Indonesia says no to bikinis for 2013 Miss World pageant amid protests, opts for long sarongs
Miss World has axed the famed bikinis from this year's pageant in Indonesia, replacing the skimpy swimsuits with conservative beach sarongs amid mounting protests from hard-line Muslim groups, organizers said Thursday.
Photograph by: MARK RALSTON , AFP/Getty Images
JAKARTA,
Indonesia - Miss World has axed the famed bikinis from this year's
pageant in Indonesia, replacing the skimpy swimsuits with conservative
beach sarongs amid mounting protests from hard-line Muslim groups,
organizers said Thursday.
All of the more than 130 contestants will be required to wear Bali's traditional long sarongs instead of the sexy bikinis that are historically part of the competition, said Adjie S. Soeratmadjie of the RCTI, the official broadcaster and local organizer.
Parts of the pageant will take place on the resort island of Bali and the final round will be held Sept. 28 near the capital, Jakarta. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country.
"There will no bikini in this year's Miss World pageant to respect our traditional customs and values," Soeratmadjie said, adding that the London-based Miss World Organization is on board with the decision.
"This is a sensitive issue in Indonesia. We have discussed it since last year and they have agreed," he said.
The chairwoman of the Miss World Organization, Julia Morley, confirmed that none of the 137 contestants would wear a bikini.
"Indonesia is designing for us a very beautiful one-piece beachwear, and I'm very happy with them," she told The Associated Press by phone from London, adding that the pageant will include a special beachwear fashion show.
"I don't think Indonesia is the only country that has that culture," Morley said. "But we like to work in the manner respectful to every country, and I cannot see why when you go to somebody's country you should not behave respectfully."
The pageant began in the 1950s, and the first winner was crowned in a two-piece bathing suit.
Soeratmadjie said the sarong would be made creatively and designed specifically for the event.
Controversy over the pageant has been mounting in Indonesia, which has a reputation as a tolerant, pluralist society that respects freedom of expression.
Clerics of the Indonesian Council of Ulema, or MUI, said they would send a letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to demand that the beauty pageant be cancelled.
"That contest is just an excuse to show women's body parts that should remain covered," said Mukri Aji, a prominent cleric from West Java province's MUI branch. "It's against Islamic teachings."
Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, a hardline Islamic group, said it planned to stage a protest and called for the competition to be moved elsewhere.
Most Muslims in Indonesia, a secular country of 240 million people, are moderate, but a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years.
They have pushed through controversial laws — including an anti-pornography bill — and have been known to attack anything perceived as blasphemous, from transvestites and bars to "deviant" religious sects.
Lady Gaga was forced to cancel her sold-out concert in Indonesia in May following threats by Islamic hard-liners, who called her a "devil worshipper." Jennifer Lopez toned down her sexy outfits and dance moves during a show in Jakarta last December.
All of the more than 130 contestants will be required to wear Bali's traditional long sarongs instead of the sexy bikinis that are historically part of the competition, said Adjie S. Soeratmadjie of the RCTI, the official broadcaster and local organizer.
Parts of the pageant will take place on the resort island of Bali and the final round will be held Sept. 28 near the capital, Jakarta. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country.
"There will no bikini in this year's Miss World pageant to respect our traditional customs and values," Soeratmadjie said, adding that the London-based Miss World Organization is on board with the decision.
"This is a sensitive issue in Indonesia. We have discussed it since last year and they have agreed," he said.
The chairwoman of the Miss World Organization, Julia Morley, confirmed that none of the 137 contestants would wear a bikini.
"Indonesia is designing for us a very beautiful one-piece beachwear, and I'm very happy with them," she told The Associated Press by phone from London, adding that the pageant will include a special beachwear fashion show.
"I don't think Indonesia is the only country that has that culture," Morley said. "But we like to work in the manner respectful to every country, and I cannot see why when you go to somebody's country you should not behave respectfully."
The pageant began in the 1950s, and the first winner was crowned in a two-piece bathing suit.
Soeratmadjie said the sarong would be made creatively and designed specifically for the event.
Controversy over the pageant has been mounting in Indonesia, which has a reputation as a tolerant, pluralist society that respects freedom of expression.
Clerics of the Indonesian Council of Ulema, or MUI, said they would send a letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to demand that the beauty pageant be cancelled.
"That contest is just an excuse to show women's body parts that should remain covered," said Mukri Aji, a prominent cleric from West Java province's MUI branch. "It's against Islamic teachings."
Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, a hardline Islamic group, said it planned to stage a protest and called for the competition to be moved elsewhere.
Most Muslims in Indonesia, a secular country of 240 million people, are moderate, but a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years.
They have pushed through controversial laws — including an anti-pornography bill — and have been known to attack anything perceived as blasphemous, from transvestites and bars to "deviant" religious sects.
