2023-08-15 11:17:38
The Miss Universe Organization has announced that it has cut ties with Indonesian franchising and that it will cancel a pageant to be held in Malaysia, after contestants complained to the police, accusing local organizers of sexual harassment.
The New York-based organization said it had decided to cut ties with PT Capella Swastika Karya and its national director, Poppy Capella.
Six contestants in a Miss Universe Indonesia pageant recently filed a complaint with the police, accusing local organizers of asking them to strip down to their underwear to undergo a “body scan” to detect scars or cellulite, in a room of about two dozen people. of people present, including men.
Five of the contestants said they were photographed topless.
“In light of what we learned that happened at Miss Universe Indonesia, it became clear that this franchise did not live up to our brand standards and ethics,” said the Miss Universe Organization on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The organization announced that it would cancel this year’s Miss Universe Malaysia, as the Indonesian franchise also holds the license for the pageant. The same organization added that it would make arrangements for the titleholder of Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 to compete in the Miss Universe pageant to be held in El Salvador later this year.
The Miss Universe Indonesia contest was held from July 29 to August 3 to choose the representative of Indonesia in the Miss Universe 2023 contest, won by Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld.
PT Capella Swastika Karya is an Indonesian beauty products and services company that in March took over the Miss Universe Indonesia license from Yayasan Putri Indonesia or YPI, an Indonesian foundation that had held the license for 30 years.
The company’s founder, Poppy Capella, denied her involvement in the physical exam during the contest and stated that she is against any kind of “violence and sexual harassment”.
“I, as the national director and owner of the Miss Universe Indonesia licence, have not been involved in anything 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 the examination. corporal”, published the person in charge on social networks.
Hengki Haryadi, director of Jakarta Police, said authorities were still examining surveillance cameras at the site and investigators would interview the victims and provide them with psychological assistance.
The Miss Universe Organization emphasized that there are no measurements such as height, weight or body dimensions necessary to participate in a Miss Universe pageant around the world and thanked Indonesian contestants “who have the courage to speak out”.
“For the women who entered the Indonesia contest, we are sorry that this has been your experience with our organization,” he said, adding that they are also evaluating the current franchise agreement and policies aimed at preventing this type of conduct. occur in the future around the world.
#Universe #organization #cuts #ties #Indonesian #organizer #sexual #abuse #allegations