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Laudya Cynthia Bella: Detaching from worldly business
In her quest for inner peace, actress and singer Laudya Cynthia Bella has decided to get closer to her Creator
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n her quest for inner peace, actress and singer Laudya Cynthia Bella has decided to get closer to her Creator. And covering herself from top to toe is among her many ways of achieving her goal.
Bella, as the actress is popularly known, has just opened a new chapter of life with her new look.
'The old Bella was a kind of girl who focused on worldly business ' I put work, people as my priority,' Bella said on the sidelines of an event held by Sunsilk Clean and Fresh hair shampoo, which has just named her as its brand ambassador, in Jakarta.
'This new one is trying to let things go and just let God do the rest because she realizes that all that worldly stuff comes from God. Now, I do things based on His orders.'
Bella, who won the Favorite Actress Award at the 2013 Indonesian Movie Awards for her role in Belenggu (Shackled), started to wear all-covering clothes earlier this year.
The 27-year-old decided to continue covering herself up for the rest of her life after going on umrah (minor haj pilgrimage) to Mecca.
'My reason [to cover up] is really personal,' said the actress, who was born in the West Java capital Bandung, and who won Best Actress in Festival Film Bandung (the Bandung Film Festival) in 2005 for her role in Virgin and Best Actress award from the Bandung Film Festival in 2011 for her performance in Di Bawah Lindungan Ka'bah (Under the Shelter of the Ka'bah).
For actresses who work in the local entertainment industry, not being able to show some skin and act in romantic scenes is sometimes considered career suicide.
Initially, Bella thought that way, too.
'I know it was bad, but, yes, I did think that I'd have a slim chance of work in this field in the future,' she smiled.
'Praise to God, it didn't happen at all. As a matter of fact, just about a month after I posted [my new look] on my social media account, I got a lot of support from people and brands.'
Once she felt the support, Bella convinced herself that she had done the right thing.
Soon after announcing her new image, Bella nailed a role in Surga Yang Tak Dirindukan (Unwanted Heaven) as well as being the face of several brands, such as Sunsilk and Zoya fashion line.
'I'm very grateful that I got the offer of a great role in Surga, as well as to be a brand ambassador for those brands. That is the hard proof that wearing cover-all clothes won't deprive you of opportunities,' she said.
Bella began her career in entertainment as an advertising model. She won a model hunt, held by KaWanku teen magazine, in 2002. People started to recognize her after appearing as rebellious Biyan in Virgin.
Since then, Bella has starred in at least 14 feature films and more than 20 sinetron (local soap operas). With Bukan Bintang Biasa (No Ordinary Stars) ' better known as BBB, a vocal group with celebrities Raffi Ahmad, Ayushita, Chelsea Olivia and Dimas Beck, Laudya released two music albums ' Mindnsoul in 2006 and Bukan Bintang Biasa in 2007 and Bukan Bintang Biasa the movie.
Besides doing her regular jobs, Bella has also started a business of her own.
'I have my own fashion brand, Laudya, which offers products such as mukena [women's prayer robes], Muslim outfits and accessories. I conduct the business online as well as offline as I have my only store in Bandung,' said Bella, adding that she had sold her mukena nationwide and exported them to Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia.
On sporting her new look, Bella said that she had been enjoying simplicity in her life.
'My hair is actually healthier because there's no more need for hair spray and less blow-drying ' I mostly wash my hair on a daily basis. And, honestly, after I decided to cover up, I had my first blow-dry about a month ago because at first I was afraid that I would miss my old look,' said Bella, laughing, adding that she goes to women-only hair salons now to get pampered.
During Ramadhan, Bella said that she took more personal time to pray.
Bella said that she would also do things that she barely did in previous Ramadhan months. In the previous Ramadhan, she mostly spent each day working on shooting sets.
'They are basic things in Ramadhan, like catching up with my prayers, having sahur [predawn meals] and breaking the fast with my family at home ' I really missed doing those things,' said Bella.