Lady Gaga was forced to cancel her sold-out concert in Indonesia in May following threats by Islamic hard-liners, who called her a "devil worshipper." Jennifer Lopez toned down her sexy outfits and dance moves during a show in Jakarta last December.
NBC 4 News LA
A STAR IS BORN: Katherine Webb, beauty queen and the girlfriend of Alabama's quarterback, was thrust into the spotlight as announcer Brent Musburger repeatedly praised her beauty during the BCS title game.
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Miss Alabama USA 2012 Katherine Webb, an Auburn grad, is dating Alabama QB AJ McCarron
Published: December 28, 2012
AJ McCarron photo via Associated Press. Katherine Webb photo courtesy of Ryan Miles.
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Miss Alabama USA 2012 Katherine Webb offered a clarification
after confirming she’s dating AJ McCarron, the starting quarterback at
the University of Alabama.
“I’m not trying to sabotage Alabama,” Webb said.
Some might consider it a necessary disclaimer, since she’s an Auburn University graduate.
Webb, who was raised in the Columbus-Phenix City area, confirmed the romance on Friday. “Yes, we are in a relationship,” she said in a phone interview with the Ledger-Enquirer.
Now that their relationship has made national headlines, some football-based questions have surfaced.
Does Webb still love Auburn? Can she honestly cheer for McCarron and his Alabama teammates?
With the intense rivalry between the two schools, are Auburn-Alabama romances ever OK?
Webb’s answers: yes, yes and yes.
"Honestly, it's just a game," she said of the football rivalry.
She plans to travel to Florida to watch Alabama compete against Notre Dame in the upcoming BCS national championship game. Webb said her time as Miss Alabama taught her how to put some allegiances in perspective.
“When you’re a representative of the whole state, you have to kind of bypass your own feelings and love everyone,” she said.
Not everyone’s a fan of that approach.
“I think I’ve had a little bit of backlash from my own alma mater,” said Webb, 23. “Of course I’ll always love Auburn.”
Webb, who advanced to the top 10 in the Miss USA 2012 pageant, said she first met McCarron in person when he attended this year’s Miss Alabama USA pageant, which was held Dec. 7-8 in Montgomery.
Prior to that meeting, they knew of each other due to a series of Twitter exchanges.
“I had not seen him (in person) until I went on stage and saw him in the front row,” Webb said. Since she lives in Los Angeles, Webb said she initially wasn’t too familiar with McCarron’s achievements on the football field.
After the pageant, their relationship progressed.
“We decided to make it official this past weekend,” said Webb, who is home for the holidays visiting family in Alabama.
Even though they’ve already been called the “Romeo and Juliet of Alabama,” Webb said their connection is deeper than trophies or tiaras.
“It has nothing to do with the status,” said Webb, explaining why she’s attracted to McCarron. “He has such an amazing heart. He realizes that family and friends and the people closest to you are most important.”
“I’m not trying to sabotage Alabama,” Webb said.
Some might consider it a necessary disclaimer, since she’s an Auburn University graduate.
Webb, who was raised in the Columbus-Phenix City area, confirmed the romance on Friday. “Yes, we are in a relationship,” she said in a phone interview with the Ledger-Enquirer.
Now that their relationship has made national headlines, some football-based questions have surfaced.
Does Webb still love Auburn? Can she honestly cheer for McCarron and his Alabama teammates?
With the intense rivalry between the two schools, are Auburn-Alabama romances ever OK?
Webb’s answers: yes, yes and yes.
"Honestly, it's just a game," she said of the football rivalry.
She plans to travel to Florida to watch Alabama compete against Notre Dame in the upcoming BCS national championship game. Webb said her time as Miss Alabama taught her how to put some allegiances in perspective.
“When you’re a representative of the whole state, you have to kind of bypass your own feelings and love everyone,” she said.
Not everyone’s a fan of that approach.
“I think I’ve had a little bit of backlash from my own alma mater,” said Webb, 23. “Of course I’ll always love Auburn.”
Webb, who advanced to the top 10 in the Miss USA 2012 pageant, said she first met McCarron in person when he attended this year’s Miss Alabama USA pageant, which was held Dec. 7-8 in Montgomery.
Prior to that meeting, they knew of each other due to a series of Twitter exchanges.
“I had not seen him (in person) until I went on stage and saw him in the front row,” Webb said. Since she lives in Los Angeles, Webb said she initially wasn’t too familiar with McCarron’s achievements on the football field.
After the pageant, their relationship progressed.
“We decided to make it official this past weekend,” said Webb, who is home for the holidays visiting family in Alabama.
Even though they’ve already been called the “Romeo and Juliet of Alabama,” Webb said their connection is deeper than trophies or tiaras.
“It has nothing to do with the status,” said Webb, explaining why she’s attracted to McCarron. “He has such an amazing heart. He realizes that family and friends and the people closest to you are most important.”
Read more here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2012/12/28/2326130/miss-alabama-usa-2012-katherine.html#storylink=cpy
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