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Download Indonesian Dian Inggrawati is one of this year’s Miss Deaf Worlds.
It’s the first time the country has won the international event.
27-year old Dian has had poor hearing since she was a baby but has not let this stop her from entering modeling competitions.
Her house is filled with trophies.
Rumondang Nainggolan has her story.
On a stage in Prague, three women are waiting anxiously to hear if they are to be crowned Miss Deaf World.
One of them is wearing a hand-painted batik gown from Indonesia. The other two are in western ball gowns.
Dian Inggrawati was named third runners-up.
“I’m very happy, I couldn’t believe I won! I did not think that I could win. I was thinking about changing my shoes because my feet hurt...but then I was crowned in third place. I got it! I feel so happy!”
Ida Hermawan is her proud mother.
“I couldn’t believe it myself...I just stood still and suddenly every Indonesians there shook my hands. At first they doubted my daughter, whether she will perform great on stage or not. I said, we’ll see. I was so sure that my daughter won’t disappoint Indonesian people. And I was right, everybody hugged me immediately.”
During the pageant, she performed a traditional dance.
At the end she held up a small banner that reads “Deaf, No Problem!”
This was a winning moment, says Indonesian deaf rights activist Revita Ali.
“Dian is different than others. She campaigned on the stage. She opened a banner reading “Deaf, No Problem!” No one else thought about doing that.”
Dian is no strange to beauty competitions.
From a young age she has been entering modeling competitions and won many times.
There are more than 400 trophies displayed at her home.
“I love modeling. I love walking down the catwalk, my aunt and mother taught me how to do it. I also love drawing. I practice drawing a lot before entering any drawing competition.”
After being crowned as one of this year’s Miss Deaf World, Dian’s schedule has been hectic.
Today she has to attend a national conference for disabled people.
And then go to and speak with members of parliament about disable rights.
Dian says she too has faced discrimination.
“My friends used to mock me a lot. They would say ‘you’re deaf, you can not do anything’.”
This week Indonesia finally ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities.
Indonesia already has a quota system; one percent of employers in each company must be disabled. Those that fail to do so face significant fines.
But still less than one percent of the countries’ 22 million people are employed.
Dian is a university graduate.
“I used to face difficulties communicating with others while I was still studying at the university. Then I explain that I’m deaf, could you please speak slowly? Sometimes I couldn’t hear what the lecturer says in class. I ask a friend for the notes or copies of the materials given. They help me a lot.”
She believes being crowned one of the Miss Deaf Worlds will open up new opportunities.
“After being Miss Deaf World, I want to motivate other deaf people. Having this disability does not mean that you don’t live your life to the fullest.”
“I want to provide job opportunities for deaf children. I also want to stop discrimination towards disabled people, to raise awareness of working and education. I want to ask television stations to put transcription on the screen so we can follow the programs.”