The 2005 release of the film Dealova marked the professional debut of Jessica Iskandar, an Indonesian performer who transitioned from modeling into acting, singing, and television presentation. Known widely by the nickname Jedar, she eventually expanded her career beyond performing, moving into business ventures including cosmetic lines, villa rentals, and a bakery named after her son.
Early Development and Entry into Media
Born on 29 January 1988 in Jakarta, Iskandar grew up in an interfaith household with her father, Hardi Iskandar, and mother, Wulandari. After completing her high school education at Bunda Mulia School, she attended Trisakti University to study Interior Design. She withdrew from her studies after three semesters to focus on her career, having already attended the John Casablanca modelling school to build her foundation.
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Following her movie debut as Kara in Dealova, Iskandar appeared in the 2007 Malaysian-produced film Diva. Between 2008 and 2012, she maintained an extensive schedule of soap operas and television movies, including roles in Gadis Pengantar Telur and Cinta Pura-Pura Nyasar. Her television presence grew significantly through her role as a presenter on the RCTI show Dahsyat from 2011 to 2013, followed by co-hosting the TransTV talkshow Ngopi Dara alongside Nia Ramadhani starting in 2018.
Personal Milestones and Legal Proceedings
Iskandar married Ludwig Franz Willibald Maria Joseph Leonard Erbgraf von Waldburg-Wolfegg-Waldsee on 11 December 2013, with the union registered in January 2014. Their son, El Barack Alexander, was born in the United States on 21 July 2014. Subsequent legal disputes regarding the validity of the marriage licence concluded in 2015 when the South Jakarta state court granted an annulment.
Authorial and Public Roles
Beyond her screen work, Iskandar has published autobiographical writing. Her first book, titled JEDAR: Jessica Iskandar, was released in 2013. A second work, Jedar Power: Love, Life, Lord, followed in 2014, detailing her experiences surrounding her first pregnancy. She has also engaged in various public and professional capacities, such as serving as an ambassador for Indonesia Earth Hour in 2012 and appearing as a guest judge on Asia's Next Top Model in 2018.
Fast facts
- Born: 29 January 1988, Jakarta
- Education: Trisakti University
- Debut film: Dealova (2005)
- Television career start: 2011
- Earth Hour Ambassador: 2012
- Child: El Barack Alexander
Questions readers ask
What is Jessica Iskandar's nickname?
She is widely known as Jedar.
Did Jessica Iskandar study interior design?
Yes, she enrolled at Trisakti University to study interior design before leaving after three semesters to pursue her entertainment career.
