Another proud achievement has been made by a student at Semarang State University (UNNES). Nayla Shafavirly Arifianti, a student in the Psychology Program UNNES, won the title of Puteri Kebaya Indonesia 2026 at the 3rd Puteri Kebaya Indonesia pageant. This victory makes Nayla the first woman to win the grand crown for Central Java Province and the first winner to wear a hijab in the pageant’s history.
Nayla’s journey to the national stage began in mid-2025 through regional-level selections. Regarding her dedication and preparation, she earned the title of 1st Runner-Up for Puteri Kebaya Central Java and was chosen to represent Central Java 2 at the national competition.
During the quarantine period leading up to the grand final, which took place on July 2–4, 2026, at the Merapi Merbabu Hotel in Yogyakarta, Nayla and the other finalists participated in a variety of activities, including a sashing ceremony, photo and video shoot challenges, in-depth interviews, a gala dinner, and charity events. On the second day, the finalists went on a city tour to Prambanan Temple and participated in preliminary rounds that included a talent show, a catwalk challenge, an advocacy speech, and a choreography class in preparation for the grand final night.
The Puteri Kebaya Indonesia pageant is an event aimed at discovering young women who can serve as pioneers in preserving the kebaya as a cultural heritage while strengthening the nation’s identity. The competition does not focus solely on appearance; it also evaluates intellectual capacity, leadership, social awareness, and advocacy programs that benefit the community.
As an implementation of her commitment to cultural preservation and women’s empowerment, Nayla launched the KEMBANG (Kebaya Empowerment: Beauty, Action, Nation, Grace) movement with the hashtag #PerempuaNAYuBERKEBAYA on National Kebaya Day, July 24, 2025. This movement stems from the #LoveYourself campaign that she conceived in 2020 to encourage women to be more confident and recognize their potential. This commitment is also realized through the empowerment of PKK mothers in Dologan Village and cultural education for children through the Roro Jonggrang folktale, all while wearing the kebaya.
For Nayla, the title of Puteri Kebaya Indonesia is not merely a personal achievement but a mandate to continue inspiring the younger generation to take pride in the nation’s culture and to have the courage to play a role in empowering the community. This achievement also serves as proof that UNNES students are capable of excelling at the national level by presenting works, ideas, and concrete actions that have a positive impact on society and the preservation of Indonesian culture.
Adira Abiwardani & Fawwaz Zahran Ramadhan
