Reaching for the stars
By SANGEETHA NAIR
Photos by SAM THAM
IT was 10.30am. The indoor climbing gym at the fifth floor of 1
Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya looked deserted but the sound of someone’s chuckle filled the room.
Behind the glass door stood actress and TV personality Juliana Ibrahim. She had long shiny hair put up in a ponytail, a blue tank top and a pair of three quarter pants.
She appeared to be trying on some clothing at an outlet called Prana, situated within the gym.
As soon as I walked into the shop, she turned around and waved. Her face was beaming with excitement.
“Hi! How are you? I was just trying on some clothes for the photo shoot but they all seem too big for me,” said the petite Juliana.
She spent the next half an hour looking for something that would perfectly wrap around her tiny body while waiting for the photographer.
“It is quite hard to find clothes for me so I always keep it simple. Most of my clothes are white, black or brown and I can only shop in selected stores,” said the 27-year-old who was at Camp 5 for her usual rock climbing session.
Juliana said she took up rock climbing two years ago as she found that it was the only sport that suited her.
“I’m not a very sporty kind of person and I am afraid of contact sports. Rock climbing seems safe, fun and very challenging,” she grinned.
“The thing about rock climbing is you can’t do it alone. It is a co-operative sport. You need a partner to support your weight from the ground when you are climbing. So when I come here, I get to meet people and make new friends. You can’t afford to be shy or proud or you will never make it to the top.
“The sport is also very good for the mind as you would need to plan your route beforehand. Come to think of it, it's a lot like life. I'm being philosophical, aren’t I? You have a goal and you have to get to it and you find the best way to reach your goal. It is an adrenalin rush. Whenever I get up there, my heart starts beating faster. I am scared I might fall. You sometimes reach a point when you feel you have to stop but you keep telling yourself to go on.
“There are many routes but I always go for the toughest one and then I would get frustrated halfway through. But my trainer always reminds me that climbing is not about getting frustrated. You need to take it one step at a time,” she said.
Juliana, who often goes weeks without having a rest day, tends to miss her regular outing to the gym.
“During these times, I would try and do the sun salutation (a yoga posture) when I get up in the morning and before going to bed.”
Juliana also said that it wasn’t hard to keep fit as her mother would make her run up and down the stairs of their house many times in a day.
“Mum would keep shouting from the kitchen downstairs, Juli get this and Juli get that,” she said.
Juliana is one person who does not feel guilty about what she eats.
“I love food. Don’t be fooled. I can really eat a lot. More than most people at least. I normally help my friends finish their food,” she said.
“I believe in having a happy and healthy lifestyle. You shouldn’t restrain yourself from eating what you like. If you feel like you have over eaten, exercise more. Never starve yourself. At the end of the day, life is all about choices. You decide how you want it to be.”
The health-wise woman said the most important meal of the day is breakfast.
“You can go the whole day without food as long as you have had a good breakfast. I normally have muesli bars, buns, cereals, or nasi lemak once in a while. And I have lots of fruits. I love fruits. If I feel sluggish, I'd eat melons and guavas and feel so refreshed. I am not a coffee person so I just drink a glass of water,” she said.
On days when she has full-day shoots, Juliana would grab a pita sandwich for lunch.
“My favourite lunch-time meal is Japanese food as it is healthy and not too filling. I would have Cha soba noodles, sashimi – anything but Unagi (eel). You can get some great tasting Japanese food at cheaper prices at Jusco or Isetan supermarkets.
“If you have the day off, have a hearty lunch and have something light for dinner,” said Juliana.
“It's also best to have an early dinner. Try not to have supper. It's unhealthy.”
Juliana has just finished hosting So You Think You Can Dance on 8TV as well as shooting for the movie Jarum Halus in which she plays Mona, the lead female role.
Juliana graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Multimedia from the Multimedia University in Cyberjaya. She began her career in acting soon after in year 2002 and two years after that, tried her hand at hosting.
“When I was younger, I always liked being on stage. It is just my nature. I didn’t think I would make a career out of it one day. My parents thought it was a hobby but I made them realise that it is my dream and passion. They were my biggest critics but now they stand by me,” said the youngest of three siblings.
“Acting is a challenge because it is freelance and if I want to sustain a stable career in it, I would have to go out and look for jobs. There are a lot of opportunities out there. It's just a matter of finding something suitable.”
Juliana admits that people tend to take her for granted because of her size.
“I get teased a lot about my height but I have learnt to take it lightly. I have always wondered why people make fun of things like that.
“People think I am just this little girl who looks very young. But I am more than just a little girl. I am very strong and I have been through a lot.”