Milla Magee, Miss England 2024, has been making headlines after she quit the Miss World pageant, citing “personal and ethical concerns”, claiming she was harassed in Telangana. The 24-year-old earlier arrived in Hyderabad for the pageant on May 7 but withdrew from the competition and returned to the UK on May 16.

According to the Sun, contestants were allegedly required to wear make-up at all times and remain in ball gowns throughout the day, including during breakfast.

The situation escalated when participants were allegedly asked to socialise with middle-aged men as a gesture of appreciation for their financial contributions to the event.

The Sun also quoted Magee as saying, “I went there to make a difference, but we had to sit like performing monkeys. It’s stuck in the past. Morally, I couldn’t be a part of it. As far as I can see, it hasn’t changed. All the crowns and sashes in the world mean nothing compared to using your voice and making a difference in the world.”

On Sunday, Telangana minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao, strongly condemned the alleged harassment faced by Milla Magee during her visit to the state.

Taking to X, Rao expressed his regret over the incident, stating, “You are a very strong woman, Milla Magee, and I am truly sorry you had to go through this in our state of Telangana. It has a rich culture of respecting women. Unfortunately, what you experienced doesn’t represent the real Telangana.”

“I hope you do feel better soon. As a father of a girl child, I wish no woman or girl ever has to go through such horrific experiences. Also, I strongly condemn the attitude of victim gaslighting and demand a thorough investigation into the allegations made by Miss England Milla Magee,” he added.

Source: India Today
--Agencies