Dewi Sukarno’s Beauty and Wellness Routine | Skincare, Diet & Dance

Elegant gowns, beautifully styled voluminous hair and an unmistakably poised presence. Dewi Sukarno, widely known in Japan as Dewi Fujin, or Madame Dewi, is a former wife of Sukarno, Indonesia's first president. She has also become a familiar public figure through television appearances, cultural activities, public speaking and charitable work. Born on 6 February 1940, she celebrated her 86th birthday in 2026.

For those unfamiliar with her remarkable life, Dewi Sukarno is perhaps best known today for her adventurous appearances alongside Japanese comedian Tetsuro Degawa on the popular television programme Itte Q! (Sekai no Hate Made Itte Q!). Yet her earlier life was filled with dramatic changes that are difficult to imagine from her light-hearted television persona. Born and raised in Tokyo, she married Indonesian President Sukarno while still a young woman. After political upheaval in Indonesia, she moved to France, became a prominent figure in Parisian high society and was admired as the "Pearl of the Orient". She subsequently pursued business, cultural and television activities. Her memoir Dewi Sukarno Kaikoroku: Eiko, Munen, Kaikon and her book Erabareru Onna ni Onarinasai also reveal her distinctive approach to life.

Behind the glamorous appearances are everyday habits: removing her makeup after returning home, paying extraordinary attention to dental hygiene and maintaining a longstanding interest in ballroom dancing. She enjoys formal dinners and international travel while continuing to express her own views on beauty, wellbeing and the importance of making the most of life.

What makes her particularly interesting is that she rarely treats beauty as a matter of skin or appearance alone. Her appreciation of music, painting, human relationships and new challenges is closely connected with how she approaches daily life. Drawing on her own interviews, official blog and television records, this article explores Dewi Sukarno's beauty and wellness philosophy while distinguishing habits described at different stages of her life.

1. Dewi Sukarno's Philosophy of Beauty and Enjoying Life

Surrounding Herself with Beauty and Finding Ten Moments of Wonder Each Day

When Dewi Sukarno discusses beauty, her thoughts often turn first to the importance of being surrounded by beautiful things rather than to cosmetics. In an August 2022 post on her official blog, she described her love of music, paintings, literature, works of art and jewellery. She also explained that she tries to experience at least ten moments of emotional wonder every day. In an interview with the Japanese beauty magazine BiST around the same period, she spoke about appreciating small things, including flowers and the view outside a window.

This outlook reflects a lifetime of encountering different cultures, landscapes and people around the world. Elaborate gowns and precious jewellery are not merely possessions to her. Their colours, shapes and the pleasure of wearing them for different occasions are part of how she enjoys life. For Dewi Sukarno, beauty extends beyond the dressing table to the way an ordinary day is experienced.

At a charity celebration marking her 86th birthday on 9 February 2026, she was asked about the secret of her youthful spirit. Her answer was "mental strength". She described looking in the mirror each morning and telling herself that she would not grow old, while continuing to surround herself with beautiful things and people she loves. Rather than a scientifically established method of preventing physical ageing, this is best understood as her personal philosophy of maintaining a positive mindset.

She continues to approach life with the conviction that there are still things she can do and new experiences worth pursuing. That attitude is reflected in her willingness to take part in television projects, travel internationally and accept unfamiliar challenges well into later life. Her interest in beauty and her curiosity about the world appear closely connected.

In an interview published in 2025, she encouraged people to fill each day with moments that make their hearts feel excited. Appreciating something beautiful and finding a reason to look forward to tomorrow are recurring themes in her outlook. Visiting an exhibition and taking on a new professional challenge may seem very different, yet both bring colour and purpose to her life.

In a 2023 interview, Dewi also mentioned beautiful music, paintings, adorable dogs and flowers as things that could move her emotionally. Her ambition to experience ten moments of wonder each day is therefore less about seeking extraordinary events and more about remaining attentive to what is already around her. Someone who has travelled among world leaders and members of international society can still be delighted by a flower or a dog's charming behaviour. That contrast makes her philosophy surprisingly approachable.

