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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
Western non-white Expat (not verified) — Tue, 06/09/2009 - 8:11pm
Having worked in Indonesia I feel very sad for Indonesian people. The judges should wake up to whats happening around the world. These judges are suffering from inferiority complexes. Come on guys feel proud of your genuine Indonesian beauties, which there are VERY MANY!!. The culture of the West, "white is superior" and "you need to speak english to be intelligent", is finished and cannot impose its shallow dominant views on anyone. Choose someone who will better represent the culture and people of Indonesia.
Sisca (not verified) — Tue, 06/09/2009 - 7:48pm
guess, she should have been crowned as "Miss Out Indonesia".
pity..
Chika (not verified) — Tue, 06/09/2009 - 7:43pm
indeed it is a very silly reality. after we had nadine who mentioned Indonesia as a beautiful city, now we have Karenina who knows a very limit knowledge about Indonesia. what so IMPRESSIVE? shame on us if the miss world's judjes notice this. culture is a heritage from our anchestor, what's the meaning of learning it within six months? whereas Indonesia is rich of culture. even a whole life might not yet be enough to really understand or acquire our culture, but she would? if she only attended homeschooling, how she manage the criteria of social? it's not only about giving, right? but also socialize with others, frieds, mates... Poor Indonesia...
Mdns (not verified) — Tue, 06/09/2009 - 7:23pm
Oh... my... God... I am just speechless... what the hell went through the Judges' mind to have chosen a MISS INDONESIA who couldn't speak Indonesian???? That is definitely one of the stupidest things I had ever heard in my life!!! And worst... she also admitted she didn't know Indonesian culture and thought that Indonesian language is 'easy'???? Well, let me tell you, Miss Kerenina, Indonesian language is NOT easy if you want to speak it properly and with the correct grammar!! AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHH... please, please pinch me and tell me that what I'm reading is NOT true!!! Indonesia has so many pretty girls who can speak Indonesian and also be smart/intelligent to be representative of our beautiful and great country. OK, maybe we haven't been lucky with our previous winners, but this year's winner just really confirmed it that this kind of competition is just an embarassement to the REAL Indonesian women! C'mon judges... get your OWN brain going... you should be ashamed of yourselves!!!!!
Paramita (not verified) — Tue, 06/09/2009 - 7:22pm
How could this Miss Indonesia will represent Indonesia if she can not really show that she has Indonesian Identity (means to be able to speak Bahasa Indonesia and to understand Indonesian Culture)?
Just because she can speak English very well and hold six diplomas, so she could impressed the Grand Jury's and Indonesian people's heart? THAT'S A PITY....
Vera tobing (not verified) — Tue, 06/09/2009 - 7:02pm
agree with Stan!
this is ridiculous!
come on, aren't we talking about Indonesian representative here?
we used to have Nadine Chandrawinata (Putri Indonesia) who didn't speak Indonesian and English fluently (she speaks German) and now we have this Kerenina? How could she feels she belong to Indonesia when she couldn't even talk Indonesian (fluently)?
I hope next time, judges' eyes wouldn't be blurred with finalists' ability in English. Speaking english is important, i agree, but just look at past winners of Miss World or Miss Universe... most of them dont speak english fluently... and needed translators whenever they traveled, rite?
Amerika (not verified) — Tue, 06/09/2009 - 6:48pm
Goshhh...what a stupid event! ridiculous choice! you guys pick a miss Indonesia that doesnt have ability to speak your home country's language! what a messsss....
if i am Indonesian, I'll be a shame!
Maria Pakpahan (not verified) — Tue, 06/09/2009 - 5:39pm
What a tragedy, Miss Indonesia who hardly speaks bahasa Indonesia. What message is this ?
Just learn foreign language, bahasa Indonesia is a second rate language, so speaks Spannish, Arabic, of course English, but no need to be fluent in bahasa Indonesia as everyone will support you.
I do not know about the other criteria and also about the other contenstant quality in speaking english. But I think to have Miss Indonesia who hardly speaks Indonesia is really out of touch.Miss Indonesia is not how well one can articulate things in english, or a matter to send a candidate who speaks english well to the Miss Universe/World competition. Then follow with a debate whether she wear bikini or not ... ring a bell. This is usually the cycle of debate on Miss Indonesia performance.
But this time, is become even a joke, as she does not speak bahasa Indonesia. She said, she will learn it quickly. Let's see.
Maybe we should have President of Indonesia who does not speak bahasa Indonesia ?
Hilds (not verified) — Tue, 06/09/2009 - 3:59pm
OH MY GOD!!!!....
Sorry, but this cannot be serious... Why would you send someone to present on behalf of YOUR country but doesn't even SPEAK and KNOW the country well!!. "Promise to learn?..", well that's not good enough.
This is absurd!. Just because the previous one lost because she doesn't speak english at all (as in 'Indonesia is a beautiful city'), does not mean that now you should choose someone who speaks english fluently but not at all Indonesian!.
I know it's on a beauty contest, but please be reasonable. The judges should get criteria straight.
And arrgghh I had enough with this 'half-bule' and 'bule' 'pemain sinetron, models, beauty contestant' thing... when are we going to be proud that we darker skin, and all other indonesia features that are also beautiful.
I reckon i better stop now and do something more useful than this...
Wierd (not verified) — Tue, 06/09/2009 - 11:28am
!Miss Indonesia doesnt speak Indoneisan...????