<p> She took no notice of the passers-by who, sneaking glances her way, found confirmation in her tight-fitting, low-cut dress that it was indeed Julia Perez, the singer, actress, model — and soon, perhaps, politician — whose overt use of sex appeal has won her legions of fans in Indonesia but also condemnation from social conservatives.<br /><br />Since returning to Indonesia three years ago after a decade in France and the Netherlands, Perez, 30, better known as Jupe, has quickly become one of this nation’s most sought-after celebrities and a mainstay of television gossip shows.<br /><br />In a society increasingly polarised between supporters of political Islam and Western-style openness, Perez has led the charge one way with her sexy shows and music videos, her celebration of female sexuality and frank talk about sex. <br /><br />Her best-selling album “Kamasutra” included a free condom, which drew the ire of Islamic organisations and got her banned from performing in several cities outside Jakarta.<br />Perez was rebuked recently after announcing her candidacy in a local election in December in Pacitan, a town in east Java that also happens to be the hometown of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Officials proposed changing regional election laws to forbid candidates with “moral flaws” from running.<br /><br />People’s representative <br /><br />Perez has no prior political experience and says that if elected, she simply wants to improve the lives of ordinary people in Pacitan. She was at once excited by the possibilities of Indonesia’s young democracy and aware of its limitations.<br /><br />Born here as Yuli Rachmawati, she was the eldest of three sisters in a household led by a single mother. With her mother doing odd jobs, the family often ate only rice with fried shallots.<br /><br />Perez worked as a junior secretary at a Dutch-owned furniture company and began dating the owner’s son.<br /><br />On a vacation in Spain, Perez met her future husband, a Frenchman who gave her his surname, took her to France and introduced her to the fashion business. <br /><br />She soon appeared in men’s magazines like Maxim and FHM. Back here for a vacation in 2006, Perez accompanied a younger sister to a casting call for a television soap opera and ended up getting recruited by the director.<br /><br />Offers<br /><br />Perez, who is Muslim, soon found herself deluged with offers. Deciding to return here for good in 2007, she left her husband behind in France. The couple divorced later. If there is a common thread in her films, music or television appearances, it is her sexuality — which she always wields, the way Madonna, one of her inspirations, also does. <br /><br />A few months ago, though, political leaders from the town of Pacitan arrived unexpectedly with an invitation to run as the district’s deputy leader.<br /><br />Sutikno, the local head of Hanura, an opposition party, said his party and a coalition of others were searching for a celebrity to attract investors to the region, which has beautiful beaches and other untapped tourist sites. The officials interviewed several actresses but settled on Perez.</p>
<p> She took no notice of the passers-by who, sneaking glances her way, found confirmation in her tight-fitting, low-cut dress that it was indeed Julia Perez, the singer, actress, model — and soon, perhaps, politician — whose overt use of sex appeal has won her legions of fans in Indonesia but also condemnation from social conservatives.<br /><br />Since returning to Indonesia three years ago after a decade in France and the Netherlands, Perez, 30, better known as Jupe, has quickly become one of this nation’s most sought-after celebrities and a mainstay of television gossip shows.<br /><br />In a society increasingly polarised between supporters of political Islam and Western-style openness, Perez has led the charge one way with her sexy shows and music videos, her celebration of female sexuality and frank talk about sex. <br /><br />Her best-selling album “Kamasutra” included a free condom, which drew the ire of Islamic organisations and got her banned from performing in several cities outside Jakarta.<br />Perez was rebuked recently after announcing her candidacy in a local election in December in Pacitan, a town in east Java that also happens to be the hometown of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Officials proposed changing regional election laws to forbid candidates with “moral flaws” from running.<br /><br />People’s representative <br /><br />Perez has no prior political experience and says that if elected, she simply wants to improve the lives of ordinary people in Pacitan. She was at once excited by the possibilities of Indonesia’s young democracy and aware of its limitations.<br /><br />Born here as Yuli Rachmawati, she was the eldest of three sisters in a household led by a single mother. With her mother doing odd jobs, the family often ate only rice with fried shallots.<br /><br />Perez worked as a junior secretary at a Dutch-owned furniture company and began dating the owner’s son.<br /><br />On a vacation in Spain, Perez met her future husband, a Frenchman who gave her his surname, took her to France and introduced her to the fashion business. <br /><br />She soon appeared in men’s magazines like Maxim and FHM. Back here for a vacation in 2006, Perez accompanied a younger sister to a casting call for a television soap opera and ended up getting recruited by the director.<br /><br />Offers<br /><br />Perez, who is Muslim, soon found herself deluged with offers. Deciding to return here for good in 2007, she left her husband behind in France. The couple divorced later. If there is a common thread in her films, music or television appearances, it is her sexuality — which she always wields, the way Madonna, one of her inspirations, also does. <br /><br />A few months ago, though, political leaders from the town of Pacitan arrived unexpectedly with an invitation to run as the district’s deputy leader.<br /><br />Sutikno, the local head of Hanura, an opposition party, said his party and a coalition of others were searching for a celebrity to attract investors to the region, which has beautiful beaches and other untapped tourist sites. The officials interviewed several actresses but settled on Perez.</p>