While beauty pageants are known for their bikini contests, one of the largest pageants in the world is cancelling its bikini contest out of respect for the Muslim community in Indonesia.
According to The Associated Press, the pageant, which is taking place in Indonesia, was facing protests from hardline Muslim groups so Adjie S. Soeratmadjie from the RCTI announced that the bikini contest has been cancelled. Instead, the over 130 contestants will have to wear traditional sarongs during a beachwear contest.
The event is scheduled for Sept. 28 in the resort area of Bali and in Sentul, near the capital of Jakarta. The Miss World Organization, which is based in London, approved of the decision.
“There will no bikini in this year's Miss World pageant to respect our traditional customs and values," Soeratmadjie said. “This is a sensitive issue in Indonesia. We have discussed it since last year and they have agreed.”
The Daily Mail reports that the Indonesian Ulema Council had wanted the event cancelled altogether. The island nation is home to 200 million Muslims.
Conservative Muslim groups and protesters had also forced Lady Gaga to cancel a show in Indonesia in May 2012.