Text and photo
Text and photo
by Nuraini Razak
JAKARTA (JP): Nervous teenage girls squeeze into their flashy
designer clothes backstage. They then apply eyeliner and lipstick
with careful precision before admiring their reflection in the
mirror. They all have the same hope: winning the cover girl
contest.
The smart and ambitious girls -- finalists in the Cover Girl
Aneka 2001 modeling contest held annually by Aneka teenage
magazine -- were 40 of the lucky applicants across the country,
including those from the troubled province of Aceh, who wanted to
try their luck in the contest.
On the catwalk, smiling ear to ear, finalists tried to dazzle
the contest's judges and cheering audiences with their trendy
make-up, hairstyles, and designer clothes.
The girls competing in the event do tend to share certain
traits: slim figures, latest hairstyles and model-like faces.
It is not easy to become a finalist. Participants had to send
in their personal data and pictures, then go through the
selection process. In the end, out of the 12,000 applicants, the
number was sized down to 70 semifinalists before being narrowed
down to 40 finalists, between 13 and 19 years of age.
The grand final competition featured two days quarantine for
training, interviews with the judges comprising choreographer Jay
Subiyakto, musician Harry Roesli, hairstylist Hanky Tandayu and
representatives from sponsors, before it closing with the grand
final night.
"This contest is not really about beauty, it is really
about ...," the first place winner, 17-year-old I Gusti Agung Ari
Kusuma Wardani from Bali, pointed to her forehead to indicate
intelligence, or knowledge.
The contest's third place winner, Verlita Evelyn from
Surabaya, confirmed that beauty was not really the main factor.
"We were required to take an IQ test and the judges asked us
about various issues during the interview. The judges are looking
for good posture and personality, not only beauty," said Verlita,
17. This is her second try at the competition and she now plans
to stay in Jakarta to explore a career in modeling.
Women (and men) worldwide of all ages continue to enter beauty
or modeling contests with the hope of winning the coveted title.
With the right combination of good looks, talent and brains, one
might be a winner. The title, hopefully, will function as a pass
to enter the glamor world of entertainment.
Today's celebrities, such as Desy Ratnasari and Vira Yuniar,
are such examples. They started their careers by joining such
contests and have now become successful TV sinetron (TV mini
series) artists and stars in many ads.
Still, the heavily promoted event was a bit too much for a
teenage event. Revealing clothes and heavy make-up on 13-year-
olds seemed rather gaudy.
The grand final night, however, was not a disappointment,
luring hundreds of teenagers who mostly came in groups wearing
dress-to-impress clothes and fashion accessories, to line up
outside the ballroom's entrance. They were unstoppable, perhaps
also due to the appearance of popular music groups Dewa and Naif
that night.
Thanks to their two-day training, the shimmering finalists did
not fail their supporters as they walked down the catwalk
accompanied by heart-thumping music. Next to the stage, two giant
screens displayed the finalists' names, ages, hometowns and
activities.
The Bali finalist Ari Kusuma Wardani won first place, 18-year-
old Liska Lista Winata from Jakarta came second, followed by
Verlita. Selvi Oktavia, 16, from Jakarta was the readers'
favorite, while 14-year-old Icha Nurbani from Jakarta won the
best catwalk title.
Hope
While some finalists hope the contest will become their
stairway to stardom, some expected the title would improve their
careers in the modeling and entertainment industry. If they are
lucky, they might strike a major deal with participating
sponsors.
"I've been in a lot of sinetrons as a supporting actress and
hopefully, my new title will garner me a major part," said Selvi
Oktavia, the reader's choice winner, who has grown up in a family
of sinetron stars.
Icha Nurbani, the best catwalk winner, is already a model.
"Now that I have won, I hope I can be on more shows and
magazine covers, or maybe in sinetron ...," she said.
Parents, and family members, generally support their model-to-
be hopefuls in the climb to success. Some put their daughters or
sons through modeling school, some sign them up with a modeling
agency.
"My daughter is already a model, a presenter on Indosiar
(private television station), plays a leading role in a sinetron
and is in the process of sealing a contract with a recording
company," Dian Purnama, mother of finalist Nadia Vega from Bogor,
proudly said.
"Nadia trained to walk (on the catwalk) until she bruised her
feet ... and had to use adhesive plaster," she added.
Still, there are lucky first-timers.
"I support her 100 percent. I'm very proud and surprised ...
I thought her chances were slim. But tonight, I saw with my own
eyes that she won third place," Indah Kurnia, mother of Verlita
said.
At first, Indah did not agree with her daughter's intention to
take part in the contest.
"At first my mother did not support my decision, she said it's
too 'glamourous'. But since I was chosen as a finalist she has
supported me all the way, she even flew here from Surabaya to see
me compete," said Verlita.