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Miss Indonesia's first plan is to learn Indonesian
Tue, 06/09/2009 10:47 AM | People
Reuters/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
What's On
- Festival of India
10/29/2009 12/15/2009 Balai Kartini & Umar Ismail Hall, Jakarta
- Imagemakers of the Future: Photography exhibition
10/10/2009 11/30/2009 Alila Ubud Desa Melinggih Kelod Payangan, Gianyar 80572, Bali - Timeless Change
11/05/2009 12/07/2009 Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Hotel Jimbaran, Bali. - Choreography of Colours; Sardono W. Kusumo's first solo painting exhibition
11/12/2009 12/12/2009 vivi yip art room Annexe Ciputra World Marketing Gallery Jalan Prof Satrio Kav 11, Casablanca
Daryl Roe (not verified) — Fri, 06/12/2009 - 11:38am
A beautiful young lady no doubt, however her brother stated that she does not go out!!! She has an excellent education, was this all from home schooling? Anyway, good luck to her and I am sure she will make a fine ambassador. By the way, as a westerner, I love brown skin!!! Cant understand myself why Indonesian girls want to be like their western sisters.
Julie (not verified) — Fri, 06/12/2009 - 9:21am
????? How can the judges choose her?
Why the judges do not choose the candidates who fluent in bahasa?
I think it would be better if judges not choose her (kerenina).What will she does next time to introduce Indonesia in the world if she do not understand about Indonesia at all.
Bismarck11 — Fri, 06/12/2009 - 8:27am
First I thought this article was from www.onion.com. The writer who wrote did not realize how Kafkaesque this article is, the style seems disinterested which is the reason why its so funny.
"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*.""
Then in the last paragraph
"Kerenina impressed the judges with her fluent English, and was considered to meet the contest's criteria of MISS (Manners, Impressive, Smart and Social)."
She was born in Jakarta and spent nearly all her life here. Most expat kids who were born or came here from a young age speak Indonesian. How can she not pick it up when one of her parents was Indonesian?
Home schooling. Hmm, it seems more like abuse to me. If it was in the West, she would have been taken from her parents.
JT (not verified) — Fri, 06/12/2009 - 3:51am
Well, too be fair other than because she cant speak Indonesian, she deserves to be Miss Indonesia, but I would rather have someone who can show what Indonesia really is to be represented for Miss World.....
Eliza W (not verified) — Fri, 06/12/2009 - 2:11am
Normally I dont like to complain or criticize, a Beauty Pageant even..
But, really..
How could the judge picked her, despite her limited knowledge of Indonesia? I'm not trying to force her into learning our culture; my point is just..
Miss Indonesia who knows only a little about Indonesia? it just sounds ridiculous to me. and for some others as well, I think.
Please judges, don't be blinded by fluent English or 6 diplomas or such, be objective. As some people already said here, there are many other Indonesians (truly Indonesian) who can represent our country well internationally.
Sandra Angie (not verified) — Fri, 06/12/2009 - 12:28am
It's so totally wrong and shameful.
English shouldn't be the most important part in this important role as Miss Indonesia. People in the world would understand if Miss Indonesia doesn't speak English fluently because it's a second language. Where is the patriotism in this figure? Doesn't any of the judges respect Indonesian language and culture? Moron!
Bill Martin (not verified) — Thu, 06/11/2009 - 11:15pm
So What!? (if she doesn't speak Indo)....She is Hot. She doesn't need to say anything.
Antonio (not verified) — Thu, 06/11/2009 - 9:47pm
I think Indonesians should be proud to have her as the winner... i'm always ashamed to have a beauty representative of my country, going around the world and not being able to speak english in front of the judges and the world... it just looks like the country best of the best doesn't even have an international standard...and this is not just about beauty...that's the point where the judges saw a plus i guess...
and people should not judge on how she grew up, and why she can't speak fluent bahasa, because everybody has a different story...
last: most indonesian are proud to have an international singer like Anggun, and all proud when bule say she's great, but for sure she's not famous around the world for her songs in bahasa i guess? and still, when people around the world listen to her songs in english, thinks about indonesia and not france or elsewhere... so, that's the important thing !
David K. — Fri, 06/12/2009 - 2:02pm
I think france when I hear about Anggun. She doesn't want to live her, and thinks it's better as a foriegner to sell her products, that's her right as a human, but she lost her right to be Indonesian when she turned her back on the country. I think she said negative things about Indonesia last year I forgot.
It isn't just about Beauty you are correct. It is about education, charm, and being a representative of Indonesia. By representing a lack of knowledge of the language and culture, it represents a lack of respect for our language call it easy, and our culture which she clearly didn't learn at all (which I suppose her mother thought it was important to forget her indonesian heritage and focus on her american side).
Again this is sad because it Represents how the upper middle class finds the concept of the Indonesian Language and our Culture as kampungan and not as important as speaking english or knowing about the rest of the world.
I'm sure there are many candidates that are proficient enough (better then saying Indonesia is a beautiful city) in english, has a concrete understanding of Indonesia cultures, and looks good in a bikini.
Claudio C (not verified) — Thu, 06/11/2009 - 9:44pm
This is really ridiculous. I think that in each country the 'Miss' candidates are selected based on their being a real citizen of that country. In Italy there may be candidates of mixed ethnics because of the changes we had in the last 20 years, but one requirement is the knowledge of Italian as their main language. A candidate who can't speak Indonesian probably shouldn't pass the selections, not to speak of getting to the final (and win!)
I think some people in the show business there need a 'reality check'. I also hope that observers, media and the public make their critical views heard. Pleas, don't accept such nonsense. It's an offense to tradition and national culture...