Indonesian Muslim pageant challenges Western beauty contests

PRAMBANAN, Indonesia, Nov 22 (AFP) -An eclectic mix of women from around the world competed in the finale of a pageant exclusively for Muslims in Indonesia on Friday, seen as a riposte to Western beauty contests.

The women, who included a doctor and a computer scientist, paraded in glittering dresses against the backdrop of worldrenowned ancient temples for the contest in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.

However the 18 finalists were required to wear the Muslim headscarf and judged not only on their appearance, but also on how well they recited verses from the Quran and their views on Islam in the modern world.

The World Muslimah Award first drew global attention in 2013 when organisers presented it as a peaceful protest to Miss World, which was taking place around the same time on the resort island of Bali.

While it remains popular in some countries, British-run Miss World has faced frequent accusations that it is degrading to women, and a round in which contestants pose in bikinis has been a lightning rod for criticism.

In an effort to appease hardliners, Miss World organisers axed the bikini round for the Bali edition, but the event still sparked demonstrations from Islamic radicals who dubbed it a "whore contest".

'Headscarves not scary'

British contestant Dina Torkia said she hoped this year's World Muslimah Award would not only provide a contrast to Western beauty pageants, but would also dispel prejudices against Islam.

"I think the most important thing is to show that we are really normal girls, we are not married to terrorists. This scarf on my head isn't scary," she told AFP.

During their time in Indonesia, contestants visited orphanages and nursing homes, and had their pictures taken at Borobudur, a famous Buddhist temple close to Yogyakarta, Java's cultural heart.

The finale took place on a stage against the backdrop of Prambanan, a ninth-century complex of Hindu temples on the island of Java that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hosting the event at a Hindu site was a conscious decision to show that Muslims are accepting of other religions, organisers said.