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span class="inline inline-left">JP/Ganug Nugroho AdOktaviani Wulansari is only 20, but the girl, born in Surakarta (also known as Solo) on Oct. 19, 1992, has already succeeded in some of her pursuits.

In 2011, Ovik, as she is usually called, emerged as the best model at a national fashion festival and won a favored place at the Kebaya Fashion Show that same year.

Topping those accomplishments, which are quite special for one with physical limitations, in January of this year she succeeded in reaching the apex of her career as a disabled beauty when she was crowned Putri Tuna Runggu Indonesia, or Miss Deaf Indonesia.

The girl always strives to move beyond her hearing impairment, not only for herself but also for the increased motivation it offers her fellow disabled.

“I also want parents with deaf children not to be disheartened and embarrassed. Deafness is not a disgrace. God creates the disabled to make men appreciate differences and courteously treat fellow humans as equals,” said Ovik at a discussion in sign language and through text messages at her home in Cemani in Sukoharjo, Surakarta.

Heni Widyawati, Ovik’s mother, said she didn’t realize Ovik was deaf at first because for 6 months Ovik was able to respond when Heni called her name. But from then on, Ovik stopped responding to voices.   

“When we took her to the hospital, it was too late. Ovik was diagnosed with loss of hearing,” recalled Heni, now an interpreter of Ovik’s sign language.

According to Heni, Ovik’s left ear is 90 percent impaired and her right ear 80 percent. But Ovik never uses hearing aids because they are uncomfortable, thus prompting her to choose sign language. Yet Heni still feels fortunate to have a self-confident, intelligent, sociable and independent daughter.

“Since childhood she’s been mixing with neighbors and peers without any problems. She’s got a lot of friends, not only those with disabilities but normal ones,” Heni said.

Ovik has often faced discrimination, though. Under such circumstances, her parents, Heni and Bambang Supeno, untiringly give her encouragement. Their reassurance that she is equal to all other citizens helped to shape Ovik’s personality as she matured.

“I don’t feel any different, I have the same opportunities as others do. I just have a hearing impairment and it poses no trouble to me to do my best. The disabled should be involved rather than discriminated against,” said Ovik.

Modeling, dance and theater are her hobbies. As a sixth grader, she was a Javanese classical dance champion at an art festival for the disabled held at the Donohudan Haj Dormitory in Boyolali. She retained the title for three successive years. While attending YPAC junior high school in Solo, her group won a student theater festival contest twice and she was named Best Actress. The 175-cm-tall girl remains an active player at Lentera, a theater group for the deaf in Solo.

She first became acquainted with modeling as a high school student (SMA) through magazines and television. She imitated the poses of fashion models and later trained at several modeling schools in Solo. From 2010 to 2011, Ovik participated in fashion shows in Solo, Semarang and Jakarta.  

As Miss Deaf Indonesia, in July Ovik will represent Indonesia in the Miss Deaf World 2012 competition in Prague, the Czech Republic. She will compete with finalists from 38 countries in the world beauty pageant for the deaf.

Before her recent crowning, Ovik eliminated 14 candidates in a selection organized by the Indonesian Miss Deaf Foundation and the Indonesian Emissaries Association at the end of 2011. It began when Ovik appeared at an art event to mark the 2011 International Day for the Disabled. She was included in the selection along with 14 others, defeating Angkie Yudistia from Bogor in the finals.

“I’m not just seeking victory. More than that, I wish all this to motivate my other disabled friends. They shouldn’t feel inferior because a lot of enthusiasm and hard work can put disabled people on an equal footing with the rest, without limits,” Ovik said.

Ovik acknowledged the constraints on the deaf, frequently leading to discrimination. Among others, deaf women are denied secretarial work as they can’t receive phone calls. “But trust me, when one door closes another door always opens. People with disabilities, including the deaf, should be sure of this,” Ovik said.

Nonetheless, noted the girl, that open door only provides entry for those with earnest hopes, strong determination and self-confidence.

“Equal treatment from society will considerably help disabled citizens emerge with confidence. The public perception of the deaf should be changed: instead of sympathizing with them because of their limitations, give them opportunities to overcome their drawbacks,” said Ovik, who is also an instructor of sign language at Sebelas Maret University (UNS) in Solo.

She said she feels lucky to have grown up in a neighborhood that regards her as a normal girl. She spent her childhood playing and learning with neighborhood children. This equal treatment has greatly contributed to her success.

“I know what others say by reading their lips. On the other hand, I teach them by means of sign language. Only a few can grasp it but it’s quite enough for me,” said the girl, who starred in the film Curhat (pouring one’s feelings) produced by the Indonesian Movement for the Welfare of the Deaf in Solo.

Sign language, according to Ovik, is indeed difficult for both regular folk and the deaf, who require it to communicate. “After SMA, I’m going to delve into this language, including its English application. I want to make it easier to learn so that deaf children can communicate and be independent. It’s my dream,” added the girl.