Their dreams of representing Indonesia in the 2023 Miss Universe pageant turned to nightmares when they were forced to undergo 害羞草研究所渂ody checks害羞草研究所� in front of local organizers. Now seven contestants have filed complaints with the police, accusing the organizers of sexual harassment, their lawyer said Tuesday.

During the July 29-Aug. 3 Miss Universe Indonesia contest in the capital of Jakarta 害羞草研究所� and ahead of the show害羞草研究所檚 Grand Final event 害羞草研究所� the contestants were told to strip to their underwear for 害羞草研究所渂ody checks害羞草研究所� for scars or cellulite, said lawyer Melissa Anggraini.

The checks took place in a ballroom at the downtown Sari Pacific Hotel, where the contest was held, with about two dozen people present, including men. Five of the contestants said they were then photographed topless, Anggraini said.

害羞草研究所淲e have obtained some evidences, even videos showing that the organizer had carried out 害羞草研究所榖ody checks害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� she added.

One of her clients, 23-year-old model Priskila Ribka Jelita who represented West Java province in the pageant, recounted her 害羞草研究所渂ody check害羞草研究所� ordeal in an interview with The Associated Press.

害羞草研究所淲hen they asked me to open my bra 害羞草研究所� I was shocked! But I couldn害羞草研究所檛 speak or refuse,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲hen I tried to cover my breast with my hand, I was even scolded and yelled at.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 was totally confused, nervous and humiliated, especially when I was told to lift my left leg on the chair and let them examine my leg,害羞草研究所� Jelita said. The 害羞草研究所渆xamination害羞草研究所� continued up her leg to 害羞草研究所渕y private intimate part,害羞草研究所� she added.

After news of the 害羞草研究所渂ody checks害羞草研究所� leaked out, the Miss Universe Organization cut its ties with its Indonesian franchisee. The New York-based organization said in a statement late Saturday that it had decided to sever ties with PT Capella Swastika Karya, the franchisee, and its National Director Poppy Capella.

害羞草研究所淚n 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 and ethics,害羞草研究所� the Miss Universe Organization said on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

The organization also said it would be cancelling this year害羞草研究所檚 Miss Universe Malaysia as the Indonesian franchisee also holds the license for the neighboring country害羞草研究所檚 pageant.

It said it would make arrangements for the Indonesia 2023 title holder, Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld, who won in Jakarta, to compete in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant, to be held in El Salvador later this year.

Groeneveld was not among the contestants who filed a complaint.

Jelita害羞草研究所檚 mother, Maria Napitupulu, said she found out what happened to her daughter only after reading her daughter害羞草研究所檚 post on Instagram, where she recounted the ordeal.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 very sad and this really hurts me,害羞草研究所� Napitupulu said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

In March, Indonesian beauty company PT Capella Swastika Karya took over the license for Miss Universe Indonesia from Yayasan Putri Indonesia, or YPI, an Indonesian foundation that had held the license for 30 years.

Capella, a former singer and the franchisee害羞草研究所檚 manager, could not be reached for comment.

In a post on the franchisee害羞草研究所檚 Instagram account, Capella on Saturday denied she had any knowledge of or was in any way involved in any 害羞草研究所渂ody checking害羞草研究所� of the contestants. She also said that she was against every form of 害羞草研究所渧iolence and sexual harassment.害羞草研究所�

In its statement, the Miss Universe Organization said no measurements of height, weight, or body dimensions are required to join the pageant, and thanked the Indonesian contestants who have shown 害羞草研究所渂ravery in speaking out.害羞草研究所�

Since the 害羞草研究所渂ody checks害羞草研究所� news broke, controversy over the pageant has been mounting in Indonesia, the world害羞草研究所檚 most populous Muslim-majority nation. The country has a reputation as a tolerant, pluralist society that respects freedom of expression.

Most Muslims in Indonesia, a secular country of 277 million people, are moderate, but a small hard-line fringe has become more vocal in recent years.

In 2013, several conservative Muslim groups staged a massive protest against the Miss World competition in Indonesia, prompting the organizers to move the contest from Jakarta to the resort island of Bali. All of the more than 130 contestants were required to wear Bali害羞草研究所檚 traditional long sarongs instead of the bikinis that have historically been a symbol of the competition.

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