Kristiani Herrawati

Kristiani Herrawati, or more commonly known as Ani Yudhoyono, was an Indonesian political scientist and the wife of former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. She served as the First Lady of Indonesia from 2004 to 2014. She was born in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to a prominent military family. She studied medicine at the Christian University of Indonesia, but dropped out in her third year to follow her father who was appointed as the ambassador to South Korea. She married Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a military officer and her high school friend, in 1976. They had two sons, Agus and Edhie. She continued her education at the Open University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1998. She was active in various social and humanitarian organizations, such as the Indonesian Army Wives Association, the Dharma Pertiwi Foundation, and the Dharma Wanita Association. She also became the vice chairman of the Democratic Party, which was founded by her husband. She supported her husband's political career and campaigned for his presidential election in 2004 and 2009. She became the First Lady of Indonesia and initiated various programs to improve the welfare of the people, especially in the fields of health, education, and culture. She also advocated for democracy, human rights, and women's empowerment. She accompanied her husband on various state visits and hosted foreign dignitaries. She was known for her elegance, intelligence, and compassion. She was also an avid photographer and posted many of her works on her Instagram account, which had more than 6 million followers. She died in 2019 in Singapore, after battling blood cancer for four months. She was buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in Jakarta with full state honors. She was widely mourned by the Indonesian people and received tributes from many national and international leaders. She was also the subject of several books and documentaries that chronicled her life and achievements.