Men slowly take spot on Jakarta's crowded catwalks

JAKARTA (JP): No one can deny that catwalk modeling is a job for a chosen few. Tall, lean and proportional bodies, attractive looks, great style and a sense of rhythm are not things that everyone has.

But some people are gifted with these characteristics, giving them a chance to do a job which seems to consist simply of walking up and down the runway, smiling at the crowd and being pampered by designers, beauticians and photographers.

Most models in Indonesia are females, but a small number of males are also in the business.

Budjang Eldmark, 24, a freelance catwalk model, describes male models as "complementary" to their female counterparts in fashion shows.

Asked why, he says: "I don't think there are any Indonesian designers who have the guts to create men's apparel only".

He estimates that only 20 to 30 male models were active on the country's catwalks.

Fritz Panjaitan, 23, says: "Maybe designers consider Indonesian men not stylish enough to deserve the attention".

So in the end, it's the ladies who do most of the work.

And because of this, Fritz, who has a diploma in hotel management, says modeling was not a promising job for men.

"That's why most male models here are freelancers. I myself don't choose modeling as my main job," he says.

Neither of them have any intention of making a career out of modeling.

Budjang, who recently earned a diploma in tourism, says he is now in a period of "deciding what to do next", although he plans to do modeling as a side job for the next four to five years.

Steven Soekarno, 23, plans to continue his studies at university. He claims a graduate certificate would be useful in the future because he sees modeling only as a stepping stone to a better job.

"I don't see modeling a profession for men, although I must admit the job has allowed me to meet so many people to form a network," he said.

Budjang puts it more simply: "Modeling is just a way to get some money. If there was another job with the same good pay that didn't require me to get in front of people, I'd take it," he said.

Whatever they feel about the job, they do it and now they must face the consequences. One such consequence, which some see as quite harmful, is living with the glitz.

But is it really what the job is all about?

Budjang admits that most of the time modeling is indeed identical to the life that celebrities live and the promise of lots of money.

"I find it difficult to keep track of money. No matter how much I try to save, the money vanishes for food, drinks and so many other things I can no longer remember," he told The Jakarta Post.

Budjang, who accidentally landed the job thanks to a friend's invitation to an audition, says a lot of the money he earns goes to "socializing".

Socializing, which, he says, can last until 5 a.m., means keeping good relations with the people he works with: designers, choreographers and modeling agency people.

Dedy Abdurachman, 25, who won the Abang-None Jakarta contest in l995, agrees that keeping good relations is important to making sure they get a steady flow of job offers.

"The more we hang around with these people, the easier they will remember to invite us when they're about to have a show," he says.

But they refuse to say their lifestyles make them feel like celebrities.

"Modeling is just a job. When we're off stage we're the same as anyone else: we jump on and off buses, catch a bajaj or take a mikrolet," Dedy says.

"Unless, of course, we have a show to do. It's difficult to carry a huge bag full of clothes on the bus, you know," Budjang adds.

Similarly, Fritz says: "It's true that we are often surrounded by glamor, like expensive clothes, but it's only when we are onstage."

Dedy and Budjang say that in everyday life, people may suspect they are models only because they are tall, but not because of their appearance.

Fritz, who works as an assistant manager for Gianni Versace in Plaza Indonesia and Plaza Senayan, says although he enjoys modeling, it's sad that it leaves little time for family and friends.

Tough job

Glitzy or not, being males in the modeling world is tough. And it's not only job offers they are concerned about.

"In any other job, it's the girls who get sexually harassed. In this world, we are the ones who are constantly harassed," Donny, not his real name, says.

He hints that male models are most prone to sexual harassment when donning the clothes they are about to wear for a show.

"A brush here, a touch there is something you get used to ... In the end, I tell myself this is a give-and-take thing," says Adrian, another model, who recently broke up with his girlfriend but already has a new one.

Their harassers? Most often, they say, are designers.

"But actually, it's almost every male who's working in the industry. If you're looking for a real macho man, don't search for one in this world," he quips.

They admit it's not always easy to set strict limits, because offending their harassers could eventually mean no job offers.

"We have to do it very gently, like when we are suspicious of someone, we tell them we have other things to do when they ask us out," he says.

They say everyone should be suspicious if a fresh, inexperienced male model suddenly shoots up as a star.

"We know what happens so it's no big news to those of us who have been around for a while," he says. Both Donny and Adrian started modeling in 1995.

But as long as they are in the modeling business, they have to endure whatever comes with the job. This includes keeping their bodies trim and in shape.

Budjang, who likes good food and nice restaurants, is lucky he is a gym fanatic. He admits his body is now "too big" for the average Malay race but says he cannot help spending so much time in the gym. Meanwhile, Dedy opts for basketball.

Steve points out: "This job requires us to always appear good so makeup and body care are a must for a good appearance".

"I always take such items wherever I go, particularly if I have more than one show with tight schedules," he says.

Fritz agrees, saying that models cannot ignore the necessity of makeup and body care.

"The job requires us to put designers' products first so a model's appearance should be given serious attention," he says. (ida/pwn/icn)