Cover Girl Aneka 2001, another stairway to stardom.
Text and photo by Nuraini Razak
JAKARTA (JP): Nervous teenage girls squeeze into their flashy designer clothes backstage. They then apply eyeliner and lipstick with careful precision before admiring their reflection in the mirror. They all have the same hope: winning the cover girl contest.
The smart and ambitious girls -- finalists in the Cover Girl Aneka 2001 modeling contest held annually by Aneka teenage magazine -- were 40 of the lucky applicants across the country, including those from the troubled province of Aceh, who wanted to try their luck in the contest.
On the catwalk, smiling ear to ear, finalists tried to dazzle the contest's judges and cheering audiences with their trendy make-up, hairstyles, and designer clothes.
The girls competing in the event do tend to share certain traits: slim figures, latest hairstyles and model-like faces.
It is not easy to become a finalist. Participants had to send in their personal data and pictures, then go through the selection process. In the end, out of the 12,000 applicants, the number was sized down to 70 semifinalists before being narrowed down to 40 finalists, between 13 and 19 years of age.
The grand final competition featured two days quarantine for training, interviews with the judges comprising choreographer Jay Subiyakto, musician Harry Roesli, hairstylist Hanky Tandayu and representatives from sponsors, before it closing with the grand final night.
"This contest is not really about beauty, it is really about ...," the first place winner, 17-year-old I Gusti Agung Ari Kusuma Wardani from Bali, pointed to her forehead to indicate intelligence, or knowledge.
The contest's third place winner, Verlita Evelyn from Surabaya, confirmed that beauty was not really the main factor.
"We were required to take an IQ test and the judges asked us about various issues during the interview. The judges are looking for good posture and personality, not only beauty," said Verlita, 17. This is her second try at the competition and she now plans to stay in Jakarta to explore a career in modeling.
Women (and men) worldwide of all ages continue to enter beauty or modeling contests with the hope of winning the coveted title. With the right combination of good looks, talent and brains, one might be a winner. The title, hopefully, will function as a pass to enter the glamor world of entertainment.
Today's celebrities, such as Desy Ratnasari and Vira Yuniar, are such examples. They started their careers by joining such contests and have now become successful TV sinetron (TV mini series) artists and stars in many ads.
Still, the heavily promoted event was a bit too much for a teenage event. Revealing clothes and heavy make-up on 13-year- olds seemed rather gaudy.
The grand final night, however, was not a disappointment, luring hundreds of teenagers who mostly came in groups wearing dress-to-impress clothes and fashion accessories, to line up outside the ballroom's entrance. They were unstoppable, perhaps also due to the appearance of popular music groups Dewa and Naif that night.
Thanks to their two-day training, the shimmering finalists did not fail their supporters as they walked down the catwalk accompanied by heart-thumping music. Next to the stage, two giant screens displayed the finalists' names, ages, hometowns and activities.
The Bali finalist Ari Kusuma Wardani won first place, 18-year- old Liska Lista Winata from Jakarta came second, followed by Verlita. Selvi Oktavia, 16, from Jakarta was the readers' favorite, while 14-year-old Icha Nurbani from Jakarta won the best catwalk title.
Hope
While some finalists hope the contest will become their stairway to stardom, some expected the title would improve their careers in the modeling and entertainment industry. If they are lucky, they might strike a major deal with participating sponsors.
"I've been in a lot of sinetrons as a supporting actress and hopefully, my new title will garner me a major part," said Selvi Oktavia, the reader's choice winner, who has grown up in a family of sinetron stars.
Icha Nurbani, the best catwalk winner, is already a model.
"Now that I have won, I hope I can be on more shows and magazine covers, or maybe in sinetron ...," she said.
Parents, and family members, generally support their model-to- be hopefuls in the climb to success. Some put their daughters or sons through modeling school, some sign them up with a modeling agency.
"My daughter is already a model, a presenter on Indosiar (private television station), plays a leading role in a sinetron and is in the process of sealing a contract with a recording company," Dian Purnama, mother of finalist Nadia Vega from Bogor, proudly said.
"Nadia trained to walk (on the catwalk) until she bruised her feet ... and had to use adhesive plaster," she added.
Still, there are lucky first-timers.
"I support her 100 percent. I'm very proud and surprised ... I thought her chances were slim. But tonight, I saw with my own eyes that she won third place," Indah Kurnia, mother of Verlita said.
At first, Indah did not agree with her daughter's intention to take part in the contest.
"At first my mother did not support my decision, she said it's too 'glamourous'. But since I was chosen as a finalist she has supported me all the way, she even flew here from Surabaya to see me compete," said Verlita.