Words Bruce Emond Illustration Mufty Fairuz

From his considerable cred as an MTV VJ, host of music talent shows (currently The Voice Indonesia) to event emcee, Daniel Mananta has become the chosen go-to presenter in the Indonesian entertainment world. The demands of the job, and success of his DAMN! I Love Indonesia clothing line, mean he is in desperate search of something elusive at the moment. “I need more sleep. I wish I could have another three hours of sleep,” he said on the sidelines of hosting another industry award and answering the 20/20 question list.

Me, in three words or less …

Fun, quirky, elegant.

My best trait …

I’m really good at speaking in front of 1,000 people. I feel like every time I speak in public it’s like my office — I’m made for it.

My bad habit …

I like to lie to myself a lot. Like when I procrastinate; I know I have to do it but I convince myself it can wait.

My proudest achievement …

I think I’m the only host in the world who has done both Idol and the Voice.

My hero …

My Dad — he’s like a role model to me with his discipline, patience and endurance. I learned a lot from him.

My best teacher has been …

My manager, Johandi Yahya. He taught me how to survive in entertainment, to shift my paradigm from being a star to a superstar (laughs).

My favorite journey …

In life, finding my purpose in life. I read the book The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. For travel, Japan, definitely. I learned so much about the culture and how the Japanese pay attention to every little detail.

I would never …

Explore the Amazon — scares the @*#$ out of me, especially anacondas.

When the going gets tough, I …

Pray; that’s the first thing I do. Then I try to evaluate myself to find a solution, and if it is controllable or not.

If I could change one thing about me …

That’s a tough one. Nothing! (laughs). It’s like when people ask you to pose with an ugly face, and I think, how can I do that? (laughs harder).

And Indonesia …
The cleanliness mentality. Just be clean. Stop throwing trash and spitting everywhere, man!

I am bored by …

When you see a presentation, and the person just reads all the word to you, as if you cannot read it by yourself. That’s very condescending.

I laugh at …

A lot of things, even awkward silences.

Don’t ever call me …

Koko. Everybody keeps calling me it, and I tell them, you’re not part of my family and you’re not even Chinese. So stop it already.

People would be surprised to know …

I wake up at 5 a.m. every day to work out and do my Bible study for 15 minutes.

My dream dinner guest …

Sir Richard Branson, I read his autobiography and was inspired to do my business because of him. If he has his Virgin empire, I want my DAMN! Empire.

My ideal weekend …

Just me and my family, being able to walk around in the park and enjoy it. Obviously, we cannot do that in Jakarta.

I am grateful for …

Every day, I list three things I am grateful for, from the clean water that I drink to the amazing job I get. I’m grateful for every little thing.

I still need to …

Be the host for an Asian-wide show, or a globally known one. I did Miss World for a global audience, but it’s not my anchor show.

My life motto ...

Some will, some won’t, so what. Meaning, some people will like you, some won’t, that’s life. You don’t have to care about your haters actually.

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