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)