JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The Miss Universe organization has severed ties with its Indonesian franchise and is canceling an upcoming beauty 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 that it had decided to end its relationship with PT Capella Swastika Karya and its national director, Poppy Capella.
Six contestants in the Miss Universe Indonesia beauty pageant recently filed a complaint with the police, accusing local organizers of making them strip naked and subjecting them to a “body check” in a room of about two dozen people, including men, to see if they Have scars or cellulite. Five contestants said they were later photographed topless.
The Miss Universe organization said on the X social network (formerly Twitter): “Based on what we know of what happened with Miss Universe Indonesia, it is clear that the franchise has not lived up to the standards and ethics of our brand.”
The organization also announced that this year’s Miss Universe Malaysia pageant will be canceled as the Indonesian franchise also holds the pageant’s license. He noted that he would arrange for the Indonesian 2023 winner to compete in the Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador later this year.
The Miss Universe Indonesia pageant, won by Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld, was held from 29 July to 3 August to select Indonesia’s representative for the 2023 Miss Universe pageant.
PT Capella Swastika Karya, an Indonesian beauty company, took over Miss Universe Indonesia’s license in March, which has been held by the Indonesian foundation Yayasan Putri Indonesia, or YPI, for 30 years.
The company’s founder Poppy Capela denied that he participated in the medical examination during the game and expressed his opposition to any form of “violence and sexual harassment”.