Julia Perez

Yuli Rachmawati (15 July 1980 – 10 June 2017), better known as Julia Perez (abbreviated as Jupe), was an Indonesian Dangdut singer and actress.

Julia Perez was born Yuli Rachmawati in on 15 July 1980 in Jakarta, Indonesia, as the oldest daughter to Sri Wulansih (b. 25 May 1963) and Angkasa Djaya (7 August 1961 – 2 December 2013).

Her father played football for a club in Bandar Lampung city, and her mother, who played women's football for Caprina Cijantung Club in Jakarta She was of mixed Sunda and Betawi ancestry.

Her parents divorced some time around 1988, when Julia was still a child.

Her mother had to take on odd jobs to support the family.

Her mother later married Sakib ‘Sammy’ Mahri, who owns a welding business and rental properties.

After leaving high school, Julia studied at InterStudi Secretarial Academy in Jakarta, at the behest of an older female friend, who also paid for her tuition and advised her to find a bule (white foreigner) boyfriend.

She then worked for a furniture company run by a Dutchman.

She began dating the owner's son, who invited her to work in the Netherlands.

She accepted the offer and spent three years in the Netherlands, studying Dutch and working as a secretary.

On a holiday to Spain, she met French model Damien Perez.

They were married in France on 7 October 2002.

They had no children.

Jupe said she was putting her career before starting a family.

Around 2002, she returned to Indonesia for a holiday to help her younger sister attend a casting session for a soap opera, but the director ended up recruiting Julia, who embarked upon an acting career.

She appeared in late-night ribald comedy shows, with titles such as Komedi Nakal (Naughty Comedy).

She gained further exposure and popularity by starring as a lifeguard dressed in a red swimsuit in an unofficial Indonesian version of Baywatch called Penjaga Pantai (Beach Guards).

She went on to appear in local soap operas, variety shows and horror movies, and also became a popular dangdut singer.

She suffered a miscarriage in 2007.

Her debut album Kamasutra, released in 2008, included a free condom, which upset conservative Islamic organizations and resulted in her being banned from performing in several cities.

In 2008, she was banned from performing at a concert commemorating Indonesia's 17 August Independence Day at a red-light area in Pekanbaru, Riau province.

In 2009, she became close to an Argentine soccer player, Gaston Castaño, who then played for Indonesian club Persiba Balikpapan and went on to play for several other Indonesian clubs.

In the early 2010s, she became known for her outspoken statements against conservative Muslim clerics, who deemed her as too erotic for Indonesian audiences.

In 2010, Julia and Damien were divorced.

She blamed the failure of their marriage on Damien's alleged womanizing.

In March 2010, Julia Perez told the press that eight political parties had asked her to run for the position of Regent of Pacitan regency in East Java province, even though she had never visited Pacitan.

Julia's biological father, Angkasa Jaya, was arrested in 2012 for alleged possession of drugs.

In 2012, Perez launched a chicken fast-food chain called Jupe Fried Chicken (JFC).

In 2013, Julia and Gaston announced their engagement.

They were quietly married in Sydney, Australia, on 26 September 2013.

Their wedding was kept a virtual secret from Indonesia's media.

Julia's mother had opposed the idea of her daughter marrying a football player.

He died in December 2013.

In 2014, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with Stage 2 cervical cancer.

In 2015, Julia Perez earned her Sarjana Hukum (Bachelor of Law) from Universitas Bung Karno.

After starting out as a secretary in Jakarta, Julia moved to the Netherlands for further secretarial work.

Her ensuing relationship with Damien Perez opened doors for her to model for FHM and Maxim magazines in France.

Following her layouts in FHM and Maxim, Jupe was nominated as one of the 100 Sexiest Women in the World.

By 2016, the cancer had reached Stage 4 and she died in June 2017.

On 12 May 2016, South Jakarta District Court granted Julia a divorce and awarded her alimony of Rp15 million per month.