Modeling career requires personality, courage

By I. Christianto

JAKARTA (JP): Many teenage Indonesians wish they could be models, and particularly want to work abroad, but only a few get the chance to fulfill their dream.

One of them is Tracy Trinita, who won the local Elite Model Look contest four years ago. In fact, she is presently the only Indonesian successfully pursuing a career overseas as a world- class model.

Another young woman, Naila Alatas, hopes to follow Tracy's steps and work as a model in the leading fashion capitals around the globe. Naila, 19, recently won the local franchise of the New York-based Elite Model Look competition, and is to try her luck at the grand final of this year's International Elite Model Look in Nice, France, next month.

The Elite Model Look, established in 1983, is the world's largest and most prestigious model search. About 80 women between the ages of 14 and 24, from over 50 nations, will participate in this year's final.

Just like Tracy, Naila has a striking face, an unwritten law for a contestant to win a modeling event. She has wide-set and expressive eyes, high cheekbones, a sharp nose, full lips and a great smile.

Most importantly, Naila likes to model and has the confidence to choose a career in modeling.

"I like this profession and have won support from my family as well as from my boyfriend," said Naila, who began modeling a couple of years ago.

She said that as a little girl she dreamed of being an airline flight attendant because her father, a cousin of Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, worked with national air carrier Garuda Indonesia.

When she was in high school, she joined a modeling school and found it appealing.

"I think I will also enjoy being well known while getting an income, but it (the money) is not that important," she said, adding that she has already done some modeling on the catwalk and for commercials.

Brigita Maria, a representative of the New York-based Elite Model agency, said that Naila had some leading points although she was not as tall as the runner-ups at the contest.

"She is 19 and has just graduated from high school. Nineteen is mature enough for a girl to go and live abroad if she is successful in the final. In addition to her tall, slender body and good face, she is also photogenic," she said.

She said that most parents, even those who have allowed their daughters to become models, usually continue to emphasize the importance of education.

"That's why some winners of the previous local contests haven't been able to continue their career in modeling as they are required to finish school first. Some of them also live outside Jakarta, the center for modeling business in Indonesia."

Concerning education, Naila said, "I'm not a genius, but I think I am quite educated."

She believes that living abroad as a model with a tight schedule would not hamper her education as many private tutors are available.

According to Brigita, a young age could also be a problem for a girl working as a professional model, especially if she has to live alone abroad.

"For instance, a 14-year-old girl is usually still in the phase of being spoiled. It is usually hard to leave her home for a longer term," she said.

Poor professionalism, lack of parental support, and expectations only of wealth and fame have been the traditional restraints for Indonesians wanting to become qualified world- class models, despite the great potential of thousands of the country's youths.

Brigita said that the number of participants in the Elite Model Look, a contest seeking international-standard models, had increased significantly since it was held for the first time in 1995.

"About 300 young women participated in the Indonesian Elite Model Look competition in l995. The number doubled in the third event in 1997. We did not hold the event in 1998, but this year's contest recorded about 800 participants," she said.

She said that the quality of the participants had also improved.

"They are smart and have the standard formula of appearance, height, a beautiful face and body and proportion and talented. Most importantly, they have a good attitude and personality," she said, adding that attitude and personality were crucial for teamwork situations, which have always been a large part of modeling.

She said this year's participants also had better perceptions of the contest.

"This is a contest of the profession of modeling, not a beauty contest. In previous competitions, many of the participants admitted that they registered because they wanted to be famous models and make money," she said.

According to Brigita, it is important for a girl to really like the modeling profession.

"It's encouraging that many parents are presently very supportive of their daughters who want to be models. Modeling has gained respectability and greater acceptance in society. It's not like years ago when modeling was said to be very polluted."

Brigita said that modeling requires strict discipline, professionalism, a strong personality and courage.

According to Brigita, in terms of physical appearance Indonesian girls are great compared to Chinese girls, their major rivals, but Indonesians are weak in mentality.

"When abroad, many Indonesian girls become discouraged and quiet because of their broken English. This won't happen to girls from China. For example, when they want to buy something at the market, they insist on buying the stuff they need by using their own language."