Latest news with #JuliaMorley
Daily Mail
43 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Miss World beauty contest is embroiled in 'exploitation' row after Miss England competitor accuses organisers of using her to lure in wealthy investors
A Miss World beauty contestant has become embroiled in an exploitation row after accusing the organisers of using her as entertainment for wealthy investors. Milla Magee, the reigning Miss England, said she decided to take part in the Miss World 2025 pageant to promote her campaign to have CPR added to the school curriculum. However, she left before the grand final in India on Saturday, reportedly claiming she felt exploited and as though she and the other women were being used as entertainment for investors as a 'thank you', the Guardian first reported. In response to the claims, Miss World referred to 'false and defamatory statements' that it said were 'completely unfounded and inconsistent with the reality of her time with us'. Julia Morley, the organisation's chief executive, reportedly claimed in an interview with the Hindu newspaper that Magee left because she 'believed she didn't stand a chance in the competition'. Magee, 24, said on Saturday: 'What Julia said was vindictive and very bitter. And it was a ridiculous statement. I did not leave because I thought I was not going to win. I left because I wanted to stand for what I believe in and it didn't align with my values. 'And I would hate for another young girl to go into this system after watching me this past year and have to experience the same.' She added: 'I felt like I've been fed a false narrative of this system that promotes ''beauty with a purpose'', that's supposed to be about advocacy and what you champion for.' Instead, Magee claimed she found she and the other women were there based on looks and to entertain guests, with limited opportunity provided to promote their chosen causes. In one claim, the contestant alleged that a man approached her and said: 'Next time I'm in London or England, hook me up' - leaving Magee feeling uncomfortable. She added that she has received many messages from women who have also taken part in pageants, 'saying how they felt the exact same'.
The Guardian
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Miss World organisers accused of being ‘vindictive and bitter' towards ex-contestant
Their mantra is 'beauty with a purpose'. But the organisers of the Miss World pageant have been accused of something altogether uglier: being 'vindictive and very bitter' towards a contestant who left over claims she had been used as window dressing. The reigning Miss England, Milla Magee, said she agreed to take part in the 2025 Miss World pageant because she believed it would be a platform to promote her campaign to have CPR included in the school curriculum. But she said the reality was very different. She left before the grand final in India on Saturday, saying she felt she was being exploited and claiming she and the other women felt they had been provided as entertainment for investors as a 'thank you'. Miss World organisers responded with a statement in which they referred to 'false and defamatory statements' that they said were 'completely unfounded and inconsistent with the reality of her time with us'. The organisation's chief executive, Julia Morley, went further in an interview with the Hindu newspaper, in which she accused Magee of leaving because she 'believed she didn't stand a chance in the competition'. On Saturday, Magee said: 'What Julia said was vindictive and very bitter. And it was a ridiculous statement. I did not leave because I thought I was not going to win. I left because I wanted to stand for what I believe in and it didn't align with my values. And I would hate for another young girl to go into this system after watching me this past year and have to experience the same.' Magee said there were a 'lot of tears behind the smiles' at the Miss World event in Hyderabad and she was unwilling to 'promote a lie'. She said that while the pageant purported to be about 'beauty with purpose', she found it to be about 'wearing different ballgowns every day and what you look like'. She said: 'I felt like I've been fed a false narrative of this system that promotes 'beauty with a purpose', that's supposed to be about advocacy and what you champion for. And I thought, right, this is a real good opportunity for me on a global stage to be able to talk about [my campaign] Go Far with CPR. This isn't about me standing on the stage, this isn't about what I wear. It's not about what I look like.' Instead, Magee claimed she found she and the other contestants were there more to look pretty and to entertain guests, with only limited opportunity given to promote their causes. In one instance, she alleged, a man she could not identify walked up to her and said: 'Next time I'm in London or England, hook me up,' leaving her feeling uncomfortable. Magee also said she felt Miss World had exposed her to anger from its backers by posting its statement on social media for them to comment on – failing, she said, in its duty of care to her. Nevertheless, she said, she had been 'inundated' with messages from women who had taken part in pageants 'saying how they felt the exact same'. She called on the organisation to modernise, saying: 'They have a big responsibility to acknowledge what I've said, acknowledge and listen to the reasons of why I left, to not just so quickly and irresponsibly put out a statement to say it's because I didn't think I was going to win.' Miss World has been contacted for comment.
