There is a face that is slowly, but surely, rising. so far, she’s graced fashion and beauty spreads for Seventeen and SPICE! Magazines and bits and bobs here and there. But her prowess and range goes beyond mediocre and by no means is she an amateur. Sometimes she plays the keyboard for the band SANTAMONICA but most of the time she is a graphic designer and brilliant model.
Her name is Kemala Putri and most call her Mala. “you’re probably pretty fashion-savvy if you know who I am.” the model Coco Rocha once said. I believe the same words also apply to Ms. Mala, who is steadily making her mark in the fashion industry. Watch this space.
Do you like modeling?
I do. As long as the wardrobe is not too exposed, or showing too much skin. And I totally back off if the concept is starting to wander off into the erotic category [laughs].
Describe the very first moment this modeling gig started? Like maybe your very first photoshoot? Were you nervous?
[thinks for a bit] Way back when, I got a job for some facial care product. That was my debut, and I was so awkward and nervous getting my picture taken. And then, I don’t know why, the client asked for my fringe to be trimmed. So they cut half of it off my forehead, it became so short! And then, the make-up artist tweezed and shaped my eyebrows — I think they went way overboard with that. I’d completely lost my eyebrows. I was so uncomfortable with my newly edited face that I became more nervous and they had to keep re-shooting because I couldn’t get my expression right.
How about now? Do photoshoots still give you a rush or is it just part of a day job?
[grins] I don’t get that many modeling jobs, you know.
Did you always know you were going to try and make it as a model? Has this always been your chosen career path?
Honestly, being a model never crossed my mind. Earlier, I would get jobs because I have a friend who works in the industry. It began from doing shoots to help out some friends and it continued to getting actual job offers. Really, I never thought it would go this far [smiles]
You’re an artist. Does this affect the way you view modeling?
As a graphic designer, maybe this makes me more partial to conceptual photos where the color tone, lighting, mood, props, location, make-up and wardrobe all work to form one cohesive idea. Where everything is planned and thought through in detail based on the concept so you can feel the emotion and mood in the end results. It’s just a shame when the concept is not strong — you can’t get the mood from the pictures properly.
Personally, is there a difference between Mala the Mala and Mala the Model?
[laughs] Mala the Model still sounds odd to me. Maybe there are differences between the real Mala and the one being worked as a model.
Why?
The real Mala can’t keep her mouth shut. Always commenting on this and that, always picky, wanting too many things and causing trouble [laughs] but when Mala gets a modeling job, she becomes more obedient. Even if she is iffy about the concept, she tries to push through the limits of her comfort zone. Because when I am asked to model for something, I am asked to play a role based on a concept. Not asked to be the loud-mouthed Mala [laughs] this is why I always ask in detail about what is expected of me for a job. Because if I’m aware that it is beyond my limit, I won’t do it. I don’t want my incompetence in the matter to ruin the end result.
No names. Describe the photoshoot you had the most fun in.
Actually, I have fun in almost all the shoots. Because they’re still within the limits of my skills. But the best shoots are the ones where I know everyone involved as friends, not business partners whose sole interest is the commercial value of the work. If we’re all friends on the set, everyone – the photographer, make-up artist, stylist and even the model, is free to express their passions to collaborate and create an artwork together.
Do things inspire you, or do you find you have an innate instinct for what to do in a photoshoot?
I’m always inspired by people around me. People who have immense spirit and passion for what they do. And when I am in the middle of them, automatically the energy appears. I would be ashamed of myself if I am working with all these people who give a 100% for the work and I don’t. Photoshoots need a solid teamwork, if I’m not giving my all and everyone else is, I’d be spoiling everything [laughs]
Lastly, where do you see yourself in 10 years?
[thinks] probably still in the creative industry. Maybe graphic, advertising or even fashion and beauty. Oh, and I would have a happy little family. Yay! [laughs]
Pictures courtesy of Spice Magazine, Kemang Village Magazine and Cosmo Girl
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"I am a creature of simple pleasures. Those pleasures include sunshine, clouds, fashion and writing. while writing, I can get distracted by shiny things so much that I lose my mind, but let’s not get into that."