Her relationship with the arts extends beyond personal enjoyment. In an interview published by Japan's financial education organisation Shiruporuto, Dewi discussed establishing the Ibra International Music Foundation in 1990 to support talented young musicians. Through competitions in Sicily and opportunities for prize-winning performers, she has sought to help emerging artists develop their careers. Her appreciation of beauty has therefore found expression not only in collecting and enjoying art, but also in supporting those who create it.

2. Everyday Skincare and the Art of Doing Her Own Makeup

Removing Makeup Even After a Long Day and Washing Her Face with Cold Water

Although Dewi Sukarno has occasionally said that she does nothing particularly extraordinary for her beauty, she revealed two longstanding habits in a 2022 post on her official blog. The first is always removing her makeup before going to sleep, however tired she may be. The second is washing her face with cold water in the morning, even during winter. After an evening of formal social engagements, she still makes time for this simple personal routine.

Cold-water cleansing is her own longstanding practice rather than a method suited to everyone. Individual skin needs and preferences vary. What makes her account interesting is that, despite her association with luxury and sophisticated beauty products, she repeatedly identifies the simple routine of washing her face before bed as something important to her.

There is an appealing contrast between her insistence that she does nothing unusual and the care she takes when preparing for a photoshoot. She has discussed using facial equipment and serums, while also applying her own eye makeup. Behind the finished appearance seen in magazines and on television is a considerable amount of personal experience. She knows the colours she prefers, how to position false eyelashes and how to prepare herself for an important occasion.

Even someone as confident as Dewi occasionally notices changes in her appearance with surprise. In September 2024, when she was 84, she wrote on social media about looking in the mirror one morning and being startled by changes around her eyes and forehead. She realised that approximately ten months had passed since her previous beauty maintenance appointment, and shared her thoughts alongside photographs from her younger years. The candid admission revealed a more personal side of someone often associated with unwavering self-confidence.

Choosing Beauty Products According to Her Own Preferences

An interview published by the Japanese beauty magazine VOCE in December 2019 offered a detailed look at Dewi's choice of cosmetics. Before photoshoots, she sometimes used a spray-gun-style beauty device together with a serum. At the same time, one of the facial sheet masks she mentioned was Kracie's Hadabisei Super Penetrating 3D Mask, a comparatively accessible skincare product. The presence of both luxury beauty products and affordable sheet masks among her favourites illustrates her willingness to choose according to personal preference rather than price alone.

These products were mentioned in interviews conducted at particular points in time and should be understood as examples of her choices then. What stands out is her independence when deciding what she likes, rather than any particular brand name.

Her distinctive eye makeup is another example of that independence. In the VOCE interview, she explained that she applies her own eye makeup, using beige and brown shades to create definition before adding false eyelashes and mascara. She understands how she wants her eyes to look and has developed the techniques to achieve that appearance herself.

For someone who has spent much of her life in the public eye, preparing for an event may also serve as a transition into the role she will play that day. Her daily makeup routine reflects the importance she places on using her own experience and judgement.

3. Her Signature Hairstyle and Meticulous Dental Care

Why She Pays Attention to Shampoo and the Way Her Hair Feels After Washing

One of Dewi Sukarno's most recognisable features is her voluminous, elegantly styled hair. Because hairspray is frequently part of the styling process, she has paid particular attention to how her hair feels after shampooing. In a 2019 interview with VOCE, she introduced From Earth Energy Shampoo Muum. She subsequently explained in a 2022 BiST interview that she had discovered the shampoo at a hair salon and had continued to favour it for more than ten years.

All 28 Natural Teeth at 82 and a Remarkable Collection of Toothbrushes

Her attention to dental hygiene is every bit as detailed as her approach to hair and makeup. At the 2022 Ha ga Inochi Award, a Japanese event celebrating dental health and the importance of natural teeth, Dewi was introduced as having all 28 of her natural teeth at the age of 82. She said that she brushed her teeth at least five times a day, sometimes as many as six or seven times, including after meals and snacks.

