Clicked Topless, Told To Pose Inappropriately: Miss Universe Indonesia Contestants

In a shocking complaint, six contestants of a Miss Universe Indonesia Pageant have accused organizers of topless ‘body checks’ and inappropriate posing as a part of physical examinations.

The six contestants have filed complaints with the police accusing organizers of sexual harassment. The contestants are from the beauty pageant held in the capital Jakarta from July 29 to Aug 3. The organizers allegedly asked five of them to strip to their underwear for physical examinations in a room with more than 20 people, including men.

They were then photographed topless, said their lawyer. One of the six contestants said that she had been asked to pose inappropriately including by opening her legs. ‘I felt like I was being peeked on, I was very confused and uncomfortable,’ said the unidentified woman.

The Miss Universe Organization said in a statement on Tuesday that it had been made aware of the allegations and was looking into the matter. ‘Miss Universe takes allegations of sexual abuse and impropriety extremely seriously. Providing a safe place for women is the Miss Universe Organization’s utmost priority,’ it said.

Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country and the religious groups in Indonesia earlier objected to beauty pageants.