The digital world’s growth has shifted its focus to social media, turning it into a platform full of career opportunities. It’s no surprise, then, that content creator professions are on the rise, each offering unique and engaging concepts.
One standout figure is Andi Wulandary, the creative mind behind the viral account Parodi Barbie. Hailing from Kajang, Bulukumba, she has captured the attention of netizens with her hilarious content and voiceovers, humorously portraying the character of Barbie.
It’s not just her content that brings humor, Wulan spent her childhood with various memorable experiences. One that still lingers in her memory is the time she was nearly swept away by a river.
“I was almost washed away in the river because I was looking for fish. Fortunately, I was able to return home safely, otherwise I would have died,” she recalled, laughing at the memory on Wednesday (29/01).
This 25-year-old woman completed her primary and secondary education in Kajang before continuing her studies at Hasanuddin University (Unhas) in Makassar. Wulan majored in Indonesian Literature at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) and earned her Bachelor of Literature degree in her seventh year of study. It was from there that she developed her unique style of delivering humour.
Her passion for dubbing traces back to her childhood love of watching cartoons. She was captivated by how animated characters could express such a wide range of emotions using nothing but their voices.
This eventually inspired her to try fan dubbing, particularly in Barbie films, which have many fans from various backgrounds.
“At first, it was for fun I made parodies by tweaking the dialogue in Barbie movie, turning what was originally formal into something more humorous,” said Wulan.
Many people don’t realize the voice behind the Parodi Barbie. Before stepping into the world of voice-over, she began her journey in 2018 by creating an Instagram account as a poetry writer. Her poems resonated with the tastes of the younger generation, earning her plenty of positive feedback.
“Though you rise and fall, you shine through it all”
That’s a line from one of the poems Wulan once wrote. A piece she dedicated to everyone she loves. To her, this poem speaks of how time keeps moving, but love remains. Despite the sadness, sorrow, goodbyes, and reunions, in the end, she still holds on to that love.
Wulan’s journey as a content creator hasn’t been easy. The content she produced didn’t go viral overnight on social media.
She began uploading Parodi Barbie videos on Instagram and TikTok around 2021. At first, they didn’t gain much attention. But eventually, one of her videos went viral, and she became widely recognized as a the creator behind Parodi Barbie.
The popularity of her Parodi Barbie content opened up a range of opportunities for Wulan. She began receiving collaboration offers from various different brands, especially for endorsements and voice-over work for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). In addition, many fans also reached out to request her voice in other creative projects.
However, behind her succes, Wulan faces no shortage of challenges. One of them is managing her time and staying consistent with content creation. As a creator, she needs to come up with new ideas to avoid running out of material to parody. Laziness and lack of inspiration are the main obstacles she has to overcome every day.
In addition, there have been sceptical voices questioning the authenticity of her voice. Some people accused her of using special effects or audio editing to make her voice sound like Barbie’s. However, she firmly asserts that the voice she uses is entirely her own, with no added effects.
Despite her rising popularity, Wulan still holds on to even bigger dreams. She hopes to one day create her own animated series and voice the characters she creates. She wants to develop her skills in animation and collaborate with big companies to produce higher-quality content for her growing fanbase.
For Wulan, being a content creator isn’t just about entertainment, it’s about spreading joy to others. She has a unique approach to crafting content that’s not only entertaining, but also carries a strong moral message.
Wulan gathers various popular elements, such as viral terms, then composes them into videos with a clear storyline, rather than randomly piecing them together. With this approach, she manages to create content that grabs attention and frequently lands on TikTok’s For You Page (FYP).
“The key to getting noticed and staying in demand is making use of trending topics,” she said.
A good piece of content should strike a balance between humour, a meaningful message, and a compelling storyline. This principle is what keeps her work always awaited by her followers. Wulan hopes to continue creating and making people laugh with her signature brand of humour.
Through all her achievements, Wulan has proven that creativity and the courage to stand out can lead a person to success. From a hobby to a profession, she has turned humour into her way of life.
Read the original text in Bahasa
Original Writer: Ismail Basri
Translated by Afifah Khairunnisa
