Miss/Mrs Plus World Malaysia 2020 finalist Jastina Mohd Junus initially had reservations on entering the beauty pageant due to her image as a Muslim woman wearing a headscarf.
However, after considering the fact that participants were not required to dress in a sexy manner or display their figure, she decided to submit her application.
"We are still able to protect our aurat (modesty). No one forced us (Muslims) to remove our headscarf or to wear sexy clothes and display our figures.
"On the contrary, those of us wearing the headscarf were treated the same way as other participants. So I don't understand why there are parties calling for this event to be cancelled," Jastina told Malaysiakini.
"We do not need to show off our figure to satisfy the public," she added.
Previously, the Malaysian Dakwah Islamiah Foundation (Yadim) had objected to the pageant set to be held on Jan 2, on grounds that it did not serve any benefit aside from promoting a "hedonistic" culture.
Yadim in a statement also said it would be handing over a protest memorandum to the pageant organiser and relevant authorities.
PAS, meanwhile, claimed that the pageant contained elements of vice and should not be held in Malaysia as a Muslim-majority country.
Commenting further, Jastina, who is a lawyer by profession, said participation in the pageant has helped to erase her own negative body image.
The single mother of three said the pageant also provided a platform for larger sized women to find and build their personal confidence.
"Do you know that it is not easy to have a big body? We are at constant war with ourselves to build our confidence.
"Before this, there was always a feeling of self-consciousness, especially as I have attempted various ways to lose weight," she said.
Aside from personal growth, Jastina added that the pageant also aimed to erase negative public perception towards plus-size individuals.
"There are women who risked being divorced just because of their weight," she said.
Meanwhile, another participant, Shakti Chhabra, said the pageant should not be cancelled just because of claims and pressure from certain parties.
The 38-year-old kindergarten teacher and entrepreneur said Malaysia, as a multi-racial country, should also take into account views from all races.
"Malaysia represents many races, so indirectly the pageant will promote the country abroad when the winner is sent to compete on an international stage," she added.
Like Jastina, Shakti said there were plus-size women unable to erase their self-conscious thoughts as they found it difficult to practice self-love.
The pageant platform provides the needed support, encouragement, and awareness for women to transform the image they have of themselves.
"You must love yourself before you can teach others how you want to be loved, and this pageant is helping us towards that goal," she said. - Mkini
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