Okky Asokawati: From Indonesian First Super Model to Parliamentarian

Dear fashionista, let me present you to the one and only Mrs Okky Asokawati (http://okkyasokawati.com/). In Indonesia, Okky has gone from being the country’s first Super Model to serving as an Honorable Member of Parliament. In short, she is a household name in Indonesia.

Began her modeling career through the famous teenagers magazine “Gadis” in 1978, Okky raised to fame when she graced most of the covers in all leading fashion magazines both in Indonesia and Asia Pacific in the 1980s. In fact, JET first encountered Okky’s stunning look through his Mother’s fashion magazines, namely Dewi and Femina.

Long before the word ‘muse’ was even coined among Indonesian designers, Okky Asokawati was declared by Iwan Tirta as his muse. Tirta is the late Batik maestro. In the 1990s, when Naomi Campbell appeared in the finale of Gianni Versace in Milan, Okky Asokawati would appear in the closing act of Tirta’s much awaited show in Jakarta. According to Tirta, Okky is the perfect combination of confidence, brightness, assertiveness and good posture.

Proving that she is not just another model with a pretty face, Okky went to study in the Faculty of Psychology in the University of Indonesia. Graduated with flying colors, she took a post-graduate study in the same faculty and graduated afterwards as a Master of Psychology. She then proved that she is also a good entrepreneur when she established her own modeling agency. Named after her, the OQ agency successfully trained new fashion talents in Indonesia, namely Alya Rohali –crowned as None Jakarta/Miss Jakarta-, AB Three –one of the most successful girls band in Indonesia-, Inneke Koesherawati –famous actress and model-.

Since 2009, Okky was elected as a Member of Indonesian Parliament representing the United Development Party. Five years in the job, she has become the darling of her constituents due to her stand on health and manpower. In 2014, she was re-elected. Gender empowerment is also one of the issues that she carries in her heart. Realizing that women representation in the Parliament is not enough, Okky went to publish her memoir-cum-self motivation book “From Fashion to Politics” which is a bestselling publication. Oh, and have I mentioned that on the top of everything, Okky is a Mother of two lovely daughters, namely Taniva dan Queentadira.

Recently, as an active MP of Indonesia in the field of health, she was invited to attend the Asia Pacific Forum of Global TB Caucus in Sydney. At the sidelines of attending the conference, she gracefully attended a discussion session with leading members of Indonesian communities in the Indonesian Consulate General Office.

JET is honored to serve as a host/moderator in the full house discussion which was presided by Dr Yayan GH Mulyana, the Honorable Consul General of Indonesia to New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland, accompanied by Mrs Irene Mulyana. From health to fashion diplomacy, a range of most current issues were addressed thoroughly by Okky.

All the best to you, Mbak Okky Asokawati. Thank you for gracing Indonesia with your brain and beauty. Bagai melati, teruslah berkarya mengharumkan Tanah Air.  

Ps. Catatan kecil untuk sahabats fashionista, jika ingin tampil sekeren Okky Asokawati, jangan pernah lupa untuk kenakan Batik, Tenun, Ikat, Songket, Karawang, Ulos, Sasirangan, Tapis dan kain tradisional Nusantara lainnya baik saat liburan ke luar negeri maupun sedang liburan di dalam negeri. Jangan ragu untuk padu padankan blus/kemeja/celana/syal karya desainer Tanah Air dengan asesoris favorit fashionista, misalnya dengan flats Ferragamo dan tas Saint Louis dari Goyard. Yakinlah rekans fashionista akan mengundang decak kagum saat berfoto di depan Collosseum di Roma atau Liberty Statue di New York dengan syal cashmere motif parang dari Bin House, kemeja Iwan Tirta dan tas Goyard serta flats Ferragamo. Tunjukkan bahwa fashionista adalah global citizen who retains and honors our Indonesian values, including promoting Indonesian textile abroad!

Keep yourselves updated with JET’s fashionable encounters with the world’s chicest personalities in instagram (@JETJAKARTA), Facebook page (JET Fashion Diplomacy) and twitter (@Jonesey4Eva)

#JETFashionDiplomacy,#OkkyAsokawati,#KJRISydney,#IndonesianFashionDiplomacy,#AnggotaDPR,#IndonesianParliamentarian,#DidietMaulana,#IkatIndonesia

Madam Irene Mulyana (spouse of Indonesian Consul General in Sydney), Mrs Asokawati and JET.

Mrs Mulyana is an elegant vision in a natural colored Batik dress. Mrs Asokawati wears a pretty bolero made from Tenun Bali (Balinese hand-woven cloth).

JET wears a dapper Endek Bali (Balinese ikat cloth) cardigan designed by Didiet Maulana for Ikat Indonesia (http://www.theikatindonesia.com/). In order to create a dashing gentleman look, JET mixes up the ethnic cardigan with a classy burgundy colored bow tie and skinny navy-colored trousers. Do you fancy my handsome look, fashionista? J

Dressed up in a Balinese Endek jacket, Okky shares her secret in donning a graceful look while travelling abroad. She states her passion in Indonesian textile and therefore she always packs a few Indonesian traditional outfits and shawls, from Batik to Ikat/Tenun and wearing her Indonesian textile wardrobe with a dash of famous international designers bags or shoes to create a modern yet classy look.

Enthusiastic attendees in Indonesian Consulate listened closely to the one and only Okky Asokawati, the pioneer of Indonesian models, as she and JET shared great discussion issues, including health, manpower, fashion diplomacy etc. (http://www.kemlu.go.id/sydney/Pages/Embassies.aspx?IDP=186&l=id)

Dr Yayan GH Mulyana (the Honorable Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Sydney) and spouse, Mrs Irene Mulyana, attended the full house discussion. 

As Mrs Asokawati dwelled into discussing health issues, we shared about those closest to our hearts who have experienced and survived health calamities. In this regard, a good friend of mine, Mrs Indah Nuria Savitri  +indah nuria Savitri  (http://www.indahnuria.com/), who is currently serving as First Secretary on Political Affairs in the Indonesian Mission to the United Nations in New York, has experienced a life-changing ordeal. However, she refused to let the ordeal gets through her serenity. Through the constant support of her beloved husband and children as well as supportive friends and colleagues, she has victoriously survived her health challenge. The beautiful Member of Parliament was kind enough to write a heartwarming note to Indah whose name means Beautiful in English. May you always stay beautiful inside out, dear Indah. This one is for you. J

Asked by one of the participants on the key to look good, Mrs Asokawati happily spilled her juicy tricks on looking good, including her rule of wearing 13 fashion items at the most. Mrs Asokawati acknowledged that she always counts her ensemble and accessories, starting from the dress, rings, pants, bag, shoes, necklace, bracelet, hijab. All these must not be more than 13 items if the aim is to look elegant. If it is more, than one of them has to go.

Photo group with Mrs Okky Asokawati as well as the Indonesian Consul General and spouse.

Okky Asokawati best selling book “From Fashion to Politics”.

Okky Asokawati as the Face of Lux Soap in her hey day back in the 1980s

Okky Asokawati met Australian Foreign Minister, H.E. Julie Bishop, during her recent visit to Sydney.

Okky Asokawati previous best selling book “Jangan Menoleh Ke Belakang” (Do Not Look Back).