Her concern for her teeth goes beyond appearance. At the 2022 ceremony, she spoke about how happy she was to be able to enjoy foods that require chewing with her own teeth as she grew older. She also explained that she had previously used a hard toothbrush but had since changed to softer brushes. Over the years, she has adjusted the tools she uses while maintaining a strong personal interest in looking after her teeth.

The number of toothbrushes she keeps is particularly memorable. At a dental awareness event in August 2023, she said that she had around 20 toothbrushes at home for different purposes and also carried a toothbrush when going out. The number is unusual, but what matters most to Dewi is her longstanding commitment to caring for her natural teeth.

She has also spoken about living in New York and noticing that taking time away from work for a dental appointment was regarded as normal. That experience contributed to her awareness of regular dental care. Combined with her comments about carrying a toothbrush when travelling or attending events, it suggests that she has treated dental hygiene as a regular part of her personal schedule.

In 2022, she also discussed enjoying red wine and coffee while attending dental check-ups twice a year. Her detailed brushing routine is a personal account rather than a universal recommendation. Dental care should be adapted to individual needs with guidance from qualified dental professionals.

Dewi has also spoken about the teeth of Ayako Imoto, a fellow performer on Itte Q!. She referred to giving Imoto advice about her dental appearance at the 2022 Ha ga Inochi Award and again discussed the subject during a dental event in 2023. The episode illustrates how readily she shares her personal interest in dental care with people around her, although individual comments about someone's appearance should not be treated as universal standards of beauty.

4. Japanese Food, Balanced Choices and Her Approach to Eating

Elegant Dinner Parties and Surprisingly Simple Meals at Home

Dewi Sukarno's social calendar has often included elaborate French and Italian meals, formal receptions and dinner parties. Yet her everyday eating habits reveal a more down-to-earth side. On a 2017 Fuji Television programme, Sono Gen'in, X ni Ari!, she was introduced as having followed the Japanese dietary concept known as magowayasashii for approximately twenty years.

This traditional mnemonic encourages the inclusion of foods such as beans, sesame seeds, seaweed, vegetables, fish, mushrooms and potatoes or other tubers. The meal shown on the programme included miso soup with tofu, wakame seaweed and potatoes; stir-fried cabbage and shiitake mushrooms; spinach dressed with sesame; and grilled salted mackerel. It was an unexpectedly familiar Japanese home-style meal for someone whose public image is so closely associated with international high society.

In another interview, Dewi explained that because her evenings often involved formal dinners, she preferred Japanese food for lunch. Although she likes white rice, she has described mixing it with brown rice and being mindful of the amount she eats. In a 2020 interview, she also mentioned removing visible fat from meat. Her eating habits therefore include both the pleasures of dining out and everyday decisions about the food she prepares or chooses at home.

Descriptions of her meal schedule have varied over time. On the 2017 television programme, she was portrayed as eating two meals a day, lunch and dinner, without breakfast. In a 2023 interview, however, she described mornings when she had fruit and coffee and also mentioned enjoying foods such as eggs, caviar and herring roe, a delicacy known in Japan as kazunoko. Reading these accounts in their proper time periods gives a more accurate picture of a lifestyle that has evolved alongside her commitments and travels.

In the same 2023 interview, she spoke candidly about occasions when she enjoyed champagne. Formal meals and celebrations sit alongside ordinary home-cooked dishes in her life. Her comments about alcohol describe her personal experiences rather than suggesting drinking as a wellness practice.

Another revealing episode from the interview concerns a particularly busy day after returning from Italy. Despite the international journey, she attended a fashion show and later enjoyed dinner with friends. She explained that she was accustomed to air travel and often rested while watching films on board. The story captures the pace of her social life, although her own experiences with travel, alcohol and limited sleep should not be understood as general health recommendations.

