Free Republic

Six Miss Universe Indonesia contestants have filed complaints against pageant organizers following this year's pageant. Mellisa Anggraeni, an attorney who is representing the women, claimed five of the contestants were asked to take off their tops for “body checks” two days before the final round of this year’s pageant on Aug. 3, according to Reuters and CNN. At a press conference on Tuesday, Anggraeni alleged organizers said this was so they could “examine any scars, cellulite or tattoos on their bodies,” the BBC reported. The women also claimed they were photographed topless while men were present, per the outlets. "I...

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.