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London. Indonesia’s representative in this year’s Miss World contest said she wanted to promote the traditional costumes and batik of West Sumatra at the event, to be held in South Africa next month.

Speaking during a stopover at the Indonesian Embassy in London on Thursday evening, en route to South Africa, Kerenina Sunny Halim, better known as Nina, also asked the country to get behind her during the competition.

“Please support me in the Miss World event so that I can do my best for my beloved country, Indonesia,” the 23-year-old said.

Asked about having to wear a bikini as part of the competition, Nina only said that she hoped her fellow Indonesians would understand, adding that the bikini stage was a compulsory part of the contest and one that all contestants were expected to take part in.

“It is not our own will to wear bikinis in the event,” she said. “If we are ready to participate in it, we should also be ready to abide by all the regulations set by the Miss World committee.”

Nina, who was born in Jakarta to an Indonesian father and an American mother, said she would attend a charity dinner in London on Monday to mark the 60th anniversary of the Miss World pageant.

The 120 contest finalists will each donate a unique gift from their home countries to be auctioned off at the dinner to raise money for medical and educational programs around the world.

Nina said she was proud to be representing her country and looked forward to the contest.

“It will be a great joy for me to make as many friends as possible from other countries and to introduce my country’s culture and traditions to them,” she said.

All Miss World contestants are required to spend one month in “quarantine” in South Africa before the event.

Antara