Zenab Fadila Ahaya, an inspiring figure from Gorontalo, has successfully broken through to the prestigious Putri Indonesia 2025 pageant as a finalist representing Gorontalo Province. This talented model, nurtured by MM Karawo Gorontalo, will appear in the grand final of the Putri Indonesia election, scheduled to take place on May 2, 2025.
Fadila’s success is not only a personal triumph but also a symbol of Gorontalo women’s presence on the national stage, carrying a mission of culture, inclusivity, and education for a better Indonesia.
Her journey to the Putri Indonesia stage was not easy. She had to compete through a rigorous selection process in the national auditions organized by the Putri Indonesia Foundation (YPI) at Graha Mustika Ratu, Jakarta. Fadila’s selection proves that Gorontalo has extraordinary talent ready to compete with representatives from various regions.
One of the things that makes Fadila’s journey even more special is the advocacy she champions. She is committed to providing skills training to children with special needs at the Special School (SLB) in Gorontalo City. For her, inclusivity is key to sustainable development, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in creating quality education and equal employment opportunities for all.
In addition, Fadila is also active in promoting karawo embroidery, a distinctive cultural heritage of Gorontalo. This embroidery is not only a symbol of regional identity but also part of efforts to develop a sustainable creative economy. By introducing karawo at the national level, Fadila wants to help increase the competitiveness of local products in a wider market. This step aligns with the SDGs in supporting inclusive economic growth and women’s empowerment through the creative industry.
As a Putri Indonesia finalist, Fadila also has a mission to introduce Gorontalo’s tourism potential. She will promote whale shark ecotourism as a major attraction, while also showcasing a national costume themed Tumbilotohe, Gorontalo’s traditional light festival rich in cultural and religious values.
Interestingly, behind her brilliant achievements, Fadila still prioritizes education. She is currently a student in the Tourism Study Program at Universitas Terbuka (UT) Gorontalo. Fadila’s choice to pursue education at UT is proof that education does not need to be sacrificed for a career. With a flexible distance learning system, UT allows high-achieving students like Fadila to continue pursuing their dreams in two worlds at once: academics and modeling or beauty pageants. UT provides opportunities for anyone to continue learning and developing without the limitations of space and time.
Fadila is not a new figure in the world of modeling and beauty pageants. Since joining MM Karawo Gorontalo, she has carved out various achievements at the regional and national levels. In 2023, she won Top Model Indonesia Gorontalo in the Miss category, which then led her to represent Gorontalo in the Miss Grand Tourism Indonesia 2024 pageant. Not stopping there, Fadila also became a runway model at Indonesia Fashion Week 2024. Her success shone even brighter when she won the Runner Up II title in Putri Tenun Songket Indonesia 2024.
Fadila’s journey proves that with dedication, hard work, and commitment to education, anyone can achieve their dreams and make a positive impact. Through her participation in Putri Indonesia 2025, Fadila not only brings the spirit of Gorontalo women but also fights for culture, sustainability, and inclusive education for a better future for Indonesia.
Now, all eyes are on her—Zenab Fadila Ahaya, a Universitas Terbuka student ready to inspire from the stage of Putri Indonesia 2025.
