Agni Pratistha

Agni, whose full name is Agni Pratistha Arkadewi Kuswardono, was the contestant from Central Java and is 18 years old. She replaces Nadine Chandrawinata as the reigning Putri Indonesia and will progress to the 2007 Miss Universe competition. Agni was chosen on the 25th in Jakarta narrowly beating out Ananda from South Kalimantan and Rahma Landy from DKI Jakarta. She is a model and actress and has starred in the film “Mengejar Matahari” as well having some other minor roles.

Recently, on the question of beauty contests, the minister for tourism Jero Wacik was heard to offer a defence, given the controversy such things arouse in Indonesia. He claimed that beauty was a thing not only on the outside but a thing that was created by positive thinking, within. To be beautiful a girl had to “be good and think positively”. Not only this, according to the minister, pretty women were those who struggled for Indonesia. Such women could even attract tourists, he said, provided they were friendly. No doubt Agni Pratistha Arkadewi Kuswardono can be included by him in this category.