FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Miss World hits stage despite ugly protest in Indonesia

Miss World hits stage despite ugly protest in Indonesia

The annual Miss World beauty pageant officially started on Sunday with a grand opening ceremony to welcome the arrival of 130 contestants from around the world, in an event showcasing the splendour and magnificence of Indonesia's cultures.

The opening ceremony aired to more than 160 countries worldwide, combining traditional Indonesian dances and music performed by the contestants and local artists.
The 150-minute opening show, attended by hundreds of state officials and ambassadors and watched by an estimated two billion people around the world, continued with the parade of the beautiful contestants wearing dresses by Indonesian designers.
Sixteen of the candidates were selected to perform Tari Kipas Cendana, an Indonesian dance specially created for this show by choreographer Eko Supriyanto. The dance combined the cultures of Halmahera, Sunda, Java and Bali and was accompanied by the sounds of various traditional musical instruments.
“It was a first-time experience for the contestants to learn this kipas dance. They were very enthusiastic and learned quite fast. After a total seven hours of practise, they were already able to perform it well,” said John Fair, head of production and operations for Miss World 2013.
With the theme “Bring Indonesia’s Beauty to the World”, the entire series of events of Miss World 2013 ran on schedule, despite mounting protests from Islamic hard-line groups in several cities across Indonesia.
The organisers have promised that all activities in the event would be in accordance with Indonesian culture.
In spite of the protests, the organising committee said the contestants felt very welcomed in Indonesia.
”We feel very welcomed to be here. I believe that by being here, we can share and do something good together. This is a very great opportunity for Indonesia, as the first country in Southeast Asia selected to host this event,” said Julia Morley, chairwoman and chief executive of Miss World 2013.
The contestants started their activities last Wednesday, one day after their arrival in Bali. They took turns making videos  amid the island’s natural beauty.
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