Modeling career requires personality, courage<\/p>\n
By I. Christianto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Many teenage Indonesians wish they could be
\nmodels, and particularly want to work abroad, but only a few get
\nthe chance to fulfill their dream.<\/p>\n
One of them is Tracy Trinita, who won the local Elite Model
\nLook contest four years ago. In fact, she is presently the only
\nIndonesian successfully pursuing a career overseas as a world-
\nclass model.<\/p>\n
Another young woman, Naila Alatas, hopes to follow Tracy's
\nsteps and work as a model in the leading fashion capitals around
\nthe globe. Naila, 19, recently won the local franchise of the New
\nYork-based Elite Model Look competition, and is to try her luck
\nat the grand final of this year's International Elite Model Look
\nin Nice, France, next month.<\/p>\n
The Elite Model Look, established in 1983, is the world's
\nlargest and most prestigious model search. About 80 women between
\nthe ages of 14 and 24, from over 50 nations, will participate in
\nthis year's final.<\/p>\n
Just like Tracy, Naila has a striking face, an unwritten law
\nfor a contestant to win a modeling event. She has wide-set and
\nexpressive eyes, high cheekbones, a sharp nose, full lips and a
\ngreat smile.<\/p>\n
Most importantly, Naila likes to model and has the confidence
\nto choose a career in modeling.<\/p>\n
\"I like this profession and have won support from my family as
\nwell as from my boyfriend,\" said Naila, who began modeling a
\ncouple of years ago.<\/p>\n
She said that as a little girl she dreamed of being an airline
\nflight attendant because her father, a cousin of Minister of
\nForeign Affairs Ali Alatas, worked with national air carrier
\nGaruda Indonesia.<\/p>\n
When she was in high school, she joined a modeling school and
\nfound it appealing.<\/p>\n
\"I think I will also enjoy being well known while getting an
\nincome, but it (the money) is not that important,\" she said,
\nadding that she has already done some modeling on the catwalk and
\nfor commercials.<\/p>\n
Brigita Maria, a representative of the New York-based Elite
\nModel agency, said that Naila had some leading points although
\nshe was not as tall as the runner-ups at the contest.<\/p>\n
\"She is 19 and has just graduated from high school. Nineteen
\nis mature enough for a girl to go and live abroad if she is
\nsuccessful in the final. In addition to her tall, slender body
\nand good face, she is also photogenic,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She said that most parents, even those who have allowed their
\ndaughters to become models, usually continue to emphasize the
\nimportance of education.<\/p>\n
\"That's why some winners of the previous local contests
\nhaven't been able to continue their career in modeling as they
\nare required to finish school first. Some of them also live
\noutside Jakarta, the center for modeling business in Indonesia.\"<\/p>\n
Concerning education, Naila said, \"I'm not a genius, but I
\nthink I am quite educated.\"<\/p>\n
She believes that living abroad as a model with a tight
\nschedule would not hamper her education as many private tutors
\nare available.<\/p>\n
According to Brigita, a young age could also be a problem for
\na girl working as a professional model, especially if she has to
\nlive alone abroad.<\/p>\n
\"For instance, a 14-year-old girl is usually still in the
\nphase of being spoiled. It is usually hard to leave her home for
\na longer term,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Poor professionalism, lack of parental support, and
\nexpectations only of wealth and fame have been the traditional
\nrestraints for Indonesians wanting to become qualified world-
\nclass models, despite the great potential of thousands of the
\ncountry's youths.<\/p>\n
Brigita said that the number of participants in the Elite
\nModel Look, a contest seeking international-standard models, had
\nincreased significantly since it was held for the first time in
\n1995.<\/p>\n
\"About 300 young women participated in the Indonesian Elite
\nModel Look competition in l995. The number doubled in the third
\nevent in 1997. We did not hold the event in 1998, but this year's
\ncontest recorded about 800 participants,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She said that the quality of the participants had also
\nimproved.<\/p>\n
\"They are smart and have the standard formula of appearance,
\nheight, a beautiful face and body and proportion and talented.
\nMost importantly, they have a good attitude and personality,\" she
\nsaid, adding that attitude and personality were crucial for
\nteamwork situations, which have always been a large part of
\nmodeling.<\/p>\n
She said this year's participants also had better perceptions
\nof the contest.<\/p>\n
\"This is a contest of the profession of modeling, not a beauty
\ncontest. In previous competitions, many of the participants
\nadmitted that they registered because they wanted to be famous
\nmodels and make money,\" she said.<\/p>\n
According to Brigita, it is important for a girl to really
\nlike the modeling profession.<\/p>\n
\"It's encouraging that many parents are presently very
\nsupportive of their daughters who want to be models. Modeling has
\ngained respectability and greater acceptance in society. It's not
\nlike years ago when modeling was said to be very polluted.\"<\/p>\n
Brigita said that modeling requires strict discipline,
\nprofessionalism, a strong personality and courage.<\/p>\n
According to Brigita, in terms of physical appearance
\nIndonesian girls are great compared to Chinese girls, their major
\nrivals, but Indonesians are weak in mentality.<\/p>\n
\"When abroad, many Indonesian girls become discouraged and
\nquiet because of their broken English. This won't happen to girls
\nfrom China. For example, when they want to buy something at the
\nmarket, they insist on buying the stuff they need by using their
\nown language.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/modeling-career-requires-personality-courage-1447893297",
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