Beautiful Minds
Maina A. Harjani talks to mother- daughter duo Dr Hj. BRA Mooryati Soedibyo and Putri Kus Wisnu Wardani, the brains behind PT Mustika Ratu, Yayasan Puteri Indonesia, and even an upcoming movie, together with Puteri Indonesia 2018 winners Sonia Fergina Cit
The brains and beauties behind and inside PT Mustika Ratu and Yayasan Puteri Indonesia
Age is truly just a number according to the founder of PT Mustika Ratu, Dr Hj. BRA Mooryati-Soedibyo. Being born female in a Keraton family from Surakarta, Mooryati has fought against all odds to beat the norms of what socety says a woman should be. Despite the orthodox mindset of the community she lived in, Mooryati is ever grateful to have had parents like her own, continuously pushing her forward in life and making her the woman she is at 90.
Mooryati lived through part of the Dutch colonisation of Indonesia as well as the Japanese occupation. She also holds a doctorate degree, is a linguist, has studied beauty and health, has been greatly involved in the country’s political scene, married the man of her choice, is mother to seven children, and along with all that is the founder of the country’s biggest wellness organisation, PT Mustika Ratu, which operates within Southeast Asia as well as further afield in Europe and Canada.
“As long as your body, mind, and spirit are in sync and are kept strong through a healthy diet and exercise, along with determination and hard work, everyone can achieve whatever they wish to in life,” says Mooryati, who looks as graceful as ever in the living room of her majestic home.
Mooryati’s determination to prove to herself and to everyone around her that a woman is capable of achieving practically anything was exactly what made her do everything she wanted in life. With this outlook and perspective, one can say that she is one of the few lucky ones who have been able to experience such an impressive journey to date.
“My father was persistent when it came to education, and that was also one of the motivational factors for me to
want to keep learning,” Mooryati explains. “I was part of the first batch who went to university during weekends to complete my doctorate degree in strategic management at the University of Indonesia while raising five children at home.”
Along with her other successes, Mooryati started a small business that produced and sold jamu, the celebrated traditional concoction of local herbs and spices, out of the garage of her home. Today, PT Mustika Ratu Investama is the overarching umbrella company of PT Mustika Ratu, PT Mustika Ratu Buana International, PT Mustika Ratu Centre, PT Mustika Princess Hotel, Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa, Java Princess, and beauty pageant organiser Yayasan Puteri Indonesia.
Founded in 1991 by Mooryati, Yayasan Puteri Indonesia was initially formed to develop the idea of women empowerment on a wider scale to promote Indonesia overseas. Meanwhile, Mooryati’s daughter Putri Kus Wisnu Wardani joined PT Mustika Ratu Investama in 1985 upon graduation. Working her way up the ladder, she went on to become Vice President Director of the company while Mooryati involved herself in the country’s political scene and at the same time completing her doctorate degree in 2002.
That same year, Putri took over her mother’s chairwomanship of Yayasan Puteri Indonesia after 11 years with the company. From when it began in 1991 up until 2004, Yayasan Puteri Indonesia underwent a number of tests and trials with the government and with local citizens, too.
“We received formal letters from the Women Empowerment Ministry in 1992 to attend media judgments and demonstrations as well as being called for hearings to the House of Representatives in 2004,” says Putri. “We also continued to fight for our freedom and for women’s rights to participate in positive competitions in whatever form. We continued lobbying and socialising with public figures, politicians, and religious leaders, explaining the positive sides and benefits of empowering women through the pageant.”
In the end, persistency and honesty always win. Putri and the entire team earned the support of the people and public figures for Yayasan Puteri Indonesia’s activities. A majority of the entrants these days are women trying to be seen and heard or whose childhood dream is to be Puteri Indonesia so that their doors of having a brighter future can be opened.
“I want Puteri Indonesia to inspire all young Indonesian women to have hopes and dreams,” Putri says. “Everyone can be whatever they wish to be. If President Joko Widodo can inspire people from small towns with humble beginnings to work hard and take the highest possible office in the country, then my dream is only a small portion of that. The crown may only last for one year, but the sash, title, achievement, and experiences last an entire lifetime.”
Puteri Indonesia 2018 Sonia Fergina Citra, who hails from Bangka Belitung, is choosing to use the opportunity as a winner not only to improve her character as an introvert but also to inspire other women to never let go of their dreams. She believes that everything is possible through hard work and perseverance. Sonia will be competing in the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico later in the year.
“I am a firm believer in gender equality,” says Sonia. “We must always strive to achieve confidence in our abilities to reach leadership roles and excel in industries that are mostly male dominated, some of which include technology, the sciences, and politics. As Puteri Indonesia 2018, I represent the character and personality of Indonesia locally and internationally.” She hopes to be an inspiration for girls and young women all over the country.
An engineer by profession, first runnerup Vania Fitryanti also took home the title of Puteri Indonesia Lingkungan 2018. Vania immersed herself in books throughout her schooling and university years without thinking she would ever join a beauty pageant yet alone bring home a title.
“Having come from an engineering background, I can definitely say that there is pressure on female engineers in the country,” explains Vania. “Women are generally stereotyped to be housewives and bear children, but I firmly believe that a woman can have it all if she gets support and help from
her husband to raise a successful family and have a career.” Vania lives by Michelle Obama’s quote: “No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles itself the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.”
Wilda Octaviana, who took home the second runner-up and Puteri Indonesia Pariwisata 2018 titles, grew up without a mother, making her the strong and independent lady she is today. She had to get permission from her aunt and uncle before taking part in the pageant, which, she says, was one of the biggest challenges she has had to face to date.
“I would like to be an inspiration to all women like me and to spread the message that perseverance and strength will get each one of us anywhere we would like to be,” Wilda says. “We are all women of greatness and deserve only the best.”
Today, all three young women are working towards a brighter and busier future before passing on the titles to their successors next year. Upon completion of their terms, Sonia, Vania, and Wilda are looking into pursuing further education, going back into their previous workplaces, or finding better jobs.
Mooryati, on the other hand, is keeping herself occupied with a production of her own: Sultan Agung The Untold Love Story, directed by well-known director Hanung Bramantio. Through the film, Mooryati hopes to spread the message of the greatness of Kraton, the town she grew up in, as well as her motherland of Indonesia and the Indonesian hero Sultan Agung. “One’s body, mind, and spirit must be so full that you have the desire and perseverance to be creative at all times,” she concludes.
“One’s body, mind, and spirit must be so full that you have the desire and perseverance to be creative at all times.”