Okky believes positive attitude benefits beauty
Okky believes positive attitude benefits beauty
By Stevie Emilia
JAKARTA (JP): With her typical Indonesian face, slender figure
and perfect height, it's no wonder that top model Okky Asokawati
has become prominent designers' favorite choice and the source of
other women's envy, even now after she has retired from the
catwalk.
Starting her career as a model when she first appeared in
Gadis teen magazine in 1978, Okky's way to success was certainly
not a bumpy road.
Her first appearance was then followed by more in other
magazines, such as Femina and the now-defunct Kartini women's
publications. Later she took to the catwalk which shot her to
fame.
Okky said she did not dream about becoming a model in the
first place. When she was a teenager, she only wished to be
famous.
"I became a model just by accident," smiled 38-year-old Okky.
Her radiant face and gleaming eyes, which reflect her determined
personality, make her look younger than her real age.
She said at the time she wanted to be a singer like her
favorite, Emilia Contessa. She even tried to take part in a
children's pop singer contest, only to find that the registration
was closed.
Still, her wish to be famous did not die.
"When Gadis magazine was first published, I was at senior high
school. I tried out for being the magazine's model and it
worked," said the graduate of the University of Indonesia's
School of Psychology.
The fact that she has left the catwalk does not mean she has
completely stopped her activities.
Long before her retirement, Okky made plans to survive in the
fashion world by setting up her own modeling school in 1988. Her
school's alumni include model Wiwid, actress Inneke Koesherawati
and AB Three singers, Widi, Nola and Lucy. Now, apart from OQ
Modeling School, her training center also includes OQ Modeling
Agency and OQ Personality School.
Okky also tried her luck in other things.
She once tried to become a journalist in various media, such
as with Matra magazine, the now-defunct Sarinah women's
publication and Gaya family magazine.
But now she confessed that working with the media was not for
her.
"Recently, there was a person asking me to be an expert
editor, but I turned it down. I feel that my luck is not in
magazines... I think that's not where my place should be," said
the fifth of six children in her family.
These days, one can also see her addressing seminars on
psychology and etiquette, hosting fashion program Gaya at private
TV station SCTV on Saturdays, as commentator at fashion shows,
and soon, she will appear in a sinetron, Senandung (Humming A
Tune), on Indosiar.
"This sinetron thing is new to me and I feel a challenge in
it," said the 174-cm tall Okky. While filming the sinetron, she
was asked to cry and was able to do so only after a picture of
her daughter was shown.
Despite the challenge, she does enjoy her new career.
"I enjoy playing in sinetron... it feels so good that you can
be another person...," said the mother of four-year-old Tanisa
Diva Siti Mubarani from her 14 years of marriage with noted
photographer Firman Ichsan.
Amid her glittering status as celebrity, Okky still manages to
spend quality time together with her daughter, the center of her
life. She also spends most of her spare time reading.
"I enjoy my roles either as mother or celebrity. When I go out
with Diva, I'm a mother with her daughter. But when I go to a
party, I really play my role as celebrity," said Okky, who still
wants more children.
At a time when many women do whatever they can at whatever
cost to stay beautiful, Okky shared her beauty secret with The
Jakarta Post in the comfort of her cool office decorated with
several drawings belonging to her daughter.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
Question: What is your definition of beauty?
Answer: From the age of 17 years until one reaches 30, beauty
is still judged from one's physical appearance, such as having a
good body or beautiful face.
But when one reaches 31 years, beauty means more with a
positive mental attitude.
Q: Does the definition apply to you too?
A: Yes. When I started my career in modeling and until
retirement, beauty was associated with physical appearance. I
exercised like crazy, three times a week, even with a dumbbell.
But when I reached the age of 32 years until now, it's been
different. In order to stay attractive, I nurture, feed my
attitude, meaning my mental attitude. How I face life, people or
deal with problems.
And now, physical exercise is not as crazy as it used to be.
These days, I only exercise about twice a month, and I even do
facials on my own at home. I realize that to stay attractive at
the age I mentioned before, one can't completely rely on physical
appearance only...
Q: Is it really important to stay beautiful?
A: In my opinion, beauty will really mean something if it can
benefit other people. Now, I want to be useful to others. In my
case, I have a project, a leadership project, that will make me
be able to motivate others. If we are able to motivate others, it
means that we're being useful.
Q: What do you think of the present trend that many women will do
anything, from applying chemical concoctions to having surgery,
to be beautiful?
A: I think it's all right to do so. Any woman has the right to do
whatever she thinks will be the best for her as long as it lifts
her confidence. There's no problem with it.
If others do not like such things, by being negative and not
doing it themselves, it means that they have a negative attitude.
