Sunday Times 2
Lanka safe and scenic for Miss Intercontinental 2016: Organisers
View(s):By Kaveesha Fernando
“Besides the beautiful landscapes and beaches that Sri Lanka has to offer, we are also looking for security. This is why we decided to hold Miss Intercontinental in Sri Lanka because it’s a safe place and we feel very secure here,” said CEO of the Miss Intercontinental Organisation Detlef Tursies. For Sri Lankans who have suffered the effects of a 30-year long war, hearing Sri Lanka declared as a safe place to hold a major beauty pageant is heartening. Miss Intercontinental 2016 will be held in Sri Lanka and the organisers of the pageant are excited to be in Sri Lanka for the show.
Reigning Miss Intercontinental Valentina Rasulova. Pix by Anuradha Bandara
The Miss Intercontinental beauty pageant began in 1971. Initially held as a teen beauty contest, it became an annual evetn following peak viewership which the show attracted at its debut in Oranjestad, Aruba. The pageant is contested by the title holders of over 60 countries in their bid to win the crown.
CEO of the Miss Intercontinental Organisation Detlef Tursies
At a news conference held on Thursday to announce the event, Mr. Tursies said following a discussion with their Sri Lankan partners, this year there will be a new segment. They will add fairy tales alongside dances from Sri Lanka.
Vice President of the John Keells Group and head of brand marketing Cinnamon Hotels Dileep Mudadeniya explained what the event would mean for Sri Lanka. “The idea is to take this event positively outside Sri Lanka and create vibes so that people want to come and visit Sri Lanka” he said.
Vice President of the John Keells Group and head of brand marketing Cinnamon Hotels Dileep Mudadeniya
Speaking to the Sunday Times about how the pageant has changed her life, the reigning Miss Intercontinental Valentina Rasulova says “Before, people would hear my name and say ‘who is Valentina Rasulova?’. Now it’s Miss Intercontinental Valentina Rasulova. People treat you differently”. Her advice for contestants aspiring for the crown is threefold – they should know what sets them apart from the other contestants, they should have ‘inner beauty’ which she defