Indonesia’s Oxford, Stanford-educated influencer Maudy Ayunda faces heat over G20 role as Russia debacle grows

Maudy, a celebrity with 16 million followers on social media, is viewed as a role model for millennials and Gen Z

But analysts say her lack of experience with diplomacy may be ‘reputational suicide’ for Indonesia, which is already facing a boycott by Western nations over its decision to invite Russia

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Maudy Ayunda is a graduate of both the University of Oxford and Stanford University. Photo: Instagram

Published: 5:30pm, 20 Apr 2022

Indonesia’s move to select a celebrity as its G20 spokesperson underlines President Joko Widodo’s fixation on his public image, analysts said, as Jakarta continues to rely on influencers to communicate its policies to the public.

Southeast Asia’s biggest economy last month named Ayunda Faza Maudya, 27, as its official G20 spokesperson, in the hopes that the actress, singer, author, activist and social media influencer – more popularly known as Maudy Ayunda – will be able to impress upon young people the significance of Indonesia’s presidency of the forum.

Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny Plate said Maudy was picked so the government “can reach the wider public, particularly millennials and Generation Z”.

“Maudy Ayunda graduated with a politics, philosophy, and economics degree from the University of Oxford, and earned a master’s degree in business and administration as well as a master of art in education from Stanford University,” Plate said. “Maudi also can speak a few foreign languages, which I hope will help in her duty as a spokesperson.”

Maudy, who has more than 16 million followers on Instagram and Twitter combined, has long been viewed as a role model for education given her Ivy League background.