Everyone has the right to do whatever they like with their own
body...
Q: Does that mean those who do anything to stay beautiful have
low confidence?
A: Yes, you can put it that way. Because if a woman was confident
with what she has, she would not feel the need to make any
changes, right?
Q: What do you think of the result, is it satisfying?
A: People who did it might be satisfied with it (the result).
But somehow it does not look natural, you know, either in the
way she smiles or when the changes do not fit her age.
Q: Do you ever do such things to stay beautiful?
A: No, I have not. Maybe later.
Q: What do you do to stay beautiful?
A: I get enough sleep, from 11:30 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. And I try
hard not to eat too much or get too full, although I still want
to and the food is really tempting.
In the morning, I have a small breakfast, sometimes I only eat
fried tofu or a slice of papaya. But there are times when I eat
ketoprak (vegetables mixed with nut sauce), too. Then, I have a
large meal at lunch. But I keep myself from getting too full. And
at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., I eat snacks and sometimes I even eat a
banana split.
And at 6 p.m., I have my last meal of the day. It can be rice
or pasta. After that, if I still want to eat something, I eat
fruit only.
Q: How about exercise?
A: I don't exercise as much as I used to. Now, I exercise any
time I can remember to. It's usually stretching exercises for my
behind, my interior and exterior thighs and upper chest to make
my shoulders stay in shape... I don't go to a fitness center
anymore.
Q: Do you have any regular treatments?
A: I regularly tone my hair once a month. I have been doing it
since I was still in university because I've had gray hair since
14 years of age. I also have creambath, manicure and pedicure
once a month. But I don't go to the beauty parlor to have facials
because my face is really sensitive. Even my doctor does not let
me use moisturizer since it makes my face oily and pimply.
Q: How much does it cost you?
A: Not very much.
Q: Less than a million rupiah?
A: Yes, because I get discounts. People might spend lots of
rupiah to tone their hair, but I get a 50 percent discount.
Q: Are you satisfied?
A: As long as life goes on, I will go on. If I feel satisfied,
maybe I won't mature further. I'll get stuck. I always behave in
a normal way, meaning that whenever I face someone, I can accept
what he or she says and be open. I do not want to pretend I'm
good at everything.
Q: Do you feel beautiful?
A: I feel mature actually. It's more physical and mental.
If we think of ourselves as beautiful, it will only be about
physical appearance. Besides, it will make us worry all the time
about this or that or wrinkles...
By Stevie Emilia
JAKARTA (JP): With her typical Indonesian face, slender figure
and perfect height, it's no wonder that top model Okky Asokawati
has become prominent designers' favorite choice and the source of
other women's envy, even now after she has retired from the
catwalk.
Starting her career as a model when she first appeared in
Gadis teen magazine in 1978, Okky's way to success was certainly
not a bumpy road.
Her first appearance was then followed by more in other
magazines, such as Femina and the now-defunct Kartini women's
publications. Later she took to the catwalk which shot her to
fame.
Okky said she did not dream about becoming a model in the
first place. When she was a teenager, she only wished to be
famous.
"I became a model just by accident," smiled 38-year-old Okky.
Her radiant face and gleaming eyes, which reflect her determined
personality, make her look younger than her real age.
She said at the time she wanted to be a singer like her
favorite, Emilia Contessa. She even tried to take part in a
children's pop singer contest, only to find that the registration
was closed.
Still, her wish to be famous did not die.
"When Gadis magazine was first published, I was at senior high
school. I tried out for being the magazine's model and it
worked," said the graduate of the University of Indonesia's
School of Psychology.
The fact that she has left the catwalk does not mean she has
completely stopped her activities.
Long before her retirement, Okky made plans to survive in the
fashion world by setting up her own modeling school in 1988. Her
school's alumni include model Wiwid, actress Inneke Koesherawati
and AB Three singers, Widi, Nola and Lucy. Now, apart from OQ
Modeling School, her training center also includes OQ Modeling
Agency and OQ Personality School.
Okky also tried her luck in other things.
She once tried to become a journalist in various media, such
as with Matra magazine, the now-defunct Sarinah women's
publication and Gaya family magazine.
But now she confessed that working with the media was not for
her.
"Recently, there was a person asking me to be an expert
editor, but I turned it down. I feel that my luck is not in
magazines... I think that's not where my place should be," said
the fifth of six children in her family.
These days, one can also see her addressing seminars on
psychology and etiquette, hosting fashion program Gaya at private
TV station SCTV on Saturdays, as commentator at fashion shows,
and soon, she will appear in a sinetron, Senandung (Humming A
Tune), on Indosiar.
"This sinetron thing is new to me and I feel a challenge in
it," said the 174-cm tall Okky. While filming the sinetron, she
was asked to cry and was able to do so only after a picture of
her daughter was shown.
