Miss Universe Indonesia contestants allegedly photographed naked; police probe underway

JAKARTA: Amid allegations of sexual harassment at Indonesia’s Miss Universe (MUID) beauty pageant, Jakarta police have confirmed that a police probe is underway after a finalist on Monday (Aug 7) filed a police report. 

Head of Sub Directorate of Youth, Children and Women at Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Regional Police, Yuliansyah, who only goes by one name, told reporters on Tuesday that police are looking into the case and will summon the victims to clarify their reports, according to Detik. 

This case stems from a viral post on the Instagram Story of MUID Bali director Sally Giovany, as reported by Detik last Sunday.

In the post, Giovany protested against the body-check procedure that required contestants to be naked and photographed, which she said violated the rules because the photos could be shared.

Then on Monday, a beauty pageant finalist with the initial ‘N’ filed a police report addressed to PT Capella Swastika Karya (PT CSK) which currently holds the Miss Universe license in Indonesia.

According to CNN Indonesia, ‘N’ alleged that she was photographed during a body check which was not listed in the program schedule, she said.

“(She was) suddenly confronted (with) needing to do a body check and (this was) enough to make our client feel humiliated,” said Ms Melissa Anggraini, the attorney representing ‘N’.

According to local media, MUID visual director Rio Motret confirmed that nude photos of five finalists were taken while all 30 participants were told to strip naked. 

Ms Anggraini and the National Director of MUID West Java, Rizky Ananda Musa, said that the police report was strengthened by three additional allegations of sexual harassment at the beauty pageant. 

According to CNN Indonesia, Ms Musa claimed that three of her students were forced to open their bras in front of the organisers.

“Three of my children were very sad when they told me they were forced to open their bras because there were also two or three men,” she reportedly said.

Evidence in the form of letter documents, photos and videos were also submitted with the police report, according to CNN Indonesia. 

“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. Plus, when body checking, there was a group of the opposite sex and this is very painful,” said Ms Anggraini.

Besides ‘N’, another finalist of the beauty pageant with the initial ‘R’ recounted that she was also told to undergo a body check even though it was not in the event rundown, according to Kompas.

“At first I was told to try on a dress. But, suddenly I was told to be (half) naked. I was shocked, because there was no body checking agenda,” she said. 

She revealed that she then posed in front of the camera and that a crew member had touched her private parts. 

Several officials from the beauty pageant have since resigned from their position. 

This includes Ms Musa, Mr Rio, Ms Giovany and MUID chief executive officer Eldwen Wang.