Beauty Pageants: Unveiling the Ugly Truths
Every year, beauty pageants step into the limelight, wrapped in glitz, glamour, and grand promises to change the world. With sparkling crowns and confident smiles, they parade under banners like “Beauty with a Purpose”. Yet, behind the dazzle and glitter lies a significant question. Are these pageants truly empowering women, or merely dressing up old ideals in new slogans?
Miss World 2025
Just a week ago, the glittering finale of the 72nd Miss World pageant unfolded in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. With its dazzling attires, heartfelt causes. Among the many moving stories that emerged,stealing the spotlight and ultimately the crown was Miss Thailand, Opal Suchata Chuangsri. At the age of sixteen, Suchata was diagnosed with tumors in both breasts. After undergoing successful surgery, she emerged with a mission. Since then, she became determined to spread awareness about the same, through stepping into the world of pageantry. The title of the first runner-up was bagged by Hasset Dereje Admassu from Ethiopia. A public health graduate, Hasset is focused on maternal health and girls’ education in rural communities.
On the surface, these pageants have become the darlings of social media. Churning out memes, viral posts, and glamorous clips that flood our feeds. Yet behind the grand gowns lies a grotesque reality, one that is often buried time and again. As controversies continue to erupt year after year, and with no meaningful responses from officials, the shine of these pageants starts to fade.
The behind-the-scenes world of beauty pageants remains largely hidden from the public eye.
In recent years, the contestants themselves are often unaware of what truly awaits them, many entering with dreams that are only to be met with disillusionment. While criticism once came mostly from outsiders, a striking shift has occurred. The participants themselves are beginning to speak out, exposing the industry’s darker corners and challenging the very systems they once aspired to be part of.
CONFESSIONS OF THE QUEENS
Meghan Nimwiza, Miss Rwanda 2019
In 2019, Miss Rwanda spoke on Rwanda TV, revealing the corroded machinery behind the beauty pageant industry. She exposed how money is the driving force behind these competitions, stating, “The participants already spend a huge amount of money preparing themselves for such pageants, which includes training, attending numerous auditions and covering all the expenses themselves. They often spend more money than they will ever earn.”
Moreover, contestants are still required to pay a hefty fee to secure a seat at these pageants. As she put it bluntly, “Money is the real game.” Bribery, she revealed, is rampant throughout the industry. Organizers are frequently bribed, and their favoritism becomes evident in every aspect of the competition. “You could clearly see who was given more preference, just because they paid more,” she said.
Thae Su Nyein, Second Runner-up at Miss Grand International 2024
In 2024, Thae Su Nyein of Myanmmar was crowned second runner-up at Miss Grand International, that took place in Thailand. A pageant known for promoting humanitarian causes and selecting contestants through national contests or franchise appointments. However, she gave up her title shortly after, citing unfair competition and bribery behind the scenes.
In her Facebook Live, she stated, “I’m not controlled by anyone. I gave back my second runner-up crown because we didn’t get what we deserved—our National Costume prize and Country Power of the Year. I’m not blaming my sisters. I love India, I love the Philippines—they’re my best sisters of all time.”
Shortly after, the pageant revoked her title, citing “inappropriate behavior”. In response, MGI President Nawat Itsaragrisil responded rudely: “What makes her so delusional? If she wants first place and must have it, I suggest she create her own pageant so she can win every title.”
Rachel Gupta, Miss Grand International 2024
Eight days ago, Rachel Gupta from India, winner of the same pageant, released a YouTube video revealing urgent and deeply important truths about the dark side of the otherwise bright and colourful pageant industry.
In a heartbreaking account, she described being “not given food or even basic necessities” and claimed she was “left locked in a house with nothing, like a kidnapped person and only reached out to when any events were happening.” Furthermore, Rachel also exposed the body-shaming she endured: “People from the organization would come and pinch me in different places, telling me I was fat,” she said. “I understand there are requirements for this job, but this treatment made me feel less than human.”
These testimonies are not just shocking—they’re vital as they give insight to this secretive industry.
Milla Magee, Miss England 2024
Another shocking confession recently surfaced from Miss England, Milla Magee, who participated in Miss World 2025, held in Hyderabad, Telangana. Likewise, She abruptly exited the competition midway, stating it was “against her morals.” She said she “felt like a prostitute; an entertainment for the investors.”
The Miss World organization swiftly dismissed her claims as “false and defamatory.” In addition, Julia Morley, the Chief Executive, accused Magee of quitting simply because “she knew she didn’t stand a chance in the competition.”
Urging Magee quickly realized that the entire industry was hollow and corroded on the inside, falsely advocating the ideal of “Beauty with a Purpose.”
Pageant or Pain?
Rather than addressing the concerns with transparency and respect, the organizations tend to shut down criticisms harshly and in a vindicative manner, labeling them as false, or outrightly shaming the contestants. This defensive and bitter approach reveals a troubling lack of respect for the contestants and raises questions about the true values and integrity of these pageants.
Even more pressing are children’s pageants, which expose young girls to intense scrutiny and unrealistic beauty standards at a vulnerable age. Consequently, these contests often inculcate body dysmorphia, low self-esteem, and a distorted sense of self-worth, embedding harmful ideas about appearance and value long before children fully understand themselves. Often leading these children to become unfulfilled adults due to false “confidence building.”
If this is the ugly truth, one is forced to believe that from the English May Day celebrations of crowning a May Queen to the modern day pageants, the focus has always been on appearance, cleverly masked by hollow slogans like “Dare to Dream,” “Empowering Women,” and “Confidently Beautiful.” Ultimately, they are just recycled performances, dressing up old traditions in new packaging.
Stay tuned as we unveil more such dark truths!
