Indonesia: Pageant contestant under fire for refusing to wear headscarf

A Miss Indonesia beauty contestant photo of Ratna Nurlia Alfiandini. (Ratna Nurlia Alfiandini’s Instagram page)

JAKARTA –- A contestant representing the devoutly Muslim Aceh province in the Miss Indonesia beauty pageant has been criticised for not wearing a headscarf, media reports said Monday.

Ratna Nurlia Alfiandini's participation in the contest has not been approved by the Acehnese government, the Jawa Pos news website reported.

"We don't want the name of Aceh to be used by people who don't represent its values," provincial government spokesman Mahyuzar was quoted as saying.

"Aceh has no interest in a beauty contest and the like but since there is a contestant claiming to represent it, we have to make clear our stance so as not to create a polemic," said Mahyuzar, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

Aceh is the only Indonesian province allowed to impose Islamic sharia law, as part of the central government's attempts to mollify desires for independence.

Jakarta signed a peace agreement with separatist rebels in 2005, ending decades of conflict that killed more than 15,000 people.

The Association of Pro-sharia Journalists of Aceh said Ms Alfiandini's participation in the pageant tarnished the image of the province, Jawa Pos said.

"Also we hear from the media that she is from Surabaya (in East Java province)," association chairman Muhammad Saman reportedly said.

Source: Bangkok Post, February 16, 2015

Comments

Miss USA Vice-President Max Sebrechts Accused Of Sexual Harassment

IMAGE COURTESY: MISS ACADEMY Max Sebrechts, the husband of Crystle Stewart, President of Miss USA organization (and formerly Miss USA 2008), has been accused of sexual improprieties by several Miss USA 2021 contestants, according to a YouTube video “Miss USA Scandal?” by Natly Denise, a “truther and pop-culture enthusiast.” You can watch the entire video here: https://youtu.be/8xM2jXL6MXw On her video, Natly displays a screenshot of an anonymous email sent to the affiliates of IMG/Endeavor including to Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO). The email was cc’d to Crystle and Michael Hannah (franchise director of Miss USA). The author of the email claims that MUO has been sent substantial evidence of Sebrechts’ sexual predatory behavior and Shugart has known about it for a while but didn’t say anything (obviously to cover it up and to protect Crystle). Natly also displays screenshots of direct messages sent to her by former Miss USA contestants (the names hav

Trans-Identified Male Crowned “Miss Greater Derry 2023,” Takes Home Women’s Scholarship

A local beauty pageant is attracting ample mockery on social media after a trans-identified male was crowned the winner of the competition and awarded a scholarship intended for young women. Brían Nguyen , 19, was awarded the crown in the Miss Greater Derry pageant, held on November 8 in the Greater Derry area of New Hampshire. The competition is a locally-run event under the national Miss America series of pageants. In addition to winning the crown, Nguyen will receive the Miss Greater Derry Scholarship , a financial award established to support young women. Nguyen, who is male, is a freshman at Nashua Community College majoring in Business Management. After his win, Nguyen wrote on Facebook : “ I am ecstatic to be the FIRST transgender woman to be a Miss America local titleholder, and I hope to make everyone proud and become the first to walk the Miss America stage. I am Brían Nguyen, your Miss Greater Derry 2023 .” Nguyen had previously announced on Instagram that he has intention

Spain Wins Mister Global 2022

Miguel Angel Lucas , 21, of Spain won the Mister Global 2022 title in Thailand on March 15, 2022. The 6'5" model and firefighter in training bested 31 other contestants. The other four finalists include 1st runner-up Danh Linh of Vietnam, 2nd runner-up Dongwoo Shin of Korea, 3rd runner-up Juan Carlos da Silva of Venezuela, and 4th runner-up Gabriel Ortiz of Mexico. Photos courtesy of Mister Global

Critical Beauty

Search This Blog