5. Ballroom Dancing, Stretching, Skiing and a Love of Physical Challenges

Nearly Three Decades of Ballroom Dancing and Bedtime Stretching

Ballroom dancing has long been an important part of Dewi Sukarno's life. In 2017, Fuji Television reported that she had enjoyed ballroom dancing for approximately thirty years and was taking one-hour lessons once a week at that time. The same programme also introduced a fifteen-minute stretching routine before bedtime that she had reportedly maintained for more than ten years. In a 2020 interview, she discussed her experience with several forms of ballroom dancing, including the tango, waltz and foxtrot.

Dancing combines music, posture, movement and cooperation with a partner. For Dewi, the pleasure seems to lie not simply in physical activity but also in the discipline of learning steps, moving gracefully and performing in front of others. It is an activity that brings together several of her longstanding interests: elegance, music, presentation and the satisfaction of mastering something new.

In an interview published in 2022, she described opening the windows in the morning to let in fresh air and using some movements from a Japanese stretching programme known as Gettaman exercises to loosen her shoulders and shoulder blades. She also admitted that she had been neglecting the routine somewhat at the time. It is a relatable detail that shows her habits have not always followed a perfectly fixed schedule.

At the 2022 Ha ga Inochi Award, she also mentioned having gone skiing twice during the preceding winter and enjoying scuba diving in summer. At home, she paid attention to the physical activity involved in going up and down the stairs. Alongside the challenges she has taken on during international television filming, these accounts illustrate how varied her experiences of movement have been.

Ballroom dancing has also given her opportunities to work towards particular performances. In 2022, Dewi shared accounts of practising for a dance appearance, including lessons that required her to remember choreography and coordinate her movements with a partner. The public performance was only one part of the experience; preparation and rehearsal also played significant roles.

These activities reflect Dewi's individual interests and circumstances rather than physical achievements that everyone should try to reproduce. What stands out is her willingness to practise activities she enjoys and continue learning the skills they require.

6. Sleep, Rest and Life Around a Busy Social Calendar

Late-Night Engagements and the Sleep Patterns She Has Described

When asked about her beauty and wellness habits, Dewi Sukarno has often spoken candidly about the irregularities of her lifestyle rather than presenting herself as someone who follows a perfectly conventional routine. In a 2022 interview with BiST, she recalled returning from a dinner engagement, removing her jewellery, washing her face and going to bed at approximately 2 a.m., before waking at around 7 a.m. She has also been open about periods of limited sleep and drinking during social occasions.

Even when her work commitments have been demanding, she has made time for concerts and meals with friends. Her description of that particular evening in 2022 reveals two sides of her life: enjoying formal social occasions and then returning home to the ordinary process of taking off her jewellery and washing her face. Work, culture, friendships and personal routines all appear within the same busy schedule.

The amount of sleep she described in that interview was a record of her circumstances at the time, not a general guideline. People's requirements for rest vary, and her personal experience should not be confused with advice about how much sleep others need.

7. High Heels, Posture and a Passion for Beautiful Surroundings

Clothing That Highlights Her Silhouette and Encourages Awareness of Posture

Elegant dresses and high heels are central to Dewi Sukarno's public image. In a 2020 interview, she explained that she preferred clothing that defined the waist and showed the body's silhouette over loose-fitting garments. Fashion, for her, has involved more than beautiful fabrics. It has also encouraged an awareness of posture, movement and the impression she creates when entering a room.

In 2022, an interview introduced her wearing heels approximately ten centimetres high. Having worn high heels for much of her life, she is accustomed to them, although this reflects her own experience rather than suggesting that high heels are a health practice. The more interesting subject is her longstanding sense of presentation and the way she connects clothing with confidence and composure.

High heels are also associated with some of her memories of living abroad. At a presentation in 2023, she recalled walking several blocks through New York City in heels and sometimes even running in them. She also shared memories of younger performers struggling with unfamiliar heels during filming for Itte Q!, while she was able to continue walking. These stories illustrate her individual experience and are not recommendations for others to wear similarly high shoes.

