[An Nahar] Contestants at this year's Miss World beauty pageant will not wear bikinis in the parade in a bid to avoid causing offence in Mohammedan-majority Indonesia, organizers confirmed Wednesday.The 137 women taking part in the September contest will swap bikinis for more conservative attire, such as traditional sarongs, for the beach fashion section.
The contest is being held on the resort island of Bali, where foreign tourists flock in their millions and the beaches are packed with women sunbathing in skimpy swimwear.
But Miss World Organization chairwoman Julia Morley insisted that none of the pageant's contestants would wear a bikini.
"I don't want to upset or get anyone in a situation where we are being disrespectful," she told Agence La Belle France Presse from London.
"We treasure respect for all the countries that take part in the pageant," she said, adding the final outfits had not yet been finalized.
Organizers are treading carefully after a number of music acts to recently visit Indonesia provoked controversy due to performers' outfits.
Last year pop sensation Lady Gaga was forced to cancel her concert in Indonesia after Mohammedan hardliners threatened to burn down the venue and criticized her for only wearing "a bra and panties".