The Miss Universe Organization has recently terminated its partnership with PT Capella Swastika Karya, its Indonesian franchisee, and has decided to cancel the upcoming Miss Universe pageant in Malaysia. This decision comes after several contestants filed complaints with the police, accusing local organizers of sexual harassment. The contestants claimed that they were asked to strip down to their underwear for body checks, which took place in a room with multiple people present, including men. Additionally, five of the contestants alleged that they were photographed topless.
In response to these allegations, the Miss Universe Organization stated that the Indonesian franchisee had failed to meet their brand standards and ethics. Consequently, they will no longer be associated with PT Capella Swastika Karya. As a result, this year’s Miss Universe Malaysia pageant will also be canceled since the Indonesian franchisee holds the license for it. Instead, arrangements will be made for the Indonesia 2023 title holder to compete in the Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador later this year.
The Miss Universe Indonesia pageant, which took place from July 29 to August 3, aimed to select Indonesia’s representative for the 2023 Miss Universe contest. Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld emerged as the winner of the pageant. It is worth noting that PT Capella Swastika Karya took over the license for Miss Universe Indonesia in March from Yayasan Putri Indonesia or YPI, an Indonesian foundation that held the license for 30 years.
Poppy Capella, the founder of PT Capella Swastika Karya, denied any involvement in the alleged physical examinations during the contest. She voiced her opposition to violence and sexual harassment through a social media post. Hengki Haryadi, the Jakarta police director for general crimes, confirmed the victims’ claims, stating that they were forced to remove their clothes and were subjected to a naked physical examination in a hotel ballroom.
The Miss Universe Organization emphasized that there are no specific measurements required to join a Miss Universe pageant worldwide. They expressed gratitude to the Indonesian contestants for speaking out against the incidents. Furthermore, they are currently evaluating their franchise agreement and policies to prevent such conduct from occurring in the future.
This latest controversy surrounding the Miss Universe pageant has stirred up discussions in Indonesia, which is known as a tolerant and pluralistic society that respects freedom of expression. The country has a majority-Muslim population, with most adherents practicing a moderate form of Islam. However, in recent years, a small hard-line fringe has become more vocal.
In 2013, conservative Muslim groups staged large protests against the Miss World competition in Indonesia. As a result, the contest was moved from Jakarta to the resort island of Bali, and the contestants were required to wear Bali’s traditional long sarongs instead of the usual bikinis.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The Miss Universe Organization has cut its ties with its Indonesian franchisee and will cancel an upcoming pageant in Malaysia after contestants complained to police, accusing local organizers of sexual harassment.
The New York-based organization said in a statement late Saturday it had decided to sever ties with PT Capella Swastika Karya, and its National Director, Poppy Capella.
Six contestants of a Miss Universe Indonesia pageant recently filed complaints with police, accusing local organizers of asking them to strip to their underwear for “body checks” for scars or cellulite, in a room with about two dozen people present, including men.
Five of the contestants said they were then photographed topless.
“In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia, it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards and ethics,” the Miss Universe Organization said on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.
The organization also said it would be canceling this year’s Miss Universe Malaysia as the Indonesian franchisee also holds the license for the pageant. It said it would make arrangements for the Indonesia 2023 title holder to compete in the Miss Universe pageant to be held in El Salvador late this year.
The Miss Universe Indonesia pageant was held from July 29 to Aug. 3 to choose Indonesia’s representative to the 2023 Miss Universe contest, and was won by Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld.
PT Capella Swastika Karya is an Indonesian beauty company that took over the license for Miss Universe Indonesia in March from Yayasan Putri Indonesia or YPI, an Indonesian foundation that held the license for 30 years.
The company founder, Poppy Capella, denied her involvement in the physical examination during the contest and said that she is against any kind of “violence and sexual harassment.”
“I, as the National Director and as the owner of the Miss Universe Indonesia license, was not involved at all and have never known, ordered, requested or allowed anyone who played a role and participated in the Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 process to commit violence or sexual harassment through body checking,” she posted on social media late Saturday.
Hengki Haryadi, the Jakarta police director for general crimes, said Sunday that during a Miss Universe Indonesia pageant held in the capital, Jakarta, from July 29 to Aug. 3, the victims were forced to remove their clothes and were photographed naked for physical examination in a hotel ballroom.
“These victims feel forced to take off their clothes and pose inappropriately for body checking that traumatized them,” Haryadi said.
He added that police are still examining surveillance cameras from the scene. Investigators will interview the victims and provide psychological assistance, he said.
In its statement Saturday, the Miss Universe Organization said there are no measurements such as height, weight, or body dimensions required to join a Miss Universe pageant worldwide, and thanked the Indonesian contestants “who have bravery in speaking out.”
“To the women who came forward from the Indonesian pageant, we are sorry that this was your experience with our organization,” it said, adding that they are also evaluating their current franchise agreement and policies to prevent this type of conduct from occurring in the future worldwide.
Controversy over the pageant has been mounting in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, which has a reputation as a tolerant, pluralist society that respects freedom of expression. Most Muslims in Indonesia, a secular country of 277 million people, are moderate, but a small hard-line fringe has become more vocal in recent years.
In 2013, several conservative Muslim groups staged a massive protest against the Miss World competition in Indonesia, prompting the contest to move from Jakarta to the resort island of Bali, and all of the more than 130 contestants required to wear Bali’s traditional long sarongs instead of the sexy bikinis that are a historical part of the competition.
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