Her Love of Painting, Jewellery, Music and Human Connections

Her appreciation of art and jewellery is reflected in the way she coordinates her clothing. In an interview with BiST, she described choosing tanzanite jewellery to complement a navy dress. Colour combinations, artistic details and the pleasure of dressing for an occasion have all contributed to the distinctive style she has developed over many years.

At the charity celebration for her birthday in 2026, Japanese public figures including Aya Sugimoto, Uno Kanda and Akira Nishikino attended. Events such as these provide opportunities for Dewi to pursue charitable activities while meeting people and celebrating cultural and social connections. Attendance at a public event, however, should not automatically be interpreted as proof of a close private friendship.

Her love of beautiful objects has also inspired ambitions for the future. In a 2025 interview, she spoke about her desire to establish a museum where paintings, sculptures, antiques, dresses and other objects she had collected could be displayed. Rather than keeping everything exclusively for herself, she hoped these pieces might eventually be appreciated by future generations. The dream connects her childhood painting lessons, made possible through her mother's sacrifices, with an artistic ambition expressed many decades later.

Animals have also been an important part of her home life. Her affection for dogs has been reflected in her support for animal welfare initiatives and other charitable activities. In a 2025 interview, she expressed a wish to remain close to her beloved dogs even after death. The companionship she finds in animals is another example of the everyday experiences she values alongside music, art and beautiful surroundings.

Her attachment to her pets became especially evident in January 2026, when she shared her grief following the death of Moka, her beloved dog. Dewi recalled that the reddish-brown poodle had joined her family after an engagement in Kobe and had often looked after the smaller dogs in her household. Moka died at the age of fourteen, and Dewi wrote about being able to hold the dog during its final moments. Behind the elaborate gowns and energetic public appearances is someone who has regarded her pets as family and felt their loss deeply. The story gives a more personal meaning to her frequent references to being surrounded by those she loves.

8. Family, Television Friendships and a Lifetime of Embracing Challenges

From Supporting Her Family as a Young Girl to International High Society

Dewi Sukarno's remarkable life began in relatively modest circumstances. In an interview published by Shiruporuto, she recalled growing up in a household where her father worked as a carpenter and her mother helped support the family through work at home. One formative memory was discovering her mother asking someone for financial assistance to pay school expenses. The experience strengthened Dewi's determination to work and help her family.

At nineteen, she met President Sukarno and subsequently moved to Indonesia, where she married him. Her life then took her through political upheaval, international relocation, raising her daughter and building a career in business. In a September 2026 interview with Jakarta Nippo, she looked back on the 1980s, when she had to establish an independent livelihood. Her references to mental strength in later life take on deeper meaning when considered alongside those difficult periods.

Dewi and President Sukarno had one daughter, Kartika, also known as Karina. On her official blog, Dewi has shared stories and family photographs involving her daughter, who has lived in London, including their conversations by telephone and email. She has also written about her daughter's wedding and memories with her grandson, Kiran. These accounts reveal Dewi's life as a mother and grandmother alongside her more public identity. President Sukarno died in 1970.

When her grandson Kiran entered the University of Chicago in 2024, Dewi expressed her happiness in an official blog post. Her reflections extended beyond pride in his academic achievement to the history of younger members of the Sukarno family whose educational opportunities had been disrupted by political events. Education carried a particular emotional importance in that context. It is an especially interesting perspective when read alongside Dewi's own experience of working while pursuing her studies during her youth.

On 17 August 2026, Dewi attended Indonesia's 81st Independence Day celebrations at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. According to her account, it was her first attendance at the ceremony in approximately fifteen years. She was moved by the palace setting, the aerial displays and the opportunity to reunite with old friends. The visit provided another occasion to reconnect with a country that has played such a significant role in her life.