Despite the challenge, she does enjoy her new career.
"I enjoy playing in sinetron... it feels so good that you can
be another person...," said the mother of four-year-old Tanisa
Diva Siti Mubarani from her 14 years of marriage with noted
photographer Firman Ichsan.
Amid her glittering status as celebrity, Okky still manages to
spend quality time together with her daughter, the center of her
life. She also spends most of her spare time reading.
"I enjoy my roles either as mother or celebrity. When I go out
with Diva, I'm a mother with her daughter. But when I go to a
party, I really play my role as celebrity," said Okky, who still
wants more children.
At a time when many women do whatever they can at whatever
cost to stay beautiful, Okky shared her beauty secret with The
Jakarta Post in the comfort of her cool office decorated with
several drawings belonging to her daughter.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
Question: What is your definition of beauty?
Answer: From the age of 17 years until one reaches 30, beauty
is still judged from one's physical appearance, such as having a
good body or beautiful face.
But when one reaches 31 years, beauty means more with a
positive mental attitude.
Q: Does the definition apply to you too?
A: Yes. When I started my career in modeling and until
retirement, beauty was associated with physical appearance. I
exercised like crazy, three times a week, even with a dumbbell.
But when I reached the age of 32 years until now, it's been
different. In order to stay attractive, I nurture, feed my
attitude, meaning my mental attitude. How I face life, people or
deal with problems.
And now, physical exercise is not as crazy as it used to be.
These days, I only exercise about twice a month, and I even do
facials on my own at home. I realize that to stay attractive at
the age I mentioned before, one can't completely rely on physical
appearance only...
Q: Is it really important to stay beautiful?
A: In my opinion, beauty will really mean something if it can
benefit other people. Now, I want to be useful to others. In my
case, I have a project, a leadership project, that will make me
be able to motivate others. If we are able to motivate others, it
means that we're being useful.
Q: What do you think of the present trend that many women will do
anything, from applying chemical concoctions to having surgery,
to be beautiful?
A: I think it's all right to do so. Any woman has the right to do
whatever she thinks will be the best for her as long as it lifts
her confidence. There's no problem with it.
If others do not like such things, by being negative and not
doing it themselves, it means that they have a negative attitude.
Everyone has the right to do whatever they like with their own
body...
Q: Does that mean those who do anything to stay beautiful have
low confidence?
A: Yes, you can put it that way. Because if a woman was confident
with what she has, she would not feel the need to make any
changes, right?
Q: What do you think of the result, is it satisfying?
A: People who did it might be satisfied with it (the result).
But somehow it does not look natural, you know, either in the
way she smiles or when the changes do not fit her age.
Q: Do you ever do such things to stay beautiful?
A: No, I have not. Maybe later.
Q: What do you do to stay beautiful?
A: I get enough sleep, from 11:30 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. And I try
hard not to eat too much or get too full, although I still want
to and the food is really tempting.
In the morning, I have a small breakfast, sometimes I only eat
fried tofu or a slice of papaya. But there are times when I eat
ketoprak (vegetables mixed with nut sauce), too. Then, I have a
large meal at lunch. But I keep myself from getting too full. And
at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., I eat snacks and sometimes I even eat a
banana split.
And at 6 p.m., I have my last meal of the day. It can be rice
or pasta. After that, if I still want to eat something, I eat
fruit only.
Q: How about exercise?
A: I don't exercise as much as I used to. Now, I exercise any
time I can remember to. It's usually stretching exercises for my
behind, my interior and exterior thighs and upper chest to make
my shoulders stay in shape... I don't go to a fitness center
anymore.
Q: Do you have any regular treatments?
A: I regularly tone my hair once a month. I have been doing it
since I was still in university because I've had gray hair since
14 years of age. I also have creambath, manicure and pedicure
once a month. But I don't go to the beauty parlor to have facials
because my face is really sensitive. Even my doctor does not let
me use moisturizer since it makes my face oily and pimply.
Q: How much does it cost you?
A: Not very much.
Q: Less than a million rupiah?
A: Yes, because I get discounts. People might spend lots of
rupiah to tone their hair, but I get a 50 percent discount.
Q: Are you satisfied?
A: As long as life goes on, I will go on. If I feel satisfied,
maybe I won't mature further. I'll get stuck. I always behave in
a normal way, meaning that whenever I face someone, I can accept
what he or she says and be open. I do not want to pretend I'm
good at everything.
Q: Do you feel beautiful?
A: I feel mature actually. It's more physical and mental.
If we think of ourselves as beautiful, it will only be about
physical appearance. Besides, it will make us worry all the time
about this or that or wrinkles...