For years, Sawitri walked the school hallways of Jembrana, Bali, with her head down, enduring taunts about her dark skin. Today, she strides down the runways of Lisbon Fashion Week and Portugal Fashion Week, defying the very ridicule that once made her doubt herself.
A Painful Past in Bali
Growing up in western Bali, where international exposure is scarce compared to areas like Kuta, Sawitri faced relentless bullying for her appearance.
“They called me ‘badeng,’” she said, referring to a Balinese term for dark-skinned. “Some kids even told others, ‘Don’t play with her. She’s black, she’s poor,’” she told Tempo.
Seeking help at school led nowhere. “I reported it to the guidance counselor, but they just said, ‘Ah, maybe you were the one who started it,’” she recalled.
The bullying shattered her confidence, making her self-conscious about her features.
“I used to cover my teeth in photos because people said they were too white,” she added. Dreams of becoming a model seemed impossible.
A Detour Before Destiny
Determined to avoid her tormentors after high school, Sawitri abandoned her plan to study law when she learned that some of them had enrolled in the same university. Instead, she took a tourism course in Bali before moving to Jakarta in 2017 with her aunt, who introduced her to the world of finance.
By day, she taught young investors about stocks. By night, she dipped her toes into modeling, enrolling in classes at the Kimmy Jayanti School.
Her initial reluctance stemmed from a lack of family support.
“For my mother, modeling wasn’t a real career. Becoming a police officer or civil servant was,” she said.
But her mentor, Kimmy Jayanti, saw potential. “You have something special. Don’t stop modeling,” Kimmy told her.
Encouraged, Sawitri began sharing photos online, catching the eye of local agencies. Then, in 2018, an email arrived from a modeling agency in Paris.
The Leap to Europe
The agency invited her for an audition in France, but fear held her back. She had never left Indonesia, and her family worried it was a scam. Torn, she confided in her Polish boyfriend—now husband—who reassured her.
“He was so sure it wasn’t a scam,” she said. He took her on a trip to Europe, where she saw the industry firsthand. Inspired, she gave modeling another shot.
Settling in Warsaw in 2019, she posted new photos online, drawing interest from Modelwerk, a German agency.
That connection opened doors to Paris, Milan, and Portugal. Even the pandemic couldn’t slow her momentum—her bookings kept coming.
A major breakthrough came when she became the face of a new foundation line by Guerlain, a luxury French cosmetics brand, proving that her skin tone was not a flaw but an asset.
“They had just launched a shade that matched my skin, and I was the face of it,” she said.
A Model Without Borders
Sawitri’s career has since skyrocketed. She has modeled for Zalando, a German e-commerce giant, and starred in campaigns for Marimekko, a Finnish design house, with her image displayed across 15 countries.
Her presence at Lisbon and Portugal Fashion Week has become so prominent that she no longer even has to audition—organizers invite her directly. “The best part is that I’ve never had to do a casting for Lisbon and Portugal Fashion Week,” she said.
Though she calls Europe home, she frequently returns to Bali to see family.
A high school reunion brought unexpected reactions—former classmates expressed disbelief at her success. But not all were happy.
“Some people said I had plastic surgery or got pigment injections to lighten my skin,” she said. She pays no mind to such remarks, having long since grown immune to negativity.
Using Her Voice
Through her Instagram @iamsawitri, she speaks openly about bullying, encouraging others to persevere. For her, success is the best response to her past tormentors. “If my photos make them feel guilty, sad, or angry, that’s their problem,” she said.
“In a way, I’ve already had my revenge.”
