'I would rather be smart than beautiful'

Muara Bagdja, Contributor, Jakarta

Karenina, 18, shot to fame soon after her debut as a model in 1997, and has since remained one of the most sought-after models in town. The racially mixed Karenina (her mother comes from Kalimantan, her father from the United States) is not only beautiful, but also the consummate professional. And unlike other well-known models of the 1990s such as Okky Asokawati and Ria Juwita, Nina has remained modest and shuns the limelight. She belongs to the laid-back MTV generation, which prefers to wear jeans and enjoys hanging out at the mall. She is also Indonesia's first model to sport tattoos -- a dragon on her right arm and a cross on her left.

Why do you have tattoos?

I really love looking at pictures and paintings, so I was really taken by images engraved on the human skin. I really love to see people making tattoos. The process is extremely exciting.

Are you happy with your body, or are there parts you would like to change?

I'd like to keep what I have. I'm pretty happy and feel comfortable with all I've got. I'm a simple girl and have never bothered too much about such things. What I need to do though is lose some weight. My problem is that I'm putting on weight.

If you could do anything, what would you be doing now?

I would love to travel around Europe, from one city to another by train. But I don't have the time yet. I'd like to go on a long journey, and I'm saving money for that.

If you weren't a model, what would you like to be?

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a flight attendant. Now that I'm a model, I don't know what I am going to do next. I'm happy with what I am now, but I would prefer a job that requires traveling and going to different places.

Which would you prefer to be: beautiful or smart?

If you are smart you can make life a lot easier. You know when to make a decision, so intelligence is more important. If you were pretty but couldn't find a job, you couldn't survive.

Whom do you admire?

My mom. She brought me and my younger sister up. She made me who I am now -- a woman who has principles in life and who feels contented with what she has. She advised me against thinking too highly about some things, and she instilled in me the philosophy to live life naturally and to be thankful for what I have. But if you mean a public figure, there is no one.

What makes you angry?

It depends on my mood. When I am in a bad mood I become sensitive and irritable. I get really mad, though, when somebody lies to me.

What makes you happy?

When I go to a family gathering or get together with friends. Going to the spa and having a massage are also things I love to do. It's really exciting and relaxes me.

Have you done anything that you regret?

Some things ... but they didn't really hurt me. So far, thank God, I haven't had any serious regrets.

What are the benefits of being famous?

I'm not that popular yet. I haven't received many benefits from my popularity. Sometimes, when I am standing in a long line, someone might allow me to jump the queue.

What attitude do you most dislike in men?

Men often think they are superior to women. They think they know everything and are always right.

If you could be born again, would you be a man or a woman?

I would be a woman because I feel that being sensitive really suits me. To me, friends are indispensable. But men can go without them, can't they?

What makes you laugh?

There are lots of funny things that happen every day that make me burst out laughing, but I can't tell you exactly.

What makes you sad?

Movies. When I was a kid, I could not help crying whenever I watched Michael London in the TV series Highway to Heaven. It was a sad story about an angel who comes to the aid of the helpless.

If you could be an animal, what animal would you be?

Oh, the answer says something about me, doesn't it? I want to be a bird. They can do something I can't do as a human -- fly!

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you bring with you?

A CD player, CDs and my little sister. I can't live without them.

What will you be doing 10 years from now?

Married with three or four children, because I am planning on having eight children.