After being crowned Puteri Indonesia 2019, Frederika Cull continues to make her mark, from being the first Indonesian contender to get into the top 10 at the world-renowned Miss Universe pageant, to starring in hit television shows. With a fashion project on the horizon, Frederika shares her key to success.
Q: How did you decide you wanted to join the prestigious Puteri Indonesia competition? Has it always been your passion?
A: Not at all. I’ve always enjoyed watching beauty pageants, but I never thought I was pageant material. I was offered the opportunity to join by my manager when I was 18, she did a good job of convincing me about the opportunity and the potential Puteri Indonesia could offer. I ended up taking part and won the competition not long after I was 19 years old.
Q: How about acting? Have you always wanted to do that, or did you come across the film industry by chance?
A: I’ve always been interested in film and theatre. I remember taking theatre lessons from a young age and doing school productions and loving it.
Q: You represented Indonesia in the world-renowned Miss Universe 2019 pageant. What is the most memorable story that you can share from that experience?
A: Definitely when Steve Harvey called Indonesia to the top 10 for the first time in history. This will probably be one of my greatest moments in my life, I still get emotional thinking about it.
Q: Being a public figure must have its ups and downs. Can you share what’s your favourite part and most challenging part of having many followers?
A: Being a public figure means you are your own brand, which allows you to have more authority and creativity in your career. I’ve been very lucky to have worked with brands that I love and have met incredible people because of my following. I owe my success and my career to my fans who have been so supportive of me. The downside of fame is that there is an unrealistic expectation placed upon you and a sense of ownership from the public. Since we are our own brand, we must always protect our image and do things that benefit it. Sometimes thinking about yourself as a brand and not a human being can make you feel disconnected from your emotions and drain you.
Q: Are there any future projects – films or other endeavours – that our readers can look forward to?
A: For the past few months, I’ve been working on my own clothing line with my childhood best friend. It’s a project we have planned for many years now and we are finally pursuing it. We hope to launch soon in 2023, so keep your eyes and ears open.
Q: In your opinion, what is the key to success?
A: In my opinion there are two types of success. Internal success, which is how you choose to live your life, and your values, which are most important. External success, which is how well you do in the outside world. The key to success is when you can create the right balance between the two and live your dreams in line with your morals and values.
Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to compete in prestigious pageants like Puteri Indonesia or Miss Universe?
A: Know who you are! As simple as it sounds, getting to know yourself is actually quite challenging. The reason I find this important is how can you expect to be an inspirational figure who can create real change if you don’t know who you are? Focus on yourself, figure out what you want in life and you’ll develop the right mentality to be a winner.
Frederika Cull
