Yuli Rachmawati (15 July 1980 - 10 June 2017), better known as Julia Perez, abbreviated as Jupe, was an Indonesian Dangdut singer, model, and actress.

Julia Perez was born Yuli Rachmawati in on 15 July 1980 in Jakarta, Indonesia, as the eldest daughter to Sri Wulansih (b.

[4] After leaving high school, Julia Perez studied at InterStudi Secretarial Academy in Jakarta, at the behest of an older female friend, who also paid for her tuition and advised her to find a bule (white foreigner) boyfriend.

On 12 May 2016, South Jakarta District Court granted Julia a divorce and awarded her alimony of Rp15 million per month.

Her ensuing relationship with Damien Perez opened doors for her to model for FHM and Maxim magazines in France.

[13] Around 2002, she returned to Indonesia for a holiday to help her younger sister attend a casting session for a soap opera, but the director ended up recruiting Julia Perez, who embarked upon an acting career.

She gained further exposure and popularity by starring as a lifeguard dressed in a red swimsuit in an unofficial Indonesian version of Baywatch called Penjaga Pantai (Beach Guards).

[14] She went on to appear in local soap operas, variety shows and horror movies, and also became a popular dangdut singer.

Her debut album Kamasutra, released in 2008, included a free condom, which upset conservative Islamic organizations and resulted in her being banned from performing in several cities.

In 2008, she was banned from performing at a concert commemorating Indonesia's 17 August Independence Day at a red-light area in Pekanbaru, Riau province.

[24] In 2010, Julia Perez founded the Champions Soccer School (CSS) in Jakarta, with the aim of improving the football prowess of Indonesian children by providing "Latin American-style" training from Argentine and Chilean coaches.

[26] Julia Perez served as manager of Indonesia's Team Garuda at the 21st President's Cup International Amateur Boxing Tournament held in Jakarta over 3–9 July 2011.

"[27] On 7 August 2012, Julia Perez performed a pole dance at a traffic light in Kuningan, Central Jakarta, to keep a promise after reaching one million Twitter followers.

Rather than start wearing a Muslim headscarf, she responded by demanding a meeting with MUI and challenged the clerics to show any evidence of pornography.

On 18 March 2013, officers forcibly removed her from her house and took her to Pondok Bambu women's penitentiary in East Jakarta.

[38] In 2013, Julia Perez was named ambassador for Indonesia's National Condom Week, an event aimed at raising awareness for the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

[39] In December 2010, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) threatened to report female celebrities to police over "vulgar" online photos.

[41] In December 2011, FPI members in the West Java capital of Bandung branded Julia Perez a "temptress" and demanded she be banned from performing in the city.

[42] Julia's spiritual adviser was Habib Selon (real name: Salim Al Athas, 1969 - 2015), who was head of the Jakarta chapter of FPI.

[43] When deadly floods hit Jakarta in mid-January 2013, Julia Perez accompanied Selon on a visit to the inundated neighborhood of Kampung Bukit Duri to hand out food and water aid.

Julia Perez had in 2012 urged Lady Gaga to ignore the ban, tweeting: "Dear mother @ladygaga please come to JKT!

[46] In early October 2014, Julia Perez announced she had visited Singapore to consider her options for having a baby via sperm donation a prohibited procedure in Indonesia.