POD - UNIVERSE INDONESIA

Today's pick is Miss Universe Indonesia 2011 Nadine Alexandra. She has a "je ne sais quoi" about her.

MISS INDONESIA 2010

Nadine Alexandra Dewi Ames of Jakarta smiles after winning the Puteri Indonesia (Miss Indonesia) 2010 title. Flanking the new queen are Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete of Mexico and Miss Indonesia 2009 Qory Sandioriva. Nadine won the title tonight in Jakarta. Thirty-eight contestants from 33 provinces in Indonesia took part in the pageant.

MISS WORLD INDONESIA 2010

The new Miss World Indonesia 2010 is Miss Jawa Barat, Asyifa Syafiningdyah. She was crowned just hours ago by Miss World 2009, Gibraltar's Kaiane Aldorino, during a glittering, gala ceremony.

OUTRAGE IN INDONESIA

BBC News, 12-oct-2009: Clerics in Indonesia's conservative Muslim province of Aceh say they are outraged that an Acehnese woman has won the title of Miss Indonesia. Qori Sandioriva, 18, won the Miss Indonesia title on Friday, beating 37 other contestants for the crown. The clerics say that by failing to wear a veil during the competition she has betrayed her Acehnese roots and brought shame to the province. Aceh has special autonomy in Indonesia and has implemented partial Sharia law. It is the only province in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, that follows these laws. Qori Sandioriva was born in Jakarta but has an Acehnese mother. Thanks to her mother's connection to the province she was able to enter the competition as Miss Aceh. But Islamic clerics in Aceh say she has misrepresented her region. They say she should have worn a veil during the competition, in keeping with the traditions of her mother's province. Teung-ku Faisal Ali, the secretary general of Aceh's Ulama Association, told the BBC that anyone who represents Aceh must uphold the province's values. He said Qori Sandioriva did not wear a veil during the competition and therefore did not represent the Acehnese people, who have strong Islamic faith and values. When asked about not wearing a veil during the competition, Ms Sandiorova said she believed hair is beauty, and that she is proud of beauty. The controversy is likely to return next year when she goes on to compete in the Miss Universe contest where she will have to don a swimsuit as part of the pageant.

MISS INDONESIA 2009

The new Miss Indonesia (Puteri Indonesia) 2009 is Miss Aceh, Qory Sandioriva. She won the title tonite in a glittering ceremony attended by Miss Universe 2009, Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela. Thirty-eight contestants from 33 provinces in Indonesia took part in the pageant. Qory will represent Indonesia at Miss Universe 2010.

MISS WORLD INDONESIA 2009

The new Miss Indonesia 2009 Kerenina Sunny Halim celebrates after winning during the pageant's final in Jakarta tonight. Thirty-three contestants from 33 provinces in Indonesia took part in the pageant. Kerenina will represent her country at Miss World 2009.

PRODUCT PLACEMENT

From laptops to soft drinks to hair products to cameras to cars...

Oxana Federova, sentimental Miss Universe 2002

John Abraham, 1999's Manhunt India

Artika Sari Devi, Miss Indonesia 2004/2005 and top 15 finisher at Miss Universe 2005

Kurara Chibana, sentimental Miss Universe 2006

Lara Dutta, Miss Universe 2000

MORE FROM JAKARTA

More great photos at Kompas

MISS INDONESIA 2008

Republik Indonesia has a new queen. Zivanna Lethisa Siregar won the Miss Indonesia 2008 title during the pageant's final in Jakarta tonite. Thirty-three contestants from 38 provinces in Indonesia took part in the pageant. Zivanna represented Jakarta. The representative from Bali, Ayun Diandra Sari, was first runner-up.

In what has become a tradition, the new Miss Indonesia was crowned by the reigning Miss Universe. From Chelsi in 1995 to Oxana in 2002 to Dayana this year, Miss Universe is there to crown the new Miss Indonesia.

Look at the key to her new car!

Miss Universe 2006, Zuleyka Rivera, crowns Miss Indonesia 2006

Our Jen, Miss Universe 2004, with the President of Indonesia and Miss Indonesia 2004

Miss Universe 2000, Lara Dutta, crowns Miss Indonesia 2000

INDEPENDENT SPIRIT 4TH RUNNER-UP

Time for another award for a class celebrity. This time we take a look at the ladies who have shown their own independent spirit in a world of pageantdom that is often times very rigid. We polled the student body for nominees and once again they did not disappoint us. Names like Ariana David, Miss Italy 1994, renown for her iconoclastic gown; Diane Schock, Miss California 1991 and second runner-up at that year's Miss USA, who wanted to meet Lady Godiva; Margaret Bourgeois, Miss Trinidad and Tobago 1997, who wanted to run naked; and Margareta Arvidsson, Miss Universe 1966, who would not play by the rules. All of these spirited women were bandied about. When all was said and done, we found our top five.

We start out with our 4th runner-up (our students have a long memory.) They selected Miss Indonesia 1983, Andi Botenri, who was told by her government to not compete in the swimsuit competition at Miss Universe 1983 as it went against Muslim custom. She did anyway in a Catalina swimsuit. After this display of independence on her part it took twelve years before another Miss Indonesia would compete at Miss Universe. Andi, you go girl!