Miss Indonesia Artika in high demand in Bangkok
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post/Bangkok
A little bit of controversy back home just may give Artika Sari Devi the popularity boost needed to win the 2005 Miss Universe contest being held here.
Representing Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, Artika, who is from Belitung island, 500 kilometers northwest of Jakarta, was given the go-ahead to participate in the event just two days before she left for Bangkok on May 10.
It was well worth the trip, as Friday's round-robin interview session proved. Artika was ushered from one interview to the next.
"I tell you what, Miss Indonesia is quite a popular girl here. All of the reporters here want to talk to her," The Nation reporter Annie said.
The controversy she is causing back home is not the only reason the press is so eager to talk to Artika.
Many also find Artika a charming and intelligent woman with a pleasant personality. Well, aren't all Miss Universe contestants beautiful and charming?
Artika, who holds a bachelor's degree in law, was named the "dearest" of the contestants by www.globalbeauties.com, which provides various reports on the pageant.
"Artika Sari Devi, Miss Indonesia, is one of the nicest, finest and most beautiful girls around," the website says.
It also quoted Henrique Fontes, the website's creator and founder, as saying that Artika "has enough beauty, elegance and poise to go far in the competition".
"Popular among her fellow contestants (always a good sign!), I wonder: how will the people of her country react in case she wins?"
When told this, Artika burst into laughter.
"Really? Well, I guess I never expect too much from a competition," she told The Jakarta Post.
"From the provincial competition to the national one, I was just trying to do my best without causing too much trouble for my team, because it is all about teamwork."
Artika was referring to the designer, hairdresser and makeup artist who help her prepare for a competition.
"I also try to build a good relationship with all the participants. During the trips we always end up with the same participants so we get to know each other ....
"In fact, Miss Netherlands Sarita Sopacua is half-Indonesian. Her father is from Maluku. But we converse mostly in English and a little Dutch," she told the Post.
Apart from her friendliness, the key factor that has pushed Artika into the spotlight is that she is Muslim.
There was at one time a ban on local beauty pageants in predominantly Muslim Indonesia, and the country also did not allow its citizens to compete in international pageants.
In fact, Miss Germany Asli Bayram, who is of Turkish descent, and Miss Turkey Dilek Aksoy are also Muslim. Unlike Artika, who prefers a one-piece swimsuit, Bayram and Aksoy have opted for bikinis for the swimwear competition.
"I don't find it to be a problem as my parents took me to the beach almost every weekend in our hometown in Bangka Belitung province when I was a kid. I wore a swimsuit back then," she says.
Artika wore a one-piece bathing suit when the beauties were in Pattaya on Thursday for a one-day visit to the Andaman Sea holiday resort.
"Besides, there is more than just swimwear in the Miss Universe pageant. It involves beauty, brains and behavior," said Artika.
But the hectic schedule here in Thailand, where the 81 contestants are scheduled to visit 30 of 76 provinces, has taken its toll.
"I have been sick for the past four days because we frequently move from outdoor to indoor venues.
"Most of the times we go to sleep late at night and being Muslim I can't eat most of the dishes here. So I have to rely on instant noodles," she said.
Artika will wear a dress designed by Anna Avanti for the national costume competition.
"It will have Balinese nuances with a modern touch," she said. "Actually, national fashion designers like Avanti and Kalyana Tabitha have helped me a lot in taking part in this pageant."