A storm of controversy has hit the Miss Indonesia 2025 pageant after Merince Kogoya, the original representative for Papua Pegunungan province, was officially removed from the competition over a resurfaced video that showed her expressing support for Israel. The decision, announced by the pageant’s national committee on July 1, 2025 sparked nationwide debate over freedom of expression, religious belief, and the country’s sensitive stance on global geopolitical issues.
Merince, who had been celebrated as a trailblazing contestant from a historically underrepresented region, was replaced by Karmen Anastasya, a fellow contestant from the same province. Organizers stated that the move was made to uphold the competition’s official guidelines, which require participants to avoid behavior deemed insensitive or controversial in the context of Indonesian law and public sentiment — particularly on international conflicts.
“Every Miss Indonesia finalist is expected to serve as a role model aligned with national values, unity, and sensitivity to humanitarian issues,” the committee wrote in a formal statement.
The Trigger: A Flag, a Belief, and a Backlash
The controversy centers around a short video posted months earlier on Merince’s personal social media, in which she appeared to support the Israeli flag and voice solidarity with the nation during its conflict with Palestine. The video went viral in late June 2025, prompting fierce online criticism. Critics argued the act was disrespectful to Indonesia’s strong pro-Palestine stance and a violation of national policy that prohibits the public display of Israeli symbols due to the country’s lack of diplomatic ties with Israel.
Pageant authorities received formal complaints from several community groups and immediately launched an internal review. Within days, Merince’s name was removed from the official list of contestants.
Merince Responds: “It’s About Faith, Not Politics”
In a follow-up video, Merince offered a public explanation, stating that her expression of support stemmed from religious solidarity, not political intent. She described her actions as a personal manifestation of faith, emphasizing that she had no intention of disrespecting Indonesia’s foreign policy or inciting division.
“My belief system aligns with certain values, and I was only expressing my faith-based perspective,” she said. “But I understand now how that could be misinterpreted and hurt people.”
However, the clarification did little to reverse the backlash. A petition for her reinstatement, launched by some supporters online, failed to gain significant traction. Instead, others accused her of using the situation to frame herself as a victim of discrimination — a claim that many activists, particularly those from Papua, have rejected as misleading.
A National Sensitivity: Indonesia and the Palestine-Israel Conflict
Indonesia is one of the most vocal supporters of Palestinian statehood in Southeast Asia. The Indonesian government has consistently condemned Israeli military actions and maintains no diplomatic relations with Israel. Displaying the Israeli flag, singing its anthem, or endorsing its government is legally restricted and often met with public outrage.
This national policy has also shaped cultural and entertainment events. In past instances, foreign artists and athletes were denied entry into Indonesia over their perceived ties to Israel.
Thus, while Merince’s video might be viewed as an expression of personal belief elsewhere, in Indonesia it crossed a well-defined boundary between private expression and national sensitivity.
Representation, Identity, and Public Standards
The decision to remove Merince has sparked broader discussions around identity, freedom of conscience, and the role of pageantry in modern Indonesia. Some human rights observers have raised concerns about the fine line between enforcing standards and suppressing individual belief, especially given Indonesia’s constitutional protection of religious freedom.
Others argue that representing a province — especially one as symbolically important as Papua Pegunungan — demands greater cultural awareness and alignment with national unity.
“The Miss Indonesia stage is not a personal platform. It’s a national one,” said cultural commentator Andika Yusuf. “Participants are not just representing themselves; they’re representing the values of an entire region and nation.”
Still, the incident has reignited conversations about how Papuan identity is portrayed and policed in national events. Some Papuan voices have urged caution against using this case as a blanket commentary on broader discrimination, pointing instead to the need for more careful candidate vetting in high-profile events.
What Comes Next
With Karmen Anastasya now replacing Merince, organizers are pushing ahead with the competition. Karmen, a student and aspiring social worker, has expressed hope that she can “bring positive representation for Papua Pegunungan without controversy.”
Meanwhile, the Miss Indonesia committee has pledged to tighten its screening and social media guidelines in future editions, to prevent similar incidents.
As the nation debates the implications of Merince’s removal, the case remains a vivid example of how personal beliefs, public roles, and political sensitivities collide in modern Indonesia — particularly for those who step onto the national stage.
Conclusion
Merince Kogoya’s disqualification from Miss Indonesia 2025 highlights the tension between personal beliefs and national values in a culturally sensitive country like Indonesia. Her pro-Israel content, though framed as faith-based, clashed with Indonesia’s firm pro-Palestine stance and legal restrictions, prompting her removal. The incident underscores the importance of public figures aligning with national sentiment, especially on international issues, while also raising questions about freedom of expression, religious identity, and how Papuan representation is treated in national platforms.
