Miss Universe 1994 due here for fund raising
Miss Universe 1994 due here for fund raising
JAKARTA (JP): Miss Universe 1994, Sushmita Sen, will arrive
here Friday for a three-day visit as part of her whirlwind tour
of some 30 countries.
During her stay in Jakarta, the 19 year-old Miss Universe who
hails from India will take part in several cultural and social
activities to raise funds for local orphanages and victims of
last month's Tsunami natural disaster in Banyuwangi, East Java.
Sushmita's visit is jointly organized by PT Mustika Ratu, the
Putri Indonesia Foundation and PT Emerald Reksagemilang.
Mooryati Sudibyo, chairwoman of the organizing committee, told
the press yesterday at the Le Meridien Hotel that the visit of
Miss Universe will have a positive impact on Indonesia's
tourism industry.
Mooryati, the owner of jamu traditional herbal products
producer PT Mustika Ratu, said the organizing committee has
already arranged special programs promoting Indonesian cultural
and development progress during Sushmita visit.
"The world will pay attention to countries included in Miss
Universe's official tour. Therefore, it is publicity for our
country," she said.
Robert Felix of PT Emerald Reksagemilang added that the
arrival of Sushmita is also aimed at eliminating the 'sour image'
of a Miss Universe.
Vena Melinda, who represented Indonesia as a special observer
at the recent Miss Universe contest in Manila, commented that she
didn't see any negative side of the beauty contest.
"Physical appearance is not the only factor the pageant takes
into account. The contestants are also judged on their
intelligence, humanity and behavior," Melinda noted.
Melinda, who was awarded as Putri (Miss) Indonesia, will act
as a host during Sushmita's visit.
Mooryati is now holding the franchise license from the Los
Angeles-based Miss Universe Corporation since l990. With the
license, she is authorized to hold a beauty pageant in Indonesia.
However, the government still bans this type of contest and
prohibits sending candidates to the Miss Universe competition.
Since l980, the government have ceased giving its support to the
participation of Indonesia citizens in beauty pageants because of
strong public opposition, particularly from religious leaders who
objected to the skimpy swimsuits worn by contestants.
In l993, The Putri Indonesia Foundation had tried to send
Indira Sudiro to represent Indonesia in the Miss Universe contest
in Mexico. But, at the last minute, the foundation decided to
drop the plan after receiving a letter from Minister of Women's
Roles Mien Sugandhi.
Mooryati insisted that she would not be deterred by this
incident, saying that in the future there will be other
opportunities. (raw)