Another ambassador who will represent Sri Lanka at the Miss Universe pageant has just been chosen and come September the lovely Stephanie Siriwardhana will be taking wing to Sao Paulo, Brazil for the pageant.
Basking in the memories of her winning moment at the grand finale of the Avirate Miss Sri Lanka pageant, Stephanie speaking to the Sunday Times on Tuesday said she was ready to take up the next challenge of going to an international platform and was determined to make her country proud.
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| Pix by Sanka Vidanagama |
Twenty three years old, Stephanie was born in Kuwait, but moved to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the Gulf War. Her father is Sri Lankan and her mother Lebanese. She lived here for 14 years and on completion of her Ordinary Level exams moved to Italy and subsequently to Canada for her higher education.
Stephanie graduated from the Concordia University in Montreal with a degree in Journalism, Communications and Political Science and while at university was in several clubs and committees serving variously as president and vice president. The versatile young lady is also a singer, kickboxer, Latin and belly dancer who has performed in Bermuda, Miami and Toronto.
Asked what prompted her to take part at the pageant Stephanie says she was aware of the riches and the beauty of Sri Lanka and was constantly on the look out for an opportunity to take Mother Lanka into the international limelight. The prestigious Miss Sri Lanka for Miss Universe pageant, she thought would be an ideal opportunity and that was what made her sign up for the competition.
“I love my country. Especially when you live in a country like Canada where every culture is within itself and they do not mix with others and when your identity is threatened you have a tendency to strengthen it more. I was trying to promote my country; I kept telling everyone how great it is. Ours is a country with a lot of hidden beauty which needs to be exposed. So I thought this would be a great opportunity to showcase our country to the world by being a brand ambassador,” she says adding that she wants the rest of the world ‘to fall in love with’ Sri Lanka.
Modelling and beauty pageants, though are a whole new experience for her and taking up something totally unfamiliar was challenging and nerve wracking, Stephanie says laughing.
Stephanie has a lot to say about how she felt in the final few moments of the pageant (indeed with great excitement still).
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| Moment of joy: A flying kiss from Stephanie. Pic by Mettasena |
Backstage she was nervously munching chocolates before the top five were announced. The comperes did a good job of stopping everyone’s heart, she says. “Once the second and the first runners-up were chosen the three of us left were holding hands and in my head I was just thinking ‘Ok Stephanie you had a great opportunity to meet people and to learn a lot and you did the best you could…and then I only heard my last name being mentioned.
‘I was shocked; overjoyed and so happy and rest of it was just a blur. I remember when Ishanka was putting the crown on my head I asked her what do I do next to which she replied ‘just walk down the ramp’,” a cheerful Stephanie recalls adding that it was a great moment.
Preparing for the forthcoming pageant in Brazil, Stephanie says there are many areas that she needs to work on.
“I need to be the best ambassador; for that I need to learn a lot about my country; I also need to learn how to do make up and nail art on my own.
I need to strengthen myself psychologically because that is vital. I have the focus but I do not want to let myself get distracted due to nervousness.
I am going to work hard, do my best and bring the crown back home,” she says adding that she is well aware of the commitments and the responsibilities that go with the title including being a role model.
From the looks of it, it’s a challenge she will enjoy. |
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