The World Briefly

August 15, 2023

Swift Decisions

Indonesia

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The Miss Universe Organization cut ties with its Indonesian partner and canceled this year’s Malaysia pageant after contestants accused local organizers of sexual harassment, Sky News reported.

Last week, six women alleged that Indonesian organizers forced them to strip naked and undergo intimate “body checks” – supposedly for scars or cellulite – in a room with about two dozen people present, including men.

Indonesian police said they have launched an investigation into the matter.

Indonesia is a socially conservative country and has the world’s largest Muslim population.

Meanwhile, the accusations prompted the international pageant to terminate its contract with the PT Capella Swastika Karya company, which took over the license for Miss Universe Indonesia in March.

MUO said the Indonesian franchise “has not lived up to our brand standards and ethics.” It added that it is reviewing its policies to prevent such occurrences from happening in the future.

Capella’s founder, Poppy Capella, denied any involvement in the incident and said she does not condone any form of sexual harassment, Reuters wrote.

The incident marks the latest scandal to hit the long-running global competition, which critics have described as sexist and demeaning to women.

MUO’s prompt response to the allegations reflects its leadership change when Thai media tycoon and transgender rights advocate Anne Jakkaphong took control in 2022, said Reuters.

Jakkaphong had pledged a transformative “new era” for the competition, emphasizing its female leadership and dedication to empowering women globally through feminism.

This story originally appeared in the August 15, 2023 newsletter, Squeaky No More.