Formerly A Victim Of Bullying, Now Arawinda Kirana Is Enthusiastic To Become An Activist

Arawinda Kirana (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Arawinda Kirana was bullied because of her physical appearance which was deemed not according to the "standard" of beauty. However, this bullying actually fosters the spirit of being an activist, spreading the notion that the definition of beauty is very broad, not fixated on certain stereotypes.

The winner of the Citra trophy as the Best Female Actor in the 2021 Indonesian Film Festival was born with dark skin and curly hair. She did not meet the criteria for being beautiful in society, with white skin and straight hair, so she had an unpleasant experience at school.

“The climate in Indonesia totally rejects looks like me. Not white, not long and straight hair. At that time, my hair was almost frizzy, curly, and fluffy, I almost didn't have any friends," said Arawinda as quoted from ANTARA, Jakarta, Monday, April 18.

The bullying happened for the first time when she was in 4th grade. Not just one person, but many people who bullied her. Conditions improved when she was a teenager because she entered an international school where students from different backgrounds were more open.

But there was once a male student, a senior who felt popular and liked by many girls, called her ugly and unattractive because of her black skin and curly hair. Her confidence at that time evaporated, but on the other hand, there was a greater enthusiasm to prove that the assumption was wrong

After wearing the white and gray uniform, Arawinda began to actively organize and learn to express her opinion. "I found a love for activism, met a lot of people who made me realize that the world is not that small," she said.

Recently, she has been actively voicing her opinion through social media, whether it's TikTok or Instagram, to say that the definition of beauty is very fluid, not fixated on a particular look. Everyone has uniqueness and originality that is what attracts each individual. "It's beautiful when you really shine in your own way," said Arawinda Kirana.