5 Things You Might Not Know About Nadya Hutagalung

Besides her career as a presenter, Nadya Hutagalung is one well-rounded woman.

As one of Southeast Asia’s most recognised faces, presenter and eco-activist Nadya Hutagalung has devoted her time and voice to environmental advocacy. Born to an Australian mother and an Indonesian father, she spent her childhood in the Australian countryside as an only child with her mother. She has been taught about the beauty of nature, and these are among the things that have made Nadya who she is today. However, now that she resides in Singapore many of her fans don’t know what she is currently up to. So here are four things you should know about Nadya.

Eco-home

Photo by Robin Alfian

Home is where the heart is. No matter how far you have travelled, you’ll always come back to your home. Out of her love of nature, Nadya decided to build Singapore’s first eco-home made from scratch and it only cost as much as building any regular semi-detached house. The house was completed with a rainwater catchment system, thermal energy panels, eco-friendly LED lights, and a hyper-floor to make it more environmental friendly.

Entertainment career

Starting out as a model when she was only 12 years old for a Japanese commercial, Nadya went on to became one of the first VJs on MTV Asia in 1995. Later on, she earned the spotlight when she became one of the judges on Asia’s Next Top Model in 2012-2014. As time went by, Nadya parlayed her 30 years’ experience in TV, film, and fashion, and has become one of Asia’s leading voices in the green movement.

Eco-activist and UN ambassador

Photo by Robin Alfian

In recent decades, elephant hunting has risen to its highest point, with nearly 100 elephants per day killed for their ivory. Under these conditions, some experts estimate that elephants will become extinct in less than two decades. Wanting to help out, Nadya joined forces with elephant expert Dr Tammie Matson and founded the “Let Elephants Be Elephants” campaign. She spent months in Africa and around Asia to document the illegal ivory trade and its effects, and made her journey into a half-hour documentary movie that was premiered on National Geographic Channel. Nadya also currently serves as the UN Environment and Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) ambassador.

Nadya and her laptop

Photo by Robin Alfian

Nadya believes that living an engaged and balanced life and working for the benefit of others only enrich her. With her tight schedules and many activities, Nadya has to stay productive every day. In the 21st century, her laptop has become a necessity to accompany Nadya everywhere she goes. And just like many of us, Nadya also struggles to choose the right laptop, but her heart is with the HP Spectre 13 and HP Spectre x360 13, which deliver fast performance experience and come equipped with the latest eighth-generation Intel Core i7 processors, as well as memory of up to 16GB and a 13-inch screen with 4K high resolution.

Stay humble

Active mind

Besides her radiant beauty and svelte figure, Nadya embodies a positive mind set. She begins her day with meditation, which helps Nadya always have positive energy and remain mindful throughout her day. With a voice in the country and a platform from which millions of people can hear her out, together with her determination and perseverance, Nadya chooses to live her life while making a living. And because of this, Nadya believes that one must never stop reinventing oneself to be a better person and, ultimately, to give back to the world.