Numerous Miss Universe Indonesia contestants have reported the organisers to the police, accusing them of sexual misconduct.
One of the contestants’ attorneys said that two days prior to the finals on August 3, the contestants were required to remove their tops for ‘body checks’ and photographs.
The women were reportedly instructed by the organisers to “examine any scars, cellulite, or tattoos on their bodies.”
One of the competitors stated, “I feel as though my rights have been infringed.
“It has psychologically changed me. I’ve had difficulties sleeping,” she admitted when appearing to the media earlier this week with other complainants. To safeguard their identities, local television disguised their faces during the broadcasts.
Many more will come forward, according to Mellisa Anggraeni, an attorney who is representing three of the candidates who have complained.
Police in Jakarta’s capital city said in a statement that they would look into the matter further. The Miss Universe Indonesia Organisation will look into the claims, according to a statement from its well-known owner Poppy Capella. Allegations of sexual impropriety are taken “very seriously” by the international Miss Universe Organisation, which also stated that it was looking into the situation.
Although body checks are common in the nation, contestants are not typically required to remove their clothing, according to Maria Harfanti, a former Miss Indonesia. The candidates’ body mass index, or BMI, is frequently requested by the organisers in order to assess the contenders’ proportions.
One of the complainants noted during the press conference on Monday that although the body inspections took place in a locked area, other men were also there. She stated that because the door wasn’t entirely closed, those outside could see inside.
Although Indonesia has traditionally tolerated beauty pageants, the organisers take care to avoid upsetting the more traditional elements of the community. When it was held in the country with a majority of Muslims in 2013, the Miss World contest cancelled its bikini round.
In South-east Asia, particularly in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand, where victors go on to become superstars and social media influencers, Miss Universe, which is currently in its 73rd edition, is well-liked.
The brand’s owner, Thai transgender media tycoon Anne Jakrajutatip, has worked to reimagine it as more inclusive by allowing married women, transgender women, and single mothers to compete.