exclusive "Don’t believe baseless claims made by contestants who can’t stand the heat," said the organiser of the 2006 Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International Pageant held last December.

According to Danny Ooi, founder and president of D'Touch Promotions Sdn Bhd, the event was a huge success and all the contestants enjoyed themselves.

He was responding to several allegations by contestants that his company had "used and abused" them.

"No one complained. All the girls were happy to be here. They were treated well. They enjoyed their stay here," he claimed when contacted.

‘Open secret’

Malaysiakini on Monday reported complaints by Miss England Aliya Bahtanovic that all the contestants had been made to slog for the three weeks that they were in Malaysia.

She also said the contestants were not given proper meals, were made to share hotel rooms, that winning contestants’ titles had been arbitrarily revoked and that underaged girls had been accepted for the pageant.

Expressing surprise at Alisa’s outburst and noting there was no basis for her complaints, Ooi said: "I think she is the only one to make noise. The other girls were all okay with our management of the pageant.

"Many girls participate in these sort of events. Some can take the pressure, some can’t. Some even leave before the final event as they can’t cope."

He named Alisa (left) as one such person as she had withdrawn from the pageant even before the grand finale.

Asked about her claims in relation to inadequate meals and the sharing of hotel rooms, Ooi laughed off these charges.

"We gave them the best Malaysian food. Of course we could not provide them with a sitting meal while they were all in rehearsals.

"As for rooms, they were put up in one of the best hotels in the city. Tell me in which pageant do the organisers give each contestant a room to herself? I think Alisa was just too pampered. She just couldn’t take the hard work which was required of her as a contestant.

"Her claims are baseless. Pageants involve hard work and all contestants must work hard if they want to win anything."

‘Age not an issue’

He was also asked to explain why 16-year-olds had been allowed to participate in the 2006 Tourism Queen contest.

He said it is common for organisers to have girls aged between 16 and 26 in pageants.

"This is not an issue. It is up to the organisers. Some organisers allow 17-year-olds, some allow 16-year-olds. We have no issues with that," he said, also disputing the claim that his company had lied about the age of a contestant.

Miss New Zealand’s mother, April, had told malaysiakini that the organiser had informed the media that the Stephanie Dods (right) was 18, when she was in fact only 16 years old.

Ooi said he was not aware of anyone from his company lying about the age of the contestants to the media.

April also said three contestants had been stripped of their minor titles for not participating in a party after the pageant and that the organiser had been uncompromising on that matter.

"Titles are seldom revoked unless the winner breaches discipline. If she fails to attend a sponsored event or if she pretends to be sick, we will take action against her," said Ooi.

He admitted that some titles had been revoked in the Tourism Queen pageant because the girls had failed to fulfil their obligations by not attending a sponsored event.

Ooi said his firm has chalked up 18 years of experience in holding pageants and handling contestants. To date, it has organised more than 70 Miss Malaysia and 20 International Beauty Queen contests.

"I have seen many girls, some good and some bad. They will do whatever they want and we have to take action. Sometimes we send them back, others leave on their own if they can’t (take the pressure)," he said.

According to the company website, beauty pageants organised by Ooi are no ordinary affair.

"Watching a beauty pageant show is about visual effects. It's like a good movie, bringing you a story," he is quoted as saying.

The site says his excellent track record has enabled him to acquire more international franchises in beauty pageants, and to develop two homegrown events - Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International (formerly known as Queen of the Year International) and Miss Tourism International.

All not glitzy

Several local beauty pageant contestants contacted by malaysiakini have confirmed that all is not glitzy and glossy in pageants.

"Behind the scenes, it’s a lot of hard work, insults and even abuse - all kinds of abuse," said a former contestant who did not want to be named.

Most times, she claimed, the organisers work hand-in-hand with sponsors and advertisers and, as a result, it is the girls who suffer.

"We have to work long hours, sometimes with nothing to eat. At the end of it, you are so exhausted that you will question yourself for getting involved in the first place," she said.

An experienced fashion writer said the girls are lured into the world of glamour and that for most, all else is immaterial once they start enjoying the benefits of a high flying lifestyle.

"At the end of the day, it’s the glamour which outweighs the insults and abuse," noted the writer.

An ex-model said it is an open secret that younger girls are "taken advantage of" in the fields of modelling and beauty contests.

"It happens but everyone keeps quiet. It’s like no one wants to rock the boat," she said, adding that the situation is worse at events held by smaller, unknown organisers.


Part 1: The ugly side of a beauty pageant
Part 2: Underaged contestants in beauty pageant