thalia spreads the gospel of soapy adulation

thalia spreads the gospel of soapy adulation

By Dini S. Djalal

Jakarta (JP): "Who wants to be my neighbor?," coos Mexican
starlet Ariadna Sodi Miranda.

The 5,000 fans gathered at the Jakarta Convention Center on
Tuesday to see their idol screamed in ecstasy.

Popularly known as Thalia, the young artist is on a publicity
tour to Indonesia until Sept. 4, after eight days of being
lionized in the Philippines.

Thalia, bedecked in a slinky white satin gown, emitted a coy
laugh and continued to romance the roaring crowd.

"She's so beautiful. I love her," sighed Lina, a 17-year-old
high school student from Tangerang. Lina was there with her
family, including her two sisters and her mother. Her father was
busy at work, while her brother preferred to wait for them at
Plaza Senayan.

Lina was one of thousands of star-struck girls and housewives
who comprised the majority of the crowd. Thalia may be one of
television's sexiest stars, but her biggest fans are women who
idolize the telenovela (soap opera) heroines she has played.

And heroines they are. Conveniently, the name of Thalia's
character always features in the title and this name is always a
variation of the name Maria. The troubles which Maria, or Thalia,
struggle with are equally predictable.

In all three dubbed telenovelas, Maria Mercedes, Mari Mar and
Maria Cinta yang Hilang, Thalia plays a poor girl who overcomes
her poverty, but not without battling the evils and corruption of
moneyed society.

Anna, a 21-year-old university student, explains that Thalia
inspires hope in the poor. "Thalia is not just a pretty actress.
She symbolizes goodness, and how good people can win in the end,"
Anna said.

What about her sexy looks and flirtatious behavior?

"Well, no one wants to watch ugly people on TV. We watch TV to
escape our boring lives," said Anna.

Thalia herself also knows the secret to her popularity. "I
like playing Cinderellas on the telenovelas, to give hope and
dreams to those who have few opportunities," said Thalia at a
press conference last Sunday.

Thalia's astute understanding of her fame indicates that her
celebrity status was not a random result. In fact, Thalia, or
perhaps her career managers (which include her mother) is very
strict about her image and the media's use of it. She refuses to
have photographs taken of the right side of her face, although it
has to be said that on television she is seen from all angles.

Thalia also has a rigid physical regimen, as her buff physique
proves. "I keep myself fit for my public," she explained.

Also, at the press conference, she displayed an easy
familiarity with the rigmaroles of show business. The moment
Thalia appeared in a pink gown before the assembled
photographers, she threw herself the task of into posing,
pouting, and blowing kisses at the cameras. But after a few
minutes of mayhem, she abruptly stopped and prohibited any more
photography, even though only one group of 20 photojournalists
had been allowed to do their thing. The other 40 photographers
had to contend with sneaking photographs during the question and
answer period.

"It's been difficult working with such a superstar," commented
Yuli Ismartono, public relations manager for Surya Citra
Televisi, the television station which sponsored Thalia's visit.

During her stay, Ismartono and her crew were kept busy
arranging last-minute changes to Thalia's schedule, at Thalia's
own insistence.

Ismartono explained that Thalia was "very friendly" but added
her stay in Jakarta was marred somewhat. Her mother's purse was
stolen on their first day here, and there had been security
threats. The robbery convinced Thalia not only to take her own
bodyguards on a jaunt through the Indonesia in Miniature Park
(Taman Mini) but also a crew of police officers and Indonesian
bodyguards.

But after shopping at Danar Hadi batik boutique, a recording
session at SCTV, and spending her 25th birthday on Monday with
friends and family, Thalia appeared radiant and happy to greet
her fans on Tuesday.

And though the press conference began with a solemn reading in
Spanish of a press release, it ended with Thalia singing the
theme tune from Maria Mercedes. "I like singing best, because
when singing I can really connect with my fans," said Thalia. She
departed with a coquettish farewell in Indonesian. "Terima kasih
kasih-kasihku (Thank you so much my beloved)," Thalia said before
hugging and kissing a small girl for the cameras.

The photo opportunity was chosen well, because some of
Thalia's fans are very young. A mother in a Moslem headscarf and
her three young children all screamed during the fan meeting, and
their shrieks grew louder every time Thalia wriggled in a
suggestive dance. When asked why she enjoyed Thalia's display of
her body, the mother answered, "But I know she's a good girl. She
just happens to be very sexy," she said.

Indeed, when asked about her ideal man, Thalia answered that
when she marries, she wants as many children as possible. Her
wish for domestic bliss was enthusiastically cheered on by the
audience.

But when Thalia said that she will also star in as many
telenovelas as possible, the crowd hollered even louder. The sexy
star then repeatedly expressed her love for her fans, heightening
the atmosphere of mutual adoration.

"I don't know why I like her. She just makes me feel good,"
said Ayu, a 27-year-old secretary.

And as long as her fans feel good, so does Thalia.