Ms and Mr Jakarta, a stepping stone to popularity

Ms and Mr Jakarta, a stepping stone to popularity

By Arief Suditomo

JAKARTA (JP): Contrary to common assumption that winning a
beauty contest may bring success, Venna Melinda, 22, the reigning
'94 Putri Indonesia (Miss Indonesia) and the '92 None Jakarte,
believes that the titles did not give her any special access to
fame.

Venna, whose recent presence in the 1994 Miss Universe pageant
in Manila succeeded in distracting from the political rift
between Indonesia and the Philippines, had already chosen in 1988
to star in a national box office sequel, Catatan Si Boy.

Her debut in the movie was followed by her entrance in a 1989
cover girl contest, held annually by the Mode magazine, which she
won.

During the same year Venna, a student of Trisakti University's
School of Economics, moved to the capital from Surabaya, East
Java. Her Jakarta citizenship allowed her to enter the 1992 None
Jakarte.

Held annually since 1968, the official role of the winners of
the Jakarta pageant is to promote native Jakarta (Betawi) culture
and to represent the capital in local and international
functions. Officials say the participants have generally served
well.

The pageant coincides with the celebration of Jakarta's
anniversary, which falls on June 22, and Independence Day on Aug.
17.

Registration opens in June and winners are announced in
August.

This year around 200 youngsters have applied to their
mayoralties in hope of winning the Abang and None Jakarte titles
on the mayoralty level. They will be carefully selected based on
their poise, intellectual ability, charm and knowledge of various
aspects of the nation's capital. Ability to speak English is also
a requirement at the mayoralty's level of the pageant.

Participants and organizers believe the pageant is an
effective stepping stone to future careers, or even a short cut
to become "rich and famous". Not everyone agrees, however.

Chairman of the 1994 contest, Fauzi Bowo, commented that it is
every competitor's right to make the best out of their
participation in the event, "as long as they can uphold the
pageant's positive image."

Zainal Abidin, chairman of the Betawi Art Institute, noted
that the highest accomplishment made by any former Abang or None
is in the field of modeling.

"So far I haven't heard of any of them achieving anything in
the scientific or political field, either at the national or
international level," said Zainal.

This is understandable because all pageants are linked with
the glamorous world of the entertainment industry rather than the
more serious world of science. Besides, good looks is a gift
rather than an achievement.

For Zainal, nothing matters except the contest's success in
boosting the image of the Betawi, who were once regarded as a
bunch of backward people who could only afford to live in the
city's outskirts.

"The Abang and None have often appeared in commercials, and
that is enough to boost the image of young Betawi people," he
added.

Zainal is more concerned with the fact that few indigenous
Betawi enter the contest.

"I'm aware that Jakarta is a melting pot and the contest is
entered by non-native Betawi. I just hope more indigenous Betawi
enter the pageant," he said.

Confidence

Ivan Fadilla, 25, the'92 Abang Jakarte, is now a model, an
engineer and a private television manager who thinks his title
may have been a significant step in his present career after
being a banker.

He said it had enabled him to meet influential people, widen
his friendships and boost his self-confidence, not to mention all
the gifts he received such as tickets abroad and paid vacations.

Nevertheless, he said the title did not automatically bring
him modeling contracts, which he had already done before winning
the pageant.

Ivan has appeared in 18 television and print media commercials
for cigarettes, household wares and medicines.

He also stressed that entrees are not merely empty-headed,
good-looking youngsters.

"You should see how the judges arrive at their decision," he
said.

Maudy Koesnaria, a model who held the '93 None Jakarte title,
said she did not have any specific goal in entering the contest
at the time.

"I didn't have a particular goal except to become None
Jakarte 1993, but later, as the title holder, I realized that the
indigenous Betawi people need help to secure a place in society,"
Maudy said.

She says protecting and promoting the Betawi indigenous
culture was also her reason to accept the offer of top movie star
Rano Karno to star in the sequel of the hit television soap
opera,"Si Doel Anak Sekolahan". (Rano plays Doel and also
produces the series.)

In the sequel she plays Zaenab, a typical Betawi girl who
replaces Doel's more modern girlfriend (played by starlet
Cornelia Agatha) who has gone overseas to pursue her studies.

Agus Subianto, 25, the '93 Abang Jakarte, also said his only
aim in entering the pageant was to help preserve the Betawi
culture.

The banking and finance student at the private Borobudur
University also does not expect the pageant to give him modeling
experience.

Maudy refused to comment on whether she finds the pageant
helpful in reaching her goals. The student of French literature
at the University of Indonesia says she has not made up her mind
yet.

She was also reluctant to speculate about entering the Putri
Indonesia pageant like her two predecessors, Venna and Indira
Soediro. The latter was the '91 None Jakarte and the '92 Putri
Indonesia.

"I may if Indonesia changes its stance on Miss Universe," she
said, referring to the government's opposition to Indonesia
participating in the controversial pageant.

Maudy feels that the duties of the title holder are more
strenuous than the tight selection process.

"We are expected to attend most gubernatorial ceremonial
events and greet the governor's foreign guests at the airport, "
she said adding that such events could occupy the whole week.

However, both Venna and Maudy have never complained about
being overloaded with their None duties because they were
informed beforehand of the responsibilities.

Besides, the rewards seem well worth it.

"ASTRA (a Toyota distributor) has provided me with a car," she
said, adding the other privileges of Rp5 million (US$2,318) in
cash, a round trip ticket to Los Angeles and a considerable
monthly allowance.

Participants and winners of the Jakarta pageant may have yet
to prove their worth, given the privileges and opportunities they
receive.

So far, only a None of the 1980s, Ratih Sanggarwati, who is
now an international model, has made any truly notable
achievement.