Rabat – The Miss Universe Beauty Pageant has severed its relations with its organizers in Indonesia following complaints from contestants who were allegedly forced to strip naked.
Sky News reported that six women filed complaints of sexual harassment following a contest to pick Indonesia’s representative for the competition.
The contestants alleged that they had to strip naked to undergo “body checks,” in a room with two dozen people present, including men.
Five of the complainants said photographers also took pictures while they were topless during the pageant, which took place from July 29 and August 3 in the capital city of Jakarta.
The Miss Universe Organization condemned the situation in a statement, where it said that the Indonesia franchise “has not lived up to our brand standards and ethics.”
Police director Hengki Haryadi said last week that the victims were forced to take off their clothes and “pose inappropriately for body checking,” stressing that this has “traumatized them.”
Police are still examining surveillance cameras as part of the investigation, which will also mark interviews with the victims.
The US-based Miss Universe Organization also decided to cancel the 2023 Miss Universe Malaysia pageant.
