Miss Indonesia's first plan is to learn Indonesian

Tue, 06/09/2009 10:47 AM  |  People

Reuters/SupriReuters/Supri

JAKARTA: The newly crowned Miss Indonesia Kerenina Sunny Halim might have amazed people with her fluent English, but surprised just as many with her poor ability to speak Indonesian.

On the final night of the Miss Indonesia pageant last week, Kerenina needed a translator to help her understand the judges' questions. Kerenina admits this is a weakness but has promised to improve her Indonesian language skills.

"It's been hard for me *to speak Indonesian*, because I use English every day," says the half-American woman. "But I will learn. Indonesian is an easy language, as long as we're willing to learn."

Kerenina's brother, actor Steve Emmanuel (now Yusuf Iman), reveals that his sister was not exposed to Indonesian as a child because she didn't go to a formal school. "She was with homeschooling," Steve says. "She barely uses Indonesian at home, and doesn't go out often *so she can't practice Indonesian*."

The 23-year-old has also promised to learn more about the local culture in preparing for this year's Miss World competition in Johannesburg, South Africa. "Currently, I don't know much *about Indonesian culture*," says the girlfriend of actor Nino Fernandez. "But within six months, I'm going to learn about it all, because I represent Indonesia at the international level."

Kerenina, who holds six diplomas - in public relations; sales and marketing; primary school teaching; economics; performing arts; and music and art - won the competition over the two other finalists, Viviane (from Bali) and Melati Putri Kusuma Dewi (West Sulawesi). Kerenina impressed the judges with her fluent English, and was considered to meet the contest's criteria of MISS (Manners, Impressive, Smart and Social). - JP

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Bob Schnorgy (not verified), florida — Tue, 08/25/2009 - 2:27am

Wow--lot's of negative folks on this comment blog. Easy to cut down isn't it? You'd think the girl was a criminal or something Seemed like a bright, beautiful girl to me.

Kamechan666 (not verified), japan — Mon, 08/24/2009 - 11:35am

hmm, 23 years old with 6 diplomas,,and NOT EVEN 1 bachelor degree?? So she's fluent in English but can never finish an undergrad? That's too bad, I'm sure she can afford the degree, financially and mentally, considering she'd been through 6 diplomas already. I'm not trying to say a Miss Indonesia should possess a bachelor degree. But looking at her age, isn't every normal people with a background like hers expected to do so? Especially she's gonna compete internationally soon. What will the judges comment?? Hmm, "6 diplomas without any bachelor.." exactly just what I mentioned. Well, I wish her luck though. She said it herself during one interview. "Semua wanita bisa berubah". Who knows..

Jojo (not verified), Jakarta — Thu, 08/06/2009 - 1:22am

Must be one hell of a BJ that makes the judges go gaga. Beauty without brain. I can really see the headline.

Niki laura (not verified) — Mon, 06/29/2009 - 5:26am

Wow! Nyoman's comment is sooo true! ( jakarta post comment 17/6,2009. According to some friends Miss Indonesia 2009, Kerenina Sunny Halim is in fact the daughter of one of the Children Of God's leaders Well, Kerenina can now tell the truth who the parents really are! She said she work in NGO? What NGO? Is it The Family Care Indonesia though? If so, is this NGO registered in DEPDAGRI? In the wikipedia The Family International was The Children Of God, is a cult-- sex abused. this cult COG was banned in indonesia somewhere in 1980s ( according to some friends) Now COG, in other name- NGO- The family Care Indonesia, go about everywhere " Doing Good" They never tell people who they really are. Poor Miss Indonesia 2009 who has to pay the consecquences. According to some friends, the COG was very sucessfull in Thailand because they have used public figures to protect them, this public figures will legalized so many things for them. Now, The family care Indonesia- The Children of God- the cult of sex abused might use Miss Indonesia Kerenina to legalize their cult dangers teachings- their NGO. This is scary! Will the indonesian let the Children of God represent them in International? Poor Indonesia. I believe Miss Indonesia 2009 can learn Indonesia and the culture since her father is indonesia, and she has been here for most of her life. We must help her in any way we can so she can learn indonesian and the culture. But the issue is not Kerenina. The big scary issue is people behind her, The Children Of God! I feel sorry for her. Let us help Kerenina. We should not critisize Kerenina, nor should we critisize the juries, because like my friends said, The Children of God- the family care indonesia will never reveal their true identity But please open wikipedia children of god. You may also open www.ricky rodriguez. scaryyyyyyyyyy!!!!

Yana Ismayana (not verified) — Thu, 06/18/2009 - 5:58pm

ups..our Miss Indonesia Pageant is half American? I believe that her successor to be will be fully American, do you?...it's resentfull...

Indonesian (not verified) — Wed, 06/17/2009 - 10:37pm

Judges chose the best from the contestant... the most confident... the smartest, and she was the one...

Yeah, i don't deny that she was the best of the contestant to be Indonesian representative... But she wouldn't be chosen if the provincial judgment is better nor fraudulent nor lazy to promote this prestigious event... ups.. too much to blame, sire...

I'm not really blaming Kerenina, coz she's good and surely the best of the contestant... I'm neither blaming the national judges, coz they're right... Yeah, you all know whom i'm blaming now...

Brother! (not verified) — Wed, 06/17/2009 - 8:58pm

i'm gonna throw her to the garbage can.

Oki (not verified) — Wed, 06/17/2009 - 8:06pm

WTF !!!

simply stupid ...

Nyoman (not verified) — Wed, 06/17/2009 - 5:11pm

the reason she never went out was cause she was in a cult known as the COG children of God aka family international there very controlling so she had little freedoms

Rainer Oktovianus (not verified) — Wed, 06/17/2009 - 3:54pm

OH DEAR LORD! both jury and winner are RETARDED. LOL

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