Laksmi Shari De Neefe Suardana from Ubud, Bali, has won the title of Puteri Indonesia 2022, emerging at the top of a field of 43 dazzlingly beautiful finalists vying to be crowned “Miss Indonesia” and the chance to represent their country in the Miss Universe Competition.
The first runner-up announced at the Grand Finals for Miss Indonesia held on Friday, 27 May 2022, at The Jakarta Convention Center and televised nationally was Cindy May McGuire from Jakarta, also named Miss Environment Indonesia. Cindy will represent Indonesia, together with the second runner-up at this year’s Miss International Contest and Miss Supranational.
The second runner-up, named Miss Tourism Indonesia, is an East Javanese woman, Adinda Chreseilla.
Miss Indonesia 2020, Raden Roro Ayu Maulida Putri from East Java, was on hand to crown Laksmi Shari De Neefe Suardana.
Also attending the Grand Finals were Miss Universe 2021 – Harnaaz Sandhu of India, Miss International 2019 – Sireethorn Leearamwat of Thailand, and Miss Supranational 2021 – Chanique Rabe of Namibia.
The finale was also attended by Miss Universe 2021 – Harnaaz Sandhu of India, Miss International 2019 – Sireethorn Leearamwat of Thailand, and the runner-up of Miss Supranational 2021 – Chanique Rabe of Namibia.
As reported by Kompas.com, in the final round of the competition, each of the three finalists was asked the same question by Putri Kuswinu Wardana of the Puteri Indonesia Foundation. The question posed to the finalists was to explain one thing they would like to change in their own lives.
Laksmi answered that all things happening in her life formed personal experiences that make her stronger as a person. She said all her life experiences and the support of others had brought her the chance to participate in the Miss Indonesia Competition.
The finals for the Miss Indonesia 2022 Competition were held with the theme “The Beauty and Uniqueness of Borobudur Temple” after a hiatus in the yearly event caused by the global pandemic.
The 2022 Grand Finals saw 44 young women representing 34 provinces of Indonesia compete to win the right to wear the Miss Indonesia Borobudur Crown. The 2022 edition of the Indonesian National Beaty Pageant represents the largest number of competing finalists participating in the contest’s history. This year’s pageant saw multiple contestants from single provinces, including Jakarta and Papua.
All 44 contestants lived in enforced isolation from 11 May until 26 May while participating in a crowded schedule of activities leading up to the Grand Final. The preliminary activities included classes on make-up and cosmetology, catwalk technique, official video and portrait photography, and dance-choreography training. A talent and fashion night emphasized culture as the young women wore evening gowns, talent presentations, and traditional costumes. The finalists also underwent psychological testing, motion challenges, and intensive interviews during the quarantine period.
During the Grand Final, a blue-ribbon panel formed the jury comprised of Puan Maharani, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Triawan Munaf, Jusuma Dewi, Frederika Alexis Cull, Sireethorn Leearamwat (Miss International 2019), Kusuma Anjani, Mega Angkasa, and Anya Geraldine.
Laksmi Sahri De Neefe Suardana, 26 years old, was born in Ubud, Bali, on 26 January 1996. She is the daughter of a Balinese Father, Ketut Suardana, and her Melbourne-born mother, Janet De Neefe. Her parents operate several successful restaurants in Ubud, and her mother is the founder of the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival and Ubud Food Festival.