Is Islam ready, as Miss Indonesia dons a swimsuit for beauty pageant?

AFP ^ | 5/25/05

[marymc]

PHUKET, Thailand (AFP) - Indonesia hasn't sent a contestant to the Miss Universe pageant in almost a decade, since its last competitor dared to show up at the swimwear event, incurring a ban from then dictator Suharto.

But Artika Sari Devi, a 25-year-old law graduate and this year's Indonesian ambassador, says that despite vocal opposition from religious groups back home, she believes the world's largest Muslim nation is ready to compete once again.

When she slipped into a swimsuit on a Phuket beach with other contestants last week, Artika knew was stepping into uncharted territory.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

"We should not be judged by our physical appearance. If we want to take part in a competition it should be about brains, intelligence and skills," said the FRENCH-EDUCATED activist.

Oy gevalt!

It looks like we have another, female version of, Hassan al-Turabi on our hands.

Yet another reason to loathe the Fifth Republic in all its many vile incarnations.

[k2blader]

Hrm, I think she just has a well-defined jawline and dark hair.

[AmishDude]

OMG! You're right!

She does have a head!

[AmishDude]

IIRC there was some physical violence at a pageant a year or 2 ago..?

Oh, pleath, you're not thuggethting that I follow the newth on pagentth, are you?

[SengirV]

She will be murdered within a year. So sad.

[CzarNicky]

She does have a head!

Not for long.

[mcg1969]

Actually, I've heard that nose jobs are a HUGE deal in Iran, because 1) they all want the "Western" look and 2) it's about the only part of a woman's body that is uncovered in traditional garb.

[AmishDude]

She can apply for the AmishDude asylum program.

[Bars4Bill]

The only people protesting this beauty contest are muslims and feminists, the two most puritanical groups on earth.

Gays and lesbians, respectively, are not puritans.

[Dr.Hilarious]

I just got an idea for a terrifying horror movie.

This photo is the poster.

The tagline: "She went in for a simple breast augmentation...and something has gone terribly wrong..."

The title: "They Transplanted Helen Thomas's Brain!"

[infidel29]

Feminists? Puritanical? The ones who burned their bras and cried for gender equity in the sexual revolution?

[TexanToTheCore]

I think they're fake. If so, it raises questions: how does a muslim get access to, um, augmentation?


Houston

[AmishDude]

Ever thought of a different screenname? I'm just throwing that out there.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

A beautiful woman is testament to the Creators beneficence.

[nmh]

I think it's the eye brows and the nose.

Scary girl.

[tomkat]

It looks almost as if it's been photoshopped

Maybe, but ya gotta admit they did a damned nice job on the legs and torso

[Duke Nukum]

I'll pray for her.

[Chode]

come to Butthead!!! bath her and bring her to me...

[Fitzcarraldo]

Better check for explosives!