Beauty pageant queens to be judged on CPR skills instead of ‘outdated’ bikini modeling: ‘I’m glad I know how to do it’

New York Post - Apr 8th, 2025
Open on New York Post

The Miss England competition is undergoing a significant transformation by replacing its traditional swimwear round with a new 'CPR Queen' challenge. This initiative, spearheaded by current Miss World England, Milla Magee, aims to modernize the 97-year-old pageant and focus on life-saving skills such as chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Magee, a trained lifeguard, was motivated to advocate for CPR education following a personal tragedy where her family was unprepared during a medical emergency. The new challenge encourages contestants to creatively demonstrate their CPR knowledge, either through community teaching or online sharing.

Milla Magee's campaign, 'Go Far With CPR,' has gained attention from both Parliament and Prince William, highlighting the importance of CPR education. Magee has launched a petition to make CPR training mandatory in English schools, emphasizing the need to empower and educate younger generations. Pageant director Angie Beasley supports the cause, having learned CPR because of Magee's influence. The 2025 Miss England contest will also feature segments on athleticism and ethical fashion, but the CPR round is seen as the most meaningful addition, aiming to leave a positive legacy for future generations.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.4
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article presents an interesting narrative about the modernization of a traditional beauty pageant by incorporating CPR skills, driven by the advocacy of Milla Magee. It balances personal anecdotes with broader societal implications, making the topic relevant and timely. However, the story's accuracy is somewhat compromised by a lack of verifiable sources and external perspectives. While the narrative is clear and engaging, it could benefit from more diverse viewpoints and detailed explanations of the proposed changes. Overall, the story effectively highlights a shift towards valuing practical skills in beauty pageants, though it leaves some questions unanswered regarding the implementation and broader impact of these changes.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The story presents several factual claims that require verification for accuracy. For instance, the claim that the Miss England pageant is modernizing by replacing the swimwear round with a CPR skills challenge needs confirmation. Additionally, the role of Milla Magee in initiating this change and her background as a lifeguard and CPR advocate are pivotal claims that need corroboration. The article also mentions support from public figures like Prince William, which would require verification to ensure its truthfulness. While the narrative includes specific quotes and anecdotes, the absence of direct citations or references to verifiable sources diminishes the precision of the claims.

7
Balance

The article provides a balanced perspective by highlighting the motivations and actions of Milla Magee in advocating for CPR education within the pageant context. It presents the viewpoints of both Magee and the pageant director, Angie Beasley, which helps in illustrating the support for this initiative. However, the story lacks input from other stakeholders, such as other contestants, pageant organizers, or critics who might offer differing opinions on the changes. This omission could lead to a perception of bias in favor of the new CPR-focused direction without considering potential dissent or alternative views.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, providing a coherent narrative that outlines the changes to the pageant and Magee's motivations. The language is straightforward, making it accessible to a broad audience. The story logically progresses from Magee's personal experiences to her advocacy efforts and the impact of the proposed changes. However, while the narrative is easy to follow, the lack of detailed information on the implementation of the CPR challenge leaves some questions unanswered, which could affect the reader's full understanding of the story's implications.

5
Source quality

The story relies heavily on direct quotes from Milla Magee and Angie Beasley, which provides some level of firsthand information. However, it lacks a broader range of sources that could enhance credibility, such as official statements from the Miss England organization or independent experts in CPR training. The absence of external verification or third-party commentary limits the depth of the reporting and raises questions about the reliability of the claims made. Additionally, the story does not cite any specific documents or data that could substantiate the claims, such as the Change.org petition or the letter from Prince William.

6
Transparency

The article is somewhat transparent in its presentation of Magee's motivations and the proposed changes to the pageant. It clearly outlines Magee's personal experiences and her advocacy efforts. However, it lacks transparency regarding the methodology of how the new CPR challenge will be implemented and evaluated within the pageant. There is also a lack of disclosure regarding any potential conflicts of interest, such as sponsorships or partnerships that might influence the pageant's direction. The story could benefit from more detailed explanations of the processes and decisions behind the changes.

Sources

  1. https://www.the-circle.cprhair.com/the-mane-event
  2. https://www.cpradr.org/events/2025-international-mediation-competition
  3. https://www.cpradr.org/events/2024-international-mediation-competition
  4. https://www.skillsusa.org/competitions/skillsusa-championships/categories-and-descriptions/
  5. https://www.instagram.com/montclair_sna/reel/DG5p3b-ONKd/