There was lots
of protests as many Islamic activists held a prayer session in a mosque near
the capital to state their anger and disgust as the newly crowd Megan Young
wept as she won the popular title on Hindu majority Bali at the end of a three
week contest.
The 23 year old
who wore a pearl white gown assured the
crowd that she was going to be “The best Miss World” which included many
Filipinos in a venue, which was deeply equipped with armed police and water
cannons.
Nevertheless the
finale was moved to Bali where there is not so much influence from its first
venue outside the capital Jakarta after thousands of activists took to the
street across the world’s most crowded Muslim- majority country.
While condemning
the pageant as a “whore contest” and “pornography” the protestors put the authorities
under pressure into moving the venue, the latest sign of growing influence of
the country’s hardline fringe.
Furthermore,
many police were positioned across Bali for Saturday’s finale, which saw 127
contestants dressed in stilettos and sparkling gowns take it to the stage in
the Nusa Dua resort, Southern Bali.
In addition, the
contestants were cut down to six. Nonetheless, they were confronted with a
question and answer round before the winner was declared in a contest broadcast
to more than 180 countries.
Young became the
first Miss Philippines Miss World, she took the crown from last year’s winner,
China’s Yu Wenxia.
Young is
studying digital media, she also presents TV shows in the Philippines, and she
vowed to be “just be myself in everything I do, to share
what I know and to educate people”.
Miss France Marine Lorpheline came in second, whereas
Miss Ghana Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter came in third.
In addition, the American, British and Australia had cautioned
that extremists might attack the pageant in the run to up to final.
Bali has suffered radical attacks before, this was in
2002 when bombings, which killed more than 200 people, most of them, were
foreign tourists. Nevertheless, Saturday’s finale things went well, with no new
protests or security scares in spite of the prominent hardline group the
Islamic defenders Front (FPI) to stage protesters.
Likewise, the Coordinators
had initially planned to hold the final in a 10,000-seat venue in sentual,
before being forced to move to a 2,000-seat centre in Nusa Dua.
It’s been said
that those who were at the prayer gathering were being directed by a Muslim
preacher who criticized the pageant, which activists claim that it is going
against the teaching, said FPI member Ustad Maman.
“Indonesia has already shown how it feels about Miss
World -- we rejected it here, we reject it anywhere” Maman told FPI.
According to reports, Maman said that about 5,000 FPI
members attended the prayer session, though the police put the amount at 1,000.
Hardliners in Indonesia have achieved in getting many
events believed to be “ Un-Islamic” changed or cancelled in recent times.
Nevertheless, last year, American Singer Lady Gaga
cancelled a concert after threats to burn down the venue and got much criticism
for wearing “ a bra and panties”.
In an attempt to diminish hardline anger, organizers also
made an early decisions this year to cancel the famed bikinis from the “ beach
fashion” round, while changing them with
Balinese Sarongs.
According to reports, about 129 contestants had been due
to be in the final but according to the organizers of the event two contestants
had pulled out in the last minute.
Although the popularity of Miss World was first held in
1951 it has faded in the west but it has continued to hold interest in Asian
countries guarantees that the final rakes in a huge global television audience.
Venezuela has won the most Miss Worlds, with
six winners, while India and Britain claim five titles each.
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