CONTESTANTS at this year's Miss World beauty pageant will not wear
bikinis in the parade in a bid to avoid causing offence in
Muslim-majority Indonesia, organisers have confirmed.
The 137
women taking part in the September contest will swap bikinis for more
conservative attire, such as traditional sarongs, for the beach fashion
section.
The contest is being held on the resort island of Bali,
where foreign tourists flock in their millions and the beaches are
packed with women sunbathing in skimpy swimwear.
But Miss World Organisation chairwoman Julia Morley insisted that none of the pageant's contestants would wear a bikini.
Bikinis have long been a feature of the Miss World beauty pageant. Picture: AFP
"I don't want to upset or get anyone in a situation where we are being disrespectful," she said from London.
"We
treasure respect for all the countries that take part in the pageant,"
she said, adding the outfits had not yet been finalised. Organisers are
treading carefully after a number of music acts to recently visit
Indonesia provoked controversy because of performers' outfits.
Last
year pop sensation Lady Gaga was forced to cancel her concert in
Indonesia after Muslim hardliners threatened to burn down the venue and
criticised her for only wearing"a bra and panties".
Singer
Beyonce and band The Pussycat Dolls were also asked to cover up before
performing in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.
The
upcoming Miss World pageant, to be held in Bali and Bogor just outside
Jakarta, has already stirred anger with the country's top Muslim
clerical body, the Indonesian Ulema Council, which has called for its
cancellation.
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