9-8-2023 (JAKARTA) A storm of controversy has engulfed Indonesia’s prestigious Miss Universe beauty pageant (MUID) as allegations of sexual harassment emerge, prompting an investigation by Jakarta police. The incident came to light after a finalist, identified by the initial ‘N’, lodged a formal police report on Monday (Aug 7).
Yuliansyah, Head of the Sub Directorate of Youth, Children, and Women at the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Regional Police, confirmed that the police are actively probing the allegations and plan to summon the victims for detailed statements, as reported by Detik.
The scandal was set in motion by a viral Instagram Story posted by Sally Giovany, the MUID Bali director, where she decried the mandatory body-check procedure that required participants to be undressed and photographed. Giovany argued that this practice breached regulations by potentially enabling the sharing of sensitive images.
The situation escalated further on Monday when the aforementioned finalist ‘N’ lodged a formal complaint with the police, specifically addressing PT Capella Swastika Karya (PT CSK), the current holder of the Miss Universe license in Indonesia. ‘N’ alleged that she was subjected to an unanticipated body-check, an event not outlined in the official program schedule.
According to CNN Indonesia, ‘N’ felt humiliated by the sudden and unexpected nature of the body-check and the invasive procedure. Representing ‘N’, Melissa Anggraini, an attorney, stated, “(She was) suddenly confronted (with) needing to do a body check and (this was) enough to make our client feel humiliated.”
Disturbingly, it has come to light that nude photographs of five finalists were taken during the body-check process, during which all 30 participants were instructed to disrobe. This revelation was confirmed by MUID’s visual director, Rio Motret.
The police report filed by ‘N’ has been reinforced by three additional instances of alleged sexual harassment during the beauty pageant, according to Ms. Anggraini and Rizky Ananda Musa, the National Director of MUID West Java. Ms. Musa claimed that three of her students were coerced into opening their bras in front of organizers and male individuals, leading to profound distress.
Evidence including written documents, images, and videos has been submitted alongside the police report, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations. Ms. Anggraini stated, “We were also quite surprised to see the photos taken by them, and even more so, after the body checking pictures were taken and there were men. We suspect that their actions have degraded the dignity of a woman.”
Another finalist, identified by the initial ‘R’, echoed these concerns. She revealed that she had been unexpectedly asked to disrobe and that a crew member had inappropriately touched her private parts during the process. The incident was not part of the official event schedule.
In the wake of these troubling revelations, several key figures within the beauty pageant organization have tendered their resignations. Notable among them are Ms. Musa, Mr. Rio, Ms. Giovany, and Eldwen Wang, the MUID chief executive officer.
Addressing the controversy, Mr. Rio confirmed that the nude photographs of MUID finalists had been deleted. He stressed that he and Mr. Wang had personally overseen the removal of these files, respecting the privacy of the contestants.
While the incident occurred just days before the grand final, MUID’s National Director, Poppy Capella, expressed gratitude for the feedback and perspectives shared. Her social media post did not, however, explicitly address the allegations of sexual harassment.
Amid the growing scandal, Siti Aminah, Commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), called on PT CSK to clarify their preventive measures regarding the use of sensitive images. She emphasized the need for a broader evaluation beyond physical appearance, focusing on intelligence and personality.
Aminah advocated for a respectful and appreciative approach towards women’s bodies, asserting that practices such as body-checks with nude photos were incongruent with the diversity and dignity of women.