WATCH THIS SPACE: KEMALA OOH LALA
Look closely.
There is a face that is slowly, but surely, rising. so far, she’s graced fashion and beauty spreads for Seventeen and SPICE! Magazines and bits and bobs here and there. But her prowess and range goes beyond mediocre and by no means is she an amateur. Sometimes she plays the keyboard for the band SANTAMONICA but most of the time she is a graphic designer and brilliant model.
Her name is Kemala Putri and most call her Mala. “you’re probably pretty fashion-savvy if you know who I am.” the model Coco Rocha once said. I believe the same words also apply to Ms. Mala, who is steadily making her mark in the fashion industry. Watch this space.
Do you like modeling?
I do. As long as the wardrobe is not too exposed, or showing too much skin. And I totally back off if the concept is starting to wander off into the erotic category [laughs].
Describe the very first moment this modeling gig started? Like maybe your very first photoshoot? Were you nervous?
[thinks for a bit] Way back when, I got a job for some facial care product. That was my debut, and I was so awkward and nervous getting my picture taken. And then, I don’t know why, the client asked for my fringe to be trimmed. So they cut half of it off my forehead, it became so short! And then, the make-up artist tweezed and shaped my eyebrows — I think they went way overboard with that. I’d completely lost my eyebrows. I was so uncomfortable with my newly edited face that I became more nervous and they had to keep re-shooting because I couldn’t get my expression right.
How about now? Do photoshoots still give you a rush or is it just part of a day job?
[grins] I don’t get that many modeling jobs, you know.
Did you always know you were going to try and make it as a model? Has this always been your chosen career path?
Honestly, being a model never crossed my mind. Earlier, I would get jobs because I have a friend who works in the industry. It began from doing shoots to help out some friends and it continued to getting actual job offers. Really, I never thought it would go this far [smiles]
You’re an artist. Does this affect the way you view modeling?
As a graphic designer, maybe this makes me more partial to conceptual photos where the color tone, lighting, mood, props, location, make-up and wardrobe all work to form one cohesive idea. Where everything is planned and thought through in detail based on the concept so you can feel the emotion and mood in the end results. It’s just a shame when the concept is not strong — you can’t get the mood from the pictures properly.
Personally, is there a difference between Mala the Mala and Mala the Model?
[laughs] Mala the Model still sounds odd to me. Maybe there are differences between the real Mala and the one being worked as a model.
Why?
The real Mala can’t keep her mouth shut. Always commenting on this and that, always picky, wanting too many things and causing trouble [laughs] but when Mala gets a modeling job, she becomes more obedient. Even if she is iffy about the concept, she tries to push through the limits of her comfort zone. Because when I am asked to model for something, I am asked to play a role based on a concept. Not asked to be the loud-mouthed Mala [laughs] this is why I always ask in detail about what is expected of me for a job. Because if I’m aware that it is beyond my limit, I won’t do it. I don’t want my incompetence in the matter to ruin the end result.
No names. Describe the photoshoot you had the most fun in.
Actually, I have fun in almost all the shoots. Because they’re still within the limits of my skills. But the best shoots are the ones where I know everyone involved as friends, not business partners whose sole interest is the commercial value of the work. If we’re all friends on the set, everyone – the photographer, make-up artist, stylist and even the model, is free to express their passions to collaborate and create an artwork together.
Do things inspire you, or do you find you have an innate instinct for what to do in a photoshoot?
I’m always inspired by people around me. People who have immense spirit and passion for what they do. And when I am in the middle of them, automatically the energy appears. I would be ashamed of myself if I am working with all these people who give a 100% for the work and I don’t. Photoshoots need a solid teamwork, if I’m not giving my all and everyone else is, I’d be spoiling everything [laughs]
Lastly, where do you see yourself in 10 years?
[thinks] probably still in the creative industry. Maybe graphic, advertising or even fashion and beauty. Oh, and I would have a happy little family. Yay! [laughs]
Pictures courtesy of Spice Magazine, Kemang Village Magazine and Cosmo Girl