Her relationship with Indonesia also continues through her family. In the 2026 Jakarta Nippo interview, Dewi mentioned that her grandson Kiran attended a relative's wedding in Indonesia in August. Her daughter Kartika subsequently travelled from London to attend another family wedding in September. Although family members live in different places, they continue to gather for important occasions. Indonesia remains a living connection between generations rather than merely a setting from Dewi's past.

Another Side of Dewi Through Tetsuro Degawa and Ayako Imoto

On the Japanese variety programme Itte Q!, Dewi has revealed a very different side of herself through international adventures alongside comedian Tetsuro Degawa. Her curiosity about unfamiliar places and willingness to participate in surprising activities contrast with the composed appearance for which she is known in formal settings.

In 2017, she travelled to Mexico with Degawa for filming, including sequences involving a striking pink lake and activities near a waterfall. She also took part in filming in Iceland in 2019, facing unfamiliar conditions far removed from the comfort of traditional social occasions. Such experiences make her public image more approachable. Behind the elegant gowns is someone who has repeatedly embraced the opportunity to discover another part of the world.

In 2022, Dewi shared her excitement on social media as she prepared to leave for another overseas filming trip with Degawa after a period without such travel. Despite having visited numerous countries throughout her life, she continued to look forward to discovering something new in the next destination.

She has also spoken warmly about fellow Itte Q! performer Ayako Imoto. In a 2020 post on her official blog, Dewi praised Imoto's dedication, passion and sense of responsibility towards her work. She even expressed a wish to take a trip with Imoto and Degawa together. This is more revealing than simply listing her television colleagues: it shows the professional qualities she admires in the people around her.

Dewi's interests have ranged from music and art to jewellery, fashion, ballroom dancing, international travel and adventurous television projects. Looking across her beauty and wellness habits, it becomes clear that no single routine can explain her distinctive personality. Some habits are small and repeated daily, such as removing makeup before bed. Others involve stepping into an entirely new experience with enthusiasm.

When she described mental strength as important to maintaining a youthful outlook at the age of 86, the words reflected a personal attitude shaped by decades of changing circumstances. There is no need for others to copy her lifestyle exactly. Yet her determination to pursue interests, appreciate beautiful things, seek moments of wonder and remain open to new challenges offers a memorable perspective on enjoying life at any age.

Conclusion | What Connects Dewi Sukarno's Beauty and Wellness Habits?

Dewi Sukarno's documented routines include removing makeup before sleeping, choosing skincare products according to her preferences, taking detailed care of her teeth, enjoying Japanese home-style meals and maintaining a longstanding interest in ballroom dancing. Although these activities belong to different areas of life, they share a common theme: her determination to make personal choices about how she lives and presents herself.

Equally important is the pleasure she finds in flowers, paintings, music, animals and the people she loves. Her appeal is not limited to the effort she puts into her appearance. It also comes from her desire to find something worth enjoying in each day. Her willingness to remain curious and pursue new experiences as she grows older is an essential part of the beauty and wellness story that makes Dewi Sukarno such a distinctive public figure.

References

1. Dewi Sukarno Official Blog, "My Thoughts on Beauty and Life" (2022, Japanese)
2. VOCE, "An Interview About Dewi Sukarno's Favourite Cosmetics" (2019, Japanese)
3. BiST, Interview with Dewi Sukarno at Age 82 (2022, Japanese)
4. ORICON NEWS, "Dewi Sukarno, 83, Discusses Using 20 Toothbrushes" (2023, Japanese)
5. Fuji Television, Sono Gen'in, X ni Ari!, Broadcast Record, 15 September 2017 (Japanese)
6. Jakarta Nippo, Interview with Dewi Sukarno About Independence and Her Life Experiences (2026, Japanese)
7. Hitotabi, Special Interview with Dewi Sukarno, Part 2 (2025, Japanese)

Note: This article is based on publicly available information and interviews with Dewi Sukarno. Some of the routines and personal experiences described reflect the time of the original interviews.