Hans India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Julia Morley's repeated dress choice at Miss World 2025 sparks conversation on sustainability
Julia Morley, Chairwoman and CEO of the Miss World Organisation, garnered attention during the 72nd Miss World competition held on 31 May 2025 in Hyderabad, India, by wearing the same dress at both the event's introduction and finale. While no official statement has been released regarding this decision, the gesture aligns with Morley's longstanding commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. Under Morley's leadership since 2000, the Miss World pageant has shifted focus towards humanitarian efforts, notably through the "Beauty with a Purpose" initiative, which supports charitable causes worldwide. Her dedication to philanthropy has been recognised with several honours, including the Variety International Humanitarian Award and a CBE in 2022 for services to disadvantaged people in the UK and abroad. The Miss World Organisation has increasingly incorporated messages around environmental awareness and social responsibility into its platform. Recent events have included workshops focused on women's empowerment and sustainability, reflecting the pageant's evolving ethos. While the exact reasoning behind Morley's repeated outfit remains speculative, it undeniably contributes to the ongoing conversation about sustainability in the fashion industry and the role of public figures in promoting environmentally conscious choices.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Opal Chuangsri makes history and headlines as Thailand's first Miss World
HYDERABAD, June 1 — Thailand has won its first Miss World crown after 22-year-old Suchata 'Opal' Chuangsri claimed the title at the 72nd Miss World pageant held in Hyderabad on Saturday. According to Bangkok Post, Opal, a political science student, was recognised for her long-running 'Opal for Her' campaign, which supports women with breast cancer. She was selected from a field of 108 contestants. 'This moment is not just a personal victory; it is a shared dream of every young girl who wants to be seen, heard and to create change,' she was quoted as saying in her first address as Miss World 2025. The first runner-up was Ethiopia's Hasset Dereje, followed by Poland's Maja Klajda and Martinique's Aurélie Joachim. Last year's winner, Krystyna Pyszková, handed over the crown. Pageant chair Julia Morley described Opal as 'a woman of purpose, with a voice the world is ready to hear.'
Hans India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Thailand's Opal Suchata crowned Miss World '25
Hyderabad: Thailand's Opal Suchata Chuangsri was crowned the 72nd Miss World on Saturday, with reigning Miss World Krystena Pyskova doing the honours for Miss Thailand in the presence of Chairman and CEO of Miss World organization Julia Morley and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. Ethiopia's Hasset Dereje Admassu was the runner-up at the final contest. Among other contestants, Poland's Maja Klajda was in third place and America and the Caribbean's Martinique in the fourth place. The grand finale was held at a glittering and colourful ceremony held at HICC on Saturday. The winner Opal is a student of international relations. She has an interest in Psychology and Anthropology and she would one day like to be an ambassador. She has volunteered for organisations working in the field of breast cancer. Opal has a special talent for playing the Ukelele backwards and has sixteen cats and five dogs as pets, according to the Miss World website. India's Miss World contestant Nandini Gupta was eliminated before she could reach top 8. Nandini Gupta had raised hopes by becoming one of the five candidates shortlisted from Asia and Oceanian but could not proceed in the next round as two contestants from Asia and Oceania Miss Phillipines and Miss Thailand progressed to the next round. The top four contestants selected for the final round were Miss Martinique from America and the Caribbean, Hasset Dereje Admassu from Ethiopia, Miss Poland from Europe and Miss Thailand from Asia and Oceania. The top two contestants from each continent included Miss Brazil and Miss Martinique from America and the Caribbean, Miss Ethiopia and Miss Namibia from Africa, Miss Poland and Ukraine from Europe and finally Miss Phillipines and Miss Thailand. There was spotlight on Telangana culture as the contestants wore traditional Indian dresses like lehanga choli, Sharara and others designer by Archana Kochar. The jury consisted of Caryna Tyrrel, Sudha Reddy, Rana Daggubati, Jayesh Ranjan, Julia Morley, Manushri Chillar, Namrata Shirodkar, Sonu Sood and Dona Walsh. Film star Jackline Fernandes enthralled the audience with some popular Bollywood and Tollywood numbers like 'Chitiya Kalaiyan we...', 'Pani Pani hogayi.', Lomba Lomba chool', 'Ra Ra enta sakka'. There was an electrifying dance performance by Ishan Khattar with popular song Natu Natu, zingzing zinghat. Actor Sonu Sood was awarded Miss World Humanitarian Award for his work during COVID19 in India. He became the youngest to receive the award in the history of Miss World. Actor Rana Daggubati presented the award to Sonu Sood.
