Miss England waging war on body stereotypes

Milla Magee, a 23-year-old woman, made headlines when she was crowned Miss England in May. Some reports even claim she is the first plus-size Miss England. Milla is determined to spread a powerful message during her reign: that size does not define beauty. Living in Newquay, Cornwall, she grew up in London, where her life was filled with rock 'n' roll culture. Her mother worked at Creation Records, a famous record label known for signing iconic bands like Oasis and Primal Scream. Milla's godmother is Meg Matthews, who was once married to Noel Gallagher, a well-known musician. Growing up, Milla felt the pressure to fit into a certain mold, as she attended an all-girls school where most of her classmates were petite. She reflected on her experience, saying, 'A lot of the other girls were petite and small. It's not in my bone structure to look like that but I tried to conform to that because it's what society told me I had to look like. ' This struggle led to body dysmorphia, a condition where individuals perceive themselves as unattractive. However, Milla eventually realized that she could embrace her unique style instead of trying to fit in. She found inspiration in curvy icons from the past, such as Marilyn Monroe, who was celebrated for her voluptuous figure. Milla stated, 'We had role models of women back in the day, like the gorgeous Marilyn Monroe, who was curvaceous. ' Now, as the only size 16 contestant in the Miss England competition, Milla aims to be the representative she wished she had when she was younger. She emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and embracing one's natural beauty. Milla's love for surfing has also played a significant role in her journey toward self-acceptance. She shared, 'Surfing saved my life because at that time living in London I struggled a lot mentally. ' The sport allowed her to escape the pressures of conforming to societal standards of beauty. Milla believes that being kind and true to oneself is what truly matters. She said, 'If you're passionate and stay true to yourself, if you're kind and humble that's all that matters. ' Milla took her body-positive message to the Miss England stage, where she won the title. She acknowledges the tension between traditional beauty pageants and the movement to challenge body stereotypes. Milla wants to shift the perception of beauty contests, stating that Miss England is now about 'beauty with a purpose. ' She expressed her desire to be part of a movement that changes how people view pageants, saying, 'It's evolved so much with women from all walks of life coming together. ' Milla is proud to represent a diverse group of women, including firefighters, lawyers, and doctors, and she is the first surfer and lifeguard to hold the title. She believes that true beauty comes from within, not just from physical appearance. In addition to her role as Miss England, Milla is also a trained lifeguard and is passionate about her campaign called Go Far with CPR. This initiative aims to make CPR training mandatory in schools, as Milla believes it is a vital skill that can save lives. She explained, 'It's a skill that you can do wherever you are in the world, but it is the difference between life and death. ' Milla's mission is to spread awareness about CPR all the way to the Miss World event next year. She feels that using her voice for positive change is her purpose. Milla stated, 'If I can be a representative to all those young girls who look at me and think that they can relate to that, then I've done my job.