KUALA LUMPUR - The Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation (Mumo) has rebuked an article by International Business Times (IBTimes) on the selection of the Miss Universe in this country.

Mumo national director Andrea Fonseka said the article, published on July 14, was unjustified to Malaysians and uncalled for, adding that it clearly showed the writer's ignorance towards the multi-ethnic background in Malaysia.

"Yes, predominantly we are Malay, Chinese and Indian. But we also have so many other ethnic groups. 

"So don't draw judgment on the society's culture and country that you don't know about," she said in an exclusive interview with Bernama here yesterday.

The article, titled "The Politics of Beauty: Is Malaysia's Miss Universe Contestant Too White?", had specifically picked Malaysia as one country that had tended towards fairer-skinned beauties to represent the country in the Miss Universe pageant, while the selection had also become more westernised in recent years.

It raised doubts about the "Malaysianness" of Penang-born Kimberly Leggett, winner of the Miss Malaysia 2012 and of a Caucasian-Eurasian parentage, who was deemed too white for a Malaysian by the writer.

"For me, you cannot crown a girl just because she is 'too white' or based on the skin colour.

"We crown a girl because she deserved it and to discriminate against fair-skinned girls because they don't look Malaysian is detrimental," Fonseka said.

The leggy beauty, who was crowned Miss Universe Malaysia in 2004, is also of mixed parentage herself.

She also said there was no Malaysian look, only Malaysian beauty, and that the writer should have defined what was Malaysian look to justify the report.

The article also criticised Mumo's move to introduce a reality television show concept as part of its selection process.

While defending the concept, Fonseka said it would allow the public to follow and get to know the contestants' real personality better before they take to the stage.

She added that the concept, which was introduced last year, would continue this year, with some adjustments.