Who is Manohara Odelia Pinot? Model accuses Malaysian prince of forced marriage, sexual assault

Indonesian-American model Manohara Odelia Pinot has once again found herself at the centre of global attention after speaking out about her controversial 2008 marriage to Malaysian prince Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra, a chapter of her life she insists was neither consensual nor legal. But who is Manohara Odelia and what is the controversy all about? Read all about her here:

Who is Manohara Odelia?

Born on February 28, 1992, in Jakarta, Manohara rose to prominence as a teenage model and social media personality. With striking features and a growing presence in fashion circles, she quickly became a recognisable name in Indonesia’s modelling scene in the mid-2000s.

The Jakarta-born model began her career in the spotlight as a teen, working consistently in modelling and appearing in a variety of print, runway and campaign work, so much so that she was included among Indonesia’s “100 Charms” by Harper’s Bazaar for her striking look and presence.

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Alongside modelling, Manohara also explored acting. In the wake of her widely publicised marriage and subsequent separation from Malaysian royalty, she appeared in Indonesian soap operas and films, including a self-titled TV series Manohara in 2009 and other screen projects that capitalised on her fame and established her as a recognisable screen personality. She has also worked in films like EL: The Movie (2018), Aku Cinta Kamu (2014) and The Guys (2017), according to IMDb.

Over time, she stepped back from regular entertainment appearances and shifted much of her public focus to social and environmental causes. A report in Kapanlagi indicates that she became active in animal welfare and environmental protection, working with organisations, such as the Jakarta Animal Aid Network, on wildlife conservation and rehabilitation efforts.

Why is Manohara in news?

Manohara was married Tengku Fakhry, a member of Malaysia’s Kelantan royal family, in August 2008. She was just 16 at the time. However, her mother had claimed that she was abducted.

At the time, the marriage was widely reported as a fairy-tale union between a young model and a royal. However, she made a dramatic escape from a hotel in Singapore in 2009, within a year of the ‘marriage’.

After the incident, she returned to Indonesia with help from her mother and the authorities. The incident sparked widespread media coverage across Southeast Asia and became one of the region’s most talked-about celebrity scandals of the time.

Following her return, Manohara gradually rebuilt her life and career. She stepped back into modelling, explored acting opportunities, and later moved to the United States, where she has maintained a relatively private life.

Now, she has clarified with an Instagram post that her ‘marriage’ with Tengu Fakhry was “not a romantic relationship, not a consensual relationship, and not a legal marriage.” She has urged media platforms to stop referring to her as the prince’s “ex-wife,” arguing that the term falsely legitimises what she describes as a coercive situation. Here is the post:

In another post made today, she also alleged sexual assault. She wrote, “When a person is SA’d, we do not call them the ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend of the perpetrator. We do not frame sexual violence as a relationship. We do not turn abuse into a consensual story."

She also added, “I was 15 years old. The man involved was in his 30s. There was no dating, no relationship, and no consent. What happened was forced. Calling a victim the “ex-partner” or “ex-spouse” of the person who harmed them does not make the situation more polite or culturally acceptable. It makes it inaccurate. Worse, it shifts the focus away from harm and onto the child. Victims do not need titles that imply choice where there was none."

Here is the post:

When Manohara claimed that she was treated like a ‘sex slave’ by the prince 

Back in 2009, after her escape, Manohara had told reporters that she was used as a ‘sex slave’ by the prince. Her mother, Daisy Fajarina, told reporters back then, “The things I’ve been afraid of were revealed to be true. Manohara has suffered physical abuse. She’s got several razor cuts on her chest. No parent could be silent if their child was treated in such a barbaric way.”

She also blamed the Malaysian and Indonesian governments for trying to cover up the alleged abuse.

Manohara claimed she was held captive, treated like a sex slave, injected with drugs that made her vomit blood, and subjected to physical violence, including razor cuts on her chest. A medical examination in Indonesia reportedly confirmed physical abuse.

She also told an Indonesian new outlet, “Sexual abuse and harassment became a daily routine for me. He did that every time I did not want to have sexual intercourse.”  

The royal Kelantan family denied all allegations, calling the matter “personal and private.”