UNAIR NEWS – Dian Pramitha Utami, an alumna of the Faculty of Humanities (FIB) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), has made the top 10 finalists in the Miss East Java Indonesia 2025 pageant. As part of her campaign, she introduced WaniTalks, a women’s empowerment platform designed to provide a safe space for discussions and education on sensitive topics like violence and sexual harassment.
“WaniTalks is an Instagram-based platform focused on education, empowerment, and support for women in East Java. Through this initiative, I aim to help women become more confident and empowered in addressing issues of violence and harassment,” Utami stated.
Driving positive change
Utami expressed that her participation in the pageant is driven by a desire to make a positive societal impact, particularly through WaniTalks. Her inspiration for creating the platform stemmed from her concern over the lack of awareness among victims of sexual harassment, many of whom fail to recognize that they have been victimized.
She noted that sexual harassment often arises due to insufficient education and societal norms that normalize inappropriate behavior.
“Harassment often begins with seemingly minor acts, like sexist jokes. Left unchecked, these behaviors can escalate into more serious situations. Through WaniTalks, I hope to reduce such occurrences, at least within my community,” explained Utami, an UNAIR graduate in English Language and Literature.
Showcasing artistic talent
Having grown up in an artistic family, Utami has been deeply connected to art and culture from an early age. During the competition, she showcased her love for traditional heritage by performing karawitan and singing Lancaran Serayu.
Utami admitted that reaching the finals was not an easy feat, as she initially doubted her ability to compete. “I hesitated to apply because I wasn’t confident about competing against so many accomplished women in East Java. But with encouragement from friends, mentors, and prayers from my parents, I was able to overcome my fears,” she shared.
First experience in national pageant
While managing her responsibilities as a brand strategist and freelance copywriter, Utami continues to actively pursue her passion for modeling. She revealed that the Miss East Java Indonesia 2025 competition marks her debut in a national-level pageant.
“As a child, I was always excited to watch Miss Indonesia on TV. During my time at university, I competed in the FIB Ambassador event in 2021 and won the title of Main Ambassador. However, this is my first experience in a competition as large as Miss East Java Indonesia,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Utami remains optimistic, having thoroughly prepared for every aspect of the competition. Her preparation included enhancing her performance skills, expanding her knowledge, and ensuring both her physical and mental readiness.
“The biggest challenge was building my confidence while balancing my pageant preparations with my professional responsibilities. Thankfully, I managed to overcome these hurdles and give my best for Surabaya and East Java,” she concluded.
Author: Raissyah Fatika
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
