According to an official statement issued on Twitter, the Miss Universe Organization (MOU) beauty pageant has severed connections with its Indonesian franchise following a string of sexual abuse complaints made by candidates. The news comes only days after the competition’s crowning ceremony in Jakarta, where Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld was crowned the winner.
The Miss Universe Organization, based in the United States, has ended its connection with its Indonesian franchisee, the beauty company PT Capella Swastika Karya, and its national director, Poppy Capella, according to a statement.
“In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia, it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards, ethics, or expectations,” MUO said.
Because PT Capella Swastika Karya maintains the license to administer the beauty contest, the breakup will also result in the cancellation of this year’s Miss Universe Malaysia, according to the statement.
The global Miss Universe organizers, on the other hand, indicated they would make arrangements for Fabienne to compete in the competition’s finals, which will take place in November in El Salvador, according to the news agency AFP.
Miss Universe: What exactly are the charges against the Indonesian franchise?
Six Miss Universe Indonesia pageant candidates have filed police complaints stating that all 30 finalists were made to strip for “a body check for scars and cellulite” two days before the crowning in Jakarta, according to the AFP story. Five women claim to have been photographed topless
The Indonesian beauty contest had previously garnered fire for changing the competition standards, removing the minimum height limit after the winner was crowned.
Following the controversy, MOU stated that it was reviewing its policies and procedures in order to avoid similar incidents in the future. The organizers have said that there are no measurement or body proportion restrictions to participate in their pageant anywhere in the world.
Statement from Miss Indonesian Organizers
Responding to the series of allegations, in an Instagram post, Poppy Capella, director of PT Capella Swastika Karya, said that the organization does not condone any form of sexual harassment. “I, as the national director and as the owner of the Miss Universe Indonesia license, was not involved at all and have never known, ordered, requested, or allowed anyone who played a role and participated in the Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 process to commit violence or sexual harassment through body checking,” she wrote, as per AFP.
The accused victims have been interviewed by Jakarta Police as part of their investigation.