Miss Universe 1994 due here for fund raising<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Miss Universe 1994, Sushmita Sen, will arrive
\nhere Friday for a three-day visit as part of her whirlwind tour
\nof some 30 countries.<\/p>\n
During her stay in Jakarta, the 19 year-old Miss Universe who
\nhails from India will take part in several cultural and social
\nactivities to raise funds for local orphanages and victims of
\nlast month's Tsunami natural disaster in Banyuwangi, East Java.<\/p>\n
Sushmita's visit is jointly organized by PT Mustika Ratu, the
\nPutri Indonesia Foundation and PT Emerald Reksagemilang.<\/p>\n
Mooryati Sudibyo, chairwoman of the organizing committee, told
\nthe press yesterday at the Le Meridien Hotel that the visit of
\nMiss Universe will have a positive impact on Indonesia's
\ntourism industry.<\/p>\n
Mooryati, the owner of jamu traditional herbal products
\nproducer PT Mustika Ratu, said the organizing committee has
\nalready arranged special programs promoting Indonesian cultural
\nand development progress during Sushmita visit.<\/p>\n
"The world will pay attention to countries included in Miss
\nUniverse's official tour. Therefore, it is publicity for our
\ncountry," she said.<\/p>\n
Robert Felix of PT Emerald Reksagemilang added that the
\narrival of Sushmita is also aimed at eliminating the 'sour image'
\nof a Miss Universe.<\/p>\n
Vena Melinda, who represented Indonesia as a special observer
\nat the recent Miss Universe contest in Manila, commented that she
\ndidn't see any negative side of the beauty contest.<\/p>\n
"Physical appearance is not the only factor the pageant takes
\ninto account. The contestants are also judged on their
\nintelligence, humanity and behavior," Melinda noted.<\/p>\n
Melinda, who was awarded as Putri (Miss) Indonesia, will act
\nas a host during Sushmita's visit.<\/p>\n
Mooryati is now holding the franchise license from the Los
\nAngeles-based Miss Universe Corporation since l990. With the
\nlicense, she is authorized to hold a beauty pageant in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
However, the government still bans this type of contest and
\nprohibits sending candidates to the Miss Universe competition.
\nSince l980, the government have ceased giving its support to the
\nparticipation of Indonesia citizens in beauty pageants because of
\nstrong public opposition, particularly from religious leaders who
\nobjected to the skimpy swimsuits worn by contestants.<\/p>\n
In l993, The Putri Indonesia Foundation had tried to send
\nIndira Sudiro to represent Indonesia in the Miss Universe contest
\nin Mexico. But, at the last minute, the foundation decided to
\ndrop the plan after receiving a letter from Minister of Women's
\nRoles Mien Sugandhi.<\/p>\n
Mooryati insisted that she would not be deterred by this
\nincident, saying that in the future there will be other
\nopportunities. (raw)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/miss-universe-1994-due-here-for-fund-raising-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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