Text and photo
\nby Nuraini Razak<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Nervous teenage girls squeeze into their flashy
\ndesigner clothes backstage. They then apply eyeliner and lipstick
\nwith careful precision before admiring their reflection in the
\nmirror. They all have the same hope: winning the cover girl
\ncontest.<\/p>\n
The smart and ambitious girls -- finalists in the Cover Girl
\nAneka 2001 modeling contest held annually by Aneka teenage
\nmagazine -- were 40 of the lucky applicants across the country,
\nincluding those from the troubled province of Aceh, who wanted to
\ntry their luck in the contest.<\/p>\n
On the catwalk, smiling ear to ear, finalists tried to dazzle
\nthe contest's judges and cheering audiences with their trendy
\nmake-up, hairstyles, and designer clothes.<\/p>\n
The girls competing in the event do tend to share certain
\ntraits: slim figures, latest hairstyles and model-like faces.<\/p>\n
It is not easy to become a finalist. Participants had to send
\nin their personal data and pictures, then go through the
\nselection process. In the end, out of the 12,000 applicants, the
\nnumber was sized down to 70 semifinalists before being narrowed
\ndown to 40 finalists, between 13 and 19 years of age.<\/p>\n
The grand final competition featured two days quarantine for
\ntraining, interviews with the judges comprising choreographer Jay
\nSubiyakto, musician Harry Roesli, hairstylist Hanky Tandayu and
\nrepresentatives from sponsors, before it closing with the grand
\nfinal night.<\/p>\n
"This contest is not really about beauty, it is really
\nabout ...," the first place winner, 17-year-old I Gusti Agung Ari
\nKusuma Wardani from Bali, pointed to her forehead to indicate
\nintelligence, or knowledge.<\/p>\n
The contest's third place winner, Verlita Evelyn from
\nSurabaya, confirmed that beauty was not really the main factor.<\/p>\n
"We were required to take an IQ test and the judges asked us
\nabout various issues during the interview. The judges are looking
\nfor good posture and personality, not only beauty," said Verlita,
\n17. This is her second try at the competition and she now plans
\nto stay in Jakarta to explore a career in modeling.<\/p>\n
Women (and men) worldwide of all ages continue to enter beauty
\nor modeling contests with the hope of winning the coveted title.
\nWith the right combination of good looks, talent and brains, one
\nmight be a winner. The title, hopefully, will function as a pass
\nto enter the glamor world of entertainment.<\/p>\n
Today's celebrities, such as Desy Ratnasari and Vira Yuniar,
\nare such examples. They started their careers by joining such
\ncontests and have now become successful TV sinetron (TV mini
\nseries) artists and stars in many ads.<\/p>\n
Still, the heavily promoted event was a bit too much for a
\nteenage event. Revealing clothes and heavy make-up on 13-year-
\nolds seemed rather gaudy.<\/p>\n
The grand final night, however, was not a disappointment,
\nluring hundreds of teenagers who mostly came in groups wearing
\ndress-to-impress clothes and fashion accessories, to line up
\noutside the ballroom's entrance. They were unstoppable, perhaps
\nalso due to the appearance of popular music groups Dewa and Naif
\nthat night.<\/p>\n
Thanks to their two-day training, the shimmering finalists did
\nnot fail their supporters as they walked down the catwalk
\naccompanied by heart-thumping music. Next to the stage, two giant
\nscreens displayed the finalists' names, ages, hometowns and
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
The Bali finalist Ari Kusuma Wardani won first place, 18-year-
\nold Liska Lista Winata from Jakarta came second, followed by
\nVerlita. Selvi Oktavia, 16, from Jakarta was the readers'
\nfavorite, while 14-year-old Icha Nurbani from Jakarta won the
\nbest catwalk title.<\/p>\n
Hope<\/p>\n
While some finalists hope the contest will become their
\nstairway to stardom, some expected the title would improve their
\ncareers in the modeling and entertainment industry. If they are
\nlucky, they might strike a major deal with participating
\nsponsors.<\/p>\n
"I've been in a lot of sinetrons as a supporting actress and
\nhopefully, my new title will garner me a major part," said Selvi
\nOktavia, the reader's choice winner, who has grown up in a family
\nof sinetron stars.<\/p>\n
Icha Nurbani, the best catwalk winner, is already a model.<\/p>\n
"Now that I have won, I hope I can be on more shows and
\nmagazine covers, or maybe in sinetron ...," she said.<\/p>\n
Parents, and family members, generally support their model-to-
\nbe hopefuls in the climb to success. Some put their daughters or
\nsons through modeling school, some sign them up with a modeling
\nagency.<\/p>\n
"My daughter is already a model, a presenter on Indosiar
\n(private television station), plays a leading role in a sinetron
\nand is in the process of sealing a contract with a recording
\ncompany," Dian Purnama, mother of finalist Nadia Vega from Bogor,
\nproudly said.<\/p>\n
"Nadia trained to walk (on the catwalk) until she bruised her
\nfeet ... and had to use adhesive plaster," she added.<\/p>\n
Still, there are lucky first-timers.<\/p>\n
"I support her 100 percent. I'm very proud and surprised ...
\nI thought her chances were slim. But tonight, I saw with my own
\neyes that she won third place," Indah Kurnia, mother of Verlita
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
At first, Indah did not agree with her daughter's intention to
\ntake part in the contest.<\/p>\n
"At first my mother did not support my decision, she said it's
\ntoo 'glamourous'. But since I was chosen as a finalist she has
\nsupported me all the way, she even flew here from Surabaya to see
\nme compete," said Verlita.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/text-and-photo-1447899208",
"image": ""
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