#KartiniMasaKini: Amanda Zevannya
“You are important, you are precious, you worth. You deserve the best. Don’t settle for less.”
Back then, she was one of the victims of bullying who once felt insecure and afraid. Now, she has proven that negative people won’t stop her from achieving her goals and a successful career. A passionate, beautiful, inspiring yet humble TV personality, Amanda Zevanya is definitely one of our inspirational women! Scroll down to hear more about her journey dealing with challenges in striving her passion.
- How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Passionate, witty, choleric
- What is your passion and when did you realize that you’ve found your passion?
I love sharing things with people. I realized it when I was in high school, I wanted to come back to my school as a teacher. It continued until I was in college, I was planning to take my master degree right after I graduated, simply to become a lecturer. But then I joined Miss Indonesia 2011, and I found a new platform to share. To share my values in life to a broader society, to share the blessing that I get from God through my job, and of course keep serving at my church.
- Can you tell us more about what gives you the motivation to join Miss Indonesia? How
did it go?
It started when I was in elementary school. I always watched beauty pageants and tried to answer the questions given. It is amazing to see a woman wearing a crown (yes, I’m a hardcore Disney Princess fan). My mum found it out and she encouraged me to enter such competitions. Initially I joined Gadis Sampul 2006, and 5 years later, Miss Indonesia. Why Miss Indonesia? It is because of the values in social activities. Woman should not only beautiful in appearance, but most importantly to be impactful to the society. Never did I expect I would come that far tho.
- Have you felt nervous? If yes, how did you cope up with that?
Of course I did. I believe we need nervousness. It is a sign that we are still human, we need God to take over everything, and I take it as a reminder of always have humility.
- Are there any lessons you gain from this experience?
So many! I learn about self-discipline, persistence, process, how to deal with my own ambition, and the hardest part is how to keep my feet on the ground when I have reasons to boast myself. Arrogance will destroy what we have built. I always believe in that.
- What’s the biggest change in your life after joining Miss Indonesia?
I’m now having a higher and bigger platform to share. People know me. People look up to me. People will listen to me. I’m happy to share my experiences, my vision in life, and the blessing that I got from God. Well, I think I need to tell you that I was ‘bullied’ since junior high school for my skin tone. I am darker than them. They mocked me, they made fun of me. I completely lost confidence of myself. When I joined Gadis Sampul in senior high, the so-called prettiest girl mocked me with her friends by doing catwalk in front of the class when I passed by. I was the black horse.
- From who do you get major support?
My mum.
- What is the biggest challenge you came across, and how did you handle it?
The hardest one is that because I also serve at the church while working at the showbiz. It is a common sense that showbiz is a glamorous and bad world. Now that I’m married to a pastor, I came across some people who question will I be a good pastor’s wife if I came from the industry. It’s kinda annoying because people mistake and misunderstand me because of my job. It has no correlation at all. Whatever your job is, how you live your life has nothing to do with it.
- What is your favorite Puyo Desserts?
Blue citrus yakult – Silky Drink!
- Say you are given a chance to speak in front of many Indonesian women. What is the most important message that you want to tell them?
Know your value! You are important, you are precious, you are of a worth. You deserve the best. Don’t settle for less.
