thalia spreads the gospel of soapy adulation<\/p>\n
By Dini S. Djalal<\/p>\n
Jakarta (JP): \"Who wants to be my neighbor?,\" coos Mexican
\nstarlet Ariadna Sodi Miranda.<\/p>\n
The 5,000 fans gathered at the Jakarta Convention Center on
\nTuesday to see their idol screamed in ecstasy.<\/p>\n
Popularly known as Thalia, the young artist is on a publicity
\ntour to Indonesia until Sept. 4, after eight days of being
\nlionized in the Philippines.<\/p>\n
Thalia, bedecked in a slinky white satin gown, emitted a coy
\nlaugh and continued to romance the roaring crowd.<\/p>\n
\"She's so beautiful. I love her,\" sighed Lina, a 17-year-old
\nhigh school student from Tangerang. Lina was there with her
\nfamily, including her two sisters and her mother. Her father was
\nbusy at work, while her brother preferred to wait for them at
\nPlaza Senayan.<\/p>\n
Lina was one of thousands of star-struck girls and housewives
\nwho comprised the majority of the crowd. Thalia may be one of
\ntelevision's sexiest stars, but her biggest fans are women who
\nidolize the telenovela (soap opera) heroines she has played.<\/p>\n
And heroines they are. Conveniently, the name of Thalia's
\ncharacter always features in the title and this name is always a
\nvariation of the name Maria. The troubles which Maria, or Thalia,
\nstruggle with are equally predictable.<\/p>\n
In all three dubbed telenovelas, Maria Mercedes, Mari Mar and
\nMaria Cinta yang Hilang, Thalia plays a poor girl who overcomes
\nher poverty, but not without battling the evils and corruption of
\nmoneyed society.<\/p>\n
Anna, a 21-year-old university student, explains that Thalia
\ninspires hope in the poor. \"Thalia is not just a pretty actress.
\nShe symbolizes goodness, and how good people can win in the end,\"
\nAnna said.<\/p>\n
What about her sexy looks and flirtatious behavior?<\/p>\n
\"Well, no one wants to watch ugly people on TV. We watch TV to
\nescape our boring lives,\" said Anna.<\/p>\n
Thalia herself also knows the secret to her popularity. \"I
\nlike playing Cinderellas on the telenovelas, to give hope and
\ndreams to those who have few opportunities,\" said Thalia at a
\npress conference last Sunday.<\/p>\n
Thalia's astute understanding of her fame indicates that her
\ncelebrity status was not a random result. In fact, Thalia, or
\nperhaps her career managers (which include her mother) is very
\nstrict about her image and the media's use of it. She refuses to
\nhave photographs taken of the right side of her face, although it
\nhas to be said that on television she is seen from all angles.<\/p>\n
Thalia also has a rigid physical regimen, as her buff physique
\nproves. \"I keep myself fit for my public,\" she explained.<\/p>\n
Also, at the press conference, she displayed an easy
\nfamiliarity with the rigmaroles of show business. The moment
\nThalia appeared in a pink gown before the assembled
\nphotographers, she threw herself the task of into posing,
\npouting, and blowing kisses at the cameras. But after a few
\nminutes of mayhem, she abruptly stopped and prohibited any more
\nphotography, even though only one group of 20 photojournalists
\nhad been allowed to do their thing. The other 40 photographers
\nhad to contend with sneaking photographs during the question and
\nanswer period.<\/p>\n
\"It's been difficult working with such a superstar,\" commented
\nYuli Ismartono, public relations manager for Surya Citra
\nTelevisi, the television station which sponsored Thalia's visit.<\/p>\n
During her stay, Ismartono and her crew were kept busy
\narranging last-minute changes to Thalia's schedule, at Thalia's
\nown insistence.<\/p>\n
Ismartono explained that Thalia was \"very friendly\" but added
\nher stay in Jakarta was marred somewhat. Her mother's purse was
\nstolen on their first day here, and there had been security
\nthreats. The robbery convinced Thalia not only to take her own
\nbodyguards on a jaunt through the Indonesia in Miniature Park
\n(Taman Mini) but also a crew of police officers and Indonesian
\nbodyguards.<\/p>\n
But after shopping at Danar Hadi batik boutique, a recording
\nsession at SCTV, and spending her 25th birthday on Monday with
\nfriends and family, Thalia appeared radiant and happy to greet
\nher fans on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
And though the press conference began with a solemn reading in
\nSpanish of a press release, it ended with Thalia singing the
\ntheme tune from Maria Mercedes. \"I like singing best, because
\nwhen singing I can really connect with my fans,\" said Thalia. She
\ndeparted with a coquettish farewell in Indonesian. \"Terima kasih
\nkasih-kasihku (Thank you so much my beloved),\" Thalia said before
\nhugging and kissing a small girl for the cameras.<\/p>\n
The photo opportunity was chosen well, because some of
\nThalia's fans are very young. A mother in a Moslem headscarf and
\nher three young children all screamed during the fan meeting, and
\ntheir shrieks grew louder every time Thalia wriggled in a
\nsuggestive dance. When asked why she enjoyed Thalia's display of
\nher body, the mother answered, \"But I know she's a good girl. She
\njust happens to be very sexy,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Indeed, when asked about her ideal man, Thalia answered that
\nwhen she marries, she wants as many children as possible. Her
\nwish for domestic bliss was enthusiastically cheered on by the
\naudience.<\/p>\n
But when Thalia said that she will also star in as many
\ntelenovelas as possible, the crowd hollered even louder. The sexy
\nstar then repeatedly expressed her love for her fans, heightening
\nthe atmosphere of mutual adoration.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know why I like her. She just makes me feel good,\"
\nsaid Ayu, a 27-year-old secretary.<\/p>\n
And as long as her fans feel good, so does Thalia.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thalia-spreads-the-gospel-of-soapy-adulation-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }