Dena Rachman (b. 30 August 1987) is an Indonesian childhood singer, actress and transgender rights activist.

Dena Rachman
Born (1987-08-30) August 30, 1987 (age 38)
Jakarta, Indonesia
Alma materUniversity of Indonesia
London School of Economics
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • activist
Years active1990s–present
ParentAcan Rachman (father)

Personal life and education

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Dena was born on 30 August 1987 in Jakarta, the second of four children to Acan Rachman, a choreographer, and Gina Rachman.[1] Raised as male, she realized her gender identity when she was five years old.[2] Her realization became more apparent when she was in middle school and in second grade in middle school, she started coming out to her friend circle.[3] She was a student at SMP Labschool Rawamangun and then continued to SMA Negeri 6 Jakarta.[4] In high school, although she was bullied and reported to her parents because of her identity, the school did not mind because of her achievements.[5] After graduating from high school in 2005, she continued her education at the University of Indonesia, pursuing a degree in communication studies, and graduated in 2009.[6] After that, she also got her master from Alma Graduate School, University of Bologna by pursue degree in Design, Fashion and Luxury Goods.[7] She started her transition on 2013 after having conversation with her parents and having breast surgery on 2014.[8] On 2018, she go to summer course in Leiden University to study gender studies in International law.[9] In 2023, she also graduated for her second masters from The London School of Economics and Political Science in gender studies.[10]

Career

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In the 1990s, she was famous as a singer of song Ole-ole dan Rukun Damai.[11] The song was sung featuring Cut Mandasari, child singer.[12] After that, she starred in Krucil, Indonesian television series about kids became television crew from 1997 till 1999.[13] She continued starred in few television series such as Misteri Gunung Merapi and Karmapala.[14]

Activism

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On 2019 Women's March in Indonesia, she made a speech about the freedom of expression and gender equality especially the discrimination that happened to them.[15]

References

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  1. Garjito, Dany (18 November 2020). "Profil Dena Rachman Lengkap dari Karier sampai Keputusannya Pindah Agama". suara.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  2. "Dena Rachman Merasa 'Terjebak' di Tubuh Laki-laki Sejak Kecil". detikhot (in Indonesian). 22 November 2011. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  3. Sundari, Zulfa Ayu (2020-11-17). "Jadi Transgender, Dena Rachman Akui Pernah Trauma dengan Diri Sendiri". Liputan 6 (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  4. "Dena Rachman, Perjuangan Berat Menerima Jati Diri". detikhot (in Indonesian). 22 November 2011. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  5. Indrasty, Rissa (17 November 2020). "Orang Tuanya Pernah Dipanggil Guru Gegara Dirinya Dicurigai Seperti Perempuan, Dena Rachman Terselamatkan karena Prestasi". Grid.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  6. Nurin, Fajarina (2017-03-10). "Fakta-Fakta Dena Rachman, yang Diisukan sebagai Pacar Baru Aming". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  7. "Dena Rachman, Dari Laki-laki Menjadi Wanita". tempo.co (in Indonesian). 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  8. Hadi, Feryanto, ed. (30 August 2022). "Artis Ultah: Tangis Sedih Sang Ibu saat Dena Rachman Meminta Izin Ganti Kelamin Menjadi Perempuan". Wartakota (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  9. Anggraini, Wulan Noviarina (4 July 2019). "Tambah Ilmu, Dena Rachman Ambil Diploma di Leiden University Den Haag". KapanLagi (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  10. Rahmawati, Yasinta (22 December 2023). "Profil Dena Rachman yang Lulus S2 di Usia 36 Tahun, Dulunya Penyanyi Cilik". suara.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  11. Agustina, Tria (20 May 2020). Herwis, Ewis (ed.). "Video: Mantan Aktor Cilik Tahun 1990-an Ini Putuskan Jadi Transgender". Sripoku.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  12. Elmira, Putu (2015-11-04). "Kenang Masa Kecil Dena Rachman Lewat Lagu 'Rukun dan Damai'". fimela.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  13. Latief, Karwati Putu (2020-11-19). "Fakta Dena Rachman, Berpindah Keyakinan Sebelumnya Atheis". Harapan Rakyat (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  14. "Foto Masa Kecilnya, Dena Rachman: Itu Bukan Aku". Tempo (in Indonesian). 14 June 2013. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  15. Nugraha, Ignatius Raditya (2019-05-02). "Suara Transpuan dan Lesbian Tuntut Kebebasan Berekspresi melalui WMJ 2019". ULTIMAGZ. Retrieved 2025-06-16.