Miss Indonesia 2006 Kristania Virginia Besouw (far right) now with the US Army. Photo: Kaskus
It’s not everyday that we see a beauty pageant winner joining the military – let alone in another country.
Kristania Virginia Besouw, born in Manado, North Sulawesi on May 7, 1985, was crowned Miss Indonesia in 2006. Now, she has officially become a US citizen and has enlisted in the US Army as a nurse.
Before we denounce her for abandoning her Indonesian citizenship, Kristania actually had a very good reason to do so.
Kristania Virginia Besouw during her stint as Miss Indonesia
In an interview with Tribun Manado via Facebook on Thursday, Kristania admitted that she misses home and explains why she had to join the US Army:
Well, it’s a long story. In short, I was here (in the US) for almost eight years and I’d never gone home (to Manado). Before enlisting in the US Army, I was on a student visa, which meant that I have to keep going to college and college here is really expensive.
So I joined the army through the MAVNI (Military Accession Vital to the National Interest) program. That’s for people who have gone to school here for at least two years. Graduates become US citizens, so I didn’t have to think about going to college again. Anyway, I wanted to become a citizen quickly so I can go home to Manado to see my family and friends. I missed them so much. My father died in 2011 and I couldn’t go home [for the funeral].
I wanted to continue my father’s legacy (Kristania’s father was an Indonesian Navy veteran). My grandfather was also a policeman. So I’m continuing the family legacy. If father was alive he’d be so proud of me.
Kristania added that she chose to be a nurse in the US Army instead of the Indonesian Army because she felt she’d be more appreciated in the US.
Kristania is now stationed in Fort Hood military base in Texas, USA.
