She added that she was 15 and the man involved was in his 30s, and stated that what happened between them was “forced.”
Indonesian-American model, Manohara Odelia, who she said was coerced into a situation with Prince Tengku Fakhry of the Malaysian Royal Family, has written an open letter to Indonesian Media and digital platforms, asking them to refrain from using “mantan istri” meaning ‘ex-wife’ label when referring to her in articles and headlines.
Odelia, in a statement issued on January 5, 2026, said, “For many years, I have repeatedly been referred to in articles and headlines as ‘Mantan Istri [blank].’ I am writing to respectfully clarify that this description is inaccurate and misleading.”
“What occurred during my teenage years was not a romantic relationship, not a consensual relationship, and not a legal marriage. There was never a relationship I wanted, agreed to, or entered into voluntarily,” she added.
She said she was just 15 and was in a situation of “coercion” and lack of freedom. “I did not have a real choice or the capacity to give consent,” she said.
She explained why she does not want to be labelled as ‘ex-wife,’ saying, “Using the term ‘mantan istri’ implies a lawful, voluntary, adult relationship and marriage. That implication is false. It reframes a coercive situation as a legitimate relationship and distorts the reality of what occurred.”
She added that continuing to introduce articles with the title, which she called a ‘mischaracterization,’ is not only inaccurate but is “unethical journalism.”
“This request is not about revisiting the past. It is about accuracy, ethics, and responsible use of language and context,” she added.
“Careful language matters. Words have consequences. Survivors deserve to have their stories described truthfully and with dignity,” she further added.
In a separate statement, Manohara Odelia added that when a person is sexually assaulted, “we do not call them the ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend of the perpetrator. We do not frame sexual violence as a relationship. We do not turn abuse into a consensual story. The same logic applies here.”
She added that she was 15 and the man involved was in his 30s, and stated that what happened between them was “forced.”
“Calling a victim the ‘ex-partner’ or ‘ex-spouse’ of the person who harmed them does not make the situation more polite or culturally acceptable. It makes it inaccurate. Worse, it shifts the focus away from harm and onto the child,” she added.
She further stated that victims do not need titles that imply choice when there was none, and said this is why language matters.
Speaking from a larger societal perspective, she said that when abuse is repeatedly described as a relationship, it teaches society to see coercion as consent and children as participants instead of victims.
“That mindset causes real harm, not just to me, but to other girls who are watching how these situations are discussed,” she added.
She clarified that she does not want anyone to feel sorry for her, but is instead asking for accuracy.
“And accuracy means not presenting a forced situation involving a child as a voluntary adult relationship. That is the entire point,” her statement read.
At present, based on her posts on social media, she appears to be in a relationship with a person.
History of Model Manohara Odelia and Malaysian Prince Tengku Fakhry:
According to a report by The Mad Monarchist, published in 2010, Tengku Fakhry married Manohara Odelia, a teenage model, in 2008. The report says that the teen model, who had turned 17 in 2010, described the marriage as a "nightmare."
Odelia fled her husband while she was on a visit to Singapore and, with some help from the U.S. embassy, and went home to Indonesia in May of last year (probably in 2009) and related a tale of royal torture.
(Photo courtesy: The Mad Monarch)
As per the report, she stated that she had been locked up like a prisoner, cut with razors, drugged if she complained, and repeatedly raped.
It added that Prince Fakhry immediately sued her for libel and was awarded $1.8 million for defamation, although Indonesian doctors who examined the soon-to-be ex-princess had said there were clear signs of physical abuse.
It noted that the bride's family did not appear in court, nor did they hire an attorney to defend them.
“They (family) now say the ruling is outrageous and that they will not pay,” the report said.
(For more news apart from “Who is Manohara Odelia coerced into marrying Malaysian Prince; Asks media to stop using “Ex-wife” label?," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
