New York: The Miss Universe organization has severed ties with its Indonesian franchise following allegations of sexual harassment leveled by local organizers in a police complaint by beauty pageant contestants. The organization said that an upcoming beauty pageant scheduled to be held in Malaysia would also be cancelled. The New York-based organization said in a statement late Saturday that it has decided to sever ties with PT Capella Swastika Work and its national director, Poppy Capella. Six contestants of the Miss Universe Indonesia pageant recently filed a complaint with the police.
She has accused the local organizers of asking her to remove her underwear as part of a “physical check” in a room when about two dozen people, including several men, were present there. Five participants claimed that they were photographed topless. “What we’ve seen at Miss Universe Indonesia has made it clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards and ethics,” the Miss Universe organization said on social media site X.
