Agnes Monica (born Agnes Monica Muljoto; July 1, 1986) is an Indonesian recording artist and actress. Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, she started her career in entertainment industry at the age of six as a child singer. She has recorded three albums which established herself as one of the most popular child singers in the 1990s. She also became a presenter of several children's television programs. At her teen age, Agnes expanded her career into the world of acting. Her role in the soap opera Pernikahan Dini rocketed her name in the showbiz industry. Following her rising popularity after starring in few series of soap operas, she became the highest-paid teenage artist.In 2003, she released her first album And the Story Goes that marked her transition from a child singer to a female artist. On her second studio album Whaddup A.. '?! (2005), she collaborated with American R&B singer Keith Martin. She also appeared in two Taiwanese drama series, The Hospital and Romance In the White House. She participated in 2008 and 2009 Asia Song Festival in Seoul, South Korea and received "Best Asian Artist Award" for each of her participations. Agnes took creative control of her third studio album, Sacredly Agnezious (2009), where she became the producer and songwriter. In 2010, she was appointed as one of the judges on the talent show Indonesian Idol. She also became one of the international hosts of red carpet American Music Awards of 2010 in Los Angeles, United States.
Aside from her commercial success, Agnes has become the most-awarded Indonesian singer in history. She has achieved numerous awards, including ten Anugerah Musik Indonesia, seven Panasonic Awards and four MTV Indonesia Awards. She was also honored with a Nugraha Bhakti Musik Indonesia (NBMI) from the Indonesian Cultural and Tourism Minister and the Singers, Songwriters, and Music Record Producers Association of Indonesia (PAPPRI) for her contribution and support for the Indonesian music. She was also appointed as anti-drug ambassador of Asia, as well as the ambassador of MTV EXIT to combat human trafficking.
In her career journey, she had often aroused controversy in her home country. When she was in her teens, her recurring comments about her goal to break into international market was first seen as a pompous proclamation. However, in 2010, she signed to Sony/ATV Music Publishing and is currently working on her debut English studio album. Consequently, her slogan "Dream, Believe, and Make it Happen" was used as the campaign for the US Embassy's 2011 cultural conference to inspire young people.
