, Mila Maggie, requested to leave the competition earlier, citing her mother’s illness. Understanding her situation, Julia Morley, chairman and CEO of the Miss World organisation, arranged for her to return to England. She was later replaced by Charlotte Grant who arrived to participate in the competition,” said a statement issued by the organisers . It added the reports published by British media outlets about the Maggie’s experiences in India were not correct.