Their dreams of representing Indonesia in the 2023 Miss Universe pageant turned to nightmares when they were forced to undergo 香蕉视频直播渂ody checks香蕉视频直播� in front of local organizers. Now seven contestants have filed complaints with the police, accusing the organizers of sexual harassment, their lawyer said Tuesday.
During the July 29-Aug. 3 Miss Universe Indonesia contest in the capital of Jakarta 香蕉视频直播� and ahead of the show香蕉视频直播檚 Grand Final event 香蕉视频直播� the contestants were told to strip to their underwear for 香蕉视频直播渂ody checks香蕉视频直播� for scars or cellulite, said lawyer Melissa Anggraini.
The checks took place in a ballroom at the downtown Sari Pacific Hotel, where the contest was held, with about two dozen people present, including men. Five of the contestants said they were then photographed topless, Anggraini said.
香蕉视频直播淲e have obtained some evidences, even videos showing that the organizer had carried out 香蕉视频直播榖ody checks香蕉视频直播�,香蕉视频直播� she added.
One of her clients, 23-year-old model Priskila Ribka Jelita who represented West Java province in the pageant, recounted her 香蕉视频直播渂ody check香蕉视频直播� ordeal in an interview with The Associated Press.
香蕉视频直播淲hen they asked me to open my bra 香蕉视频直播� I was shocked! But I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 speak or refuse,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen I tried to cover my breast with my hand, I was even scolded and yelled at.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚 was totally confused, nervous and humiliated, especially when I was told to lift my left leg on the chair and let them examine my leg,香蕉视频直播� Jelita said. The 香蕉视频直播渆xamination香蕉视频直播� continued up her leg to 香蕉视频直播渕y private intimate part,香蕉视频直播� she added.
After news of the 香蕉视频直播渂ody checks香蕉视频直播� leaked out, the Miss Universe Organization cut its ties with its Indonesian franchisee. The New York-based organization said in a statement late Saturday that it had decided to sever ties with PT Capella Swastika Karya, the franchisee, and its National Director Poppy Capella.
香蕉视频直播淚n 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,香蕉视频直播� the Miss Universe Organization said on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
The organization also said it would be cancelling this year香蕉视频直播檚 Miss Universe Malaysia as the Indonesian franchisee also holds the license for the neighboring country香蕉视频直播檚 pageant.
It said it would make arrangements for the Indonesia 2023 title holder, Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld, who won in Jakarta, to compete in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant, to be held in El Salvador later this year.
Groeneveld was not among the contestants who filed a complaint.
Jelita香蕉视频直播檚 mother, Maria Napitupulu, said she found out what happened to her daughter only after reading her daughter香蕉视频直播檚 post on Instagram, where she recounted the ordeal.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 very sad and this really hurts me,香蕉视频直播� Napitupulu said, tears streaming down her cheeks.
In March, Indonesian beauty company PT Capella Swastika Karya took over the license for Miss Universe Indonesia from Yayasan Putri Indonesia, or YPI, an Indonesian foundation that had held the license for 30 years.
Capella, a former singer and the franchisee香蕉视频直播檚 manager, could not be reached for comment.
In a post on the franchisee香蕉视频直播檚 Instagram account, Capella on Saturday denied she had any knowledge of or was in any way involved in any 香蕉视频直播渂ody checking香蕉视频直播� of the contestants. She also said that she was against every form of 香蕉视频直播渧iolence and sexual harassment.香蕉视频直播�
In its statement, the Miss Universe Organization said no measurements of height, weight, or body dimensions are required to join the pageant, and thanked the Indonesian contestants who have shown 香蕉视频直播渂ravery in speaking out.香蕉视频直播�
Since the 香蕉视频直播渂ody checks香蕉视频直播� news broke, controversy over the pageant has been mounting in Indonesia, the world香蕉视频直播檚 most populous Muslim-majority nation. The country 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 organizers to move the contest from Jakarta to the resort island of Bali. All of the more than 130 contestants were required to wear Bali香蕉视频直播檚 traditional long sarongs instead of the bikinis that have historically been a symbol of the competition.
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