MUO cancels Miss Universe Malaysia 2023
Published on: Sunday, August 13, 2023
Filepic of Anne and the Miss Universe crown.
THE Miss Universe Organisation (MUO) has cancelled Miss Universe Malaysia 2023 amid allegations of sexual harassment from several contestants of the recently concluded Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 competition.
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Indonesia-based company PT Capella Swastika Karya is the licensee for Miss Universe Indonesia and Miss Universe Malaysia this year.
In a series of Instagram story posts, Saturday, MUO posted a statement on its decision.
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“The Miss Universe Organisation has decided to terminate the relationship with its current franchisee in Indonesia, PT Capella Swastika Karya, and its National Director, Poppy Capella,” said MUO.
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“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 as outlined in our franchise handbook and code of conduct.
“Providing a safe place for women is the Miss Universe Organisation’s utmost priority, and the events at this particular pageant are diametrically opposed to everything we stand for as an organisation.
“PT Capella Swastika Karya and its principals will not be moving forward with Miss Universe Malaysia 2023, and will not be given any additional contracts within our organisation.
“We will be cancelling Miss Universe Malaysia 2023, and will make arrangements for the Indonesia 2023 titleholder to compete in this year’s Miss Universe pageant.”
MUO also said they are evaluating their current franchise agreement and their policies and procedures to prevent such conduct and ensure that future events worldwide remain within “the brand standards that we have set out for all of our international franchises.”
“We also want to make it extremely clear that there are no measurements such as height, weight, or body dimensions required to join a Miss Universe pageant worldwide.
“To the women who came forward from the Indonesia pageant - we’re sorry that this was your experience with our organisation.
“We appreciate your bravery in speaking out, and we pledge to do better in the future,” it said.
Previously, AFP reported that more than half a dozen Miss Universe Indonesia beauty pageant participants had reported organisers to police over allegations of sexual harassment, said their lawyer.
The complaint came after the seven finalists in the contest, held in the capital Jakarta from July 29- Aug 3, were unexpectedly asked to strip for a supposed body check two days before the pageant’s crowning ceremony.
Officials from PT Capella Swastika Karya, insisted they had “to examine any scars, cellulite or tattoos on their bodies”, the contestants’ lawyer Mellisa Anggraini told AFP.
Mellisa was reported as saying that the finalists were unaware that they would be subjected to such a procedure, as it was initially planned to be a fitting.
She said all 30 finalists in the pageant were subjected to the unexpected body check, and five had their pictures taken.
She said the number of contestants coming forward with complaints could rise as more finalists have given her the authority to report the incidents.
Jakarta police spokesman Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko told reporters that the contestants had filed a police report.
Police launched a probe into the complaint using the report as “the basis for our further investigation”, he said.
Poppy did not confirm or deny the allegations in an Instagram post but expressed gratitude to those who had shared “their views, feelings and perspectives with us” over the incident.
“Your comments are not mere words: they are a potent force,” she wrote.
Miss Universe Indonesia's grand final was held on Aug 3 at the Beach City International Stadium, Jakarta, where 23-year-old Fabiënne Nicole Groeneveld emerged as the winner.
The license for Miss Universe Indonesia previously belonged to Yayasan Puteri Indonesia (YPI), who ran the competition for nearly 30 years until the new owner, PT Capella Swastika Karya, was announced in February.
The same team also took over the license for Miss Universe Malaysia, and an official launch and press conference that followed was also attended by Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel.
Thai transgender business mogul Anne Jakrajutatip currently owns Miss Universe.
Along with Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth, Miss Universe is one of the Big Four international beauty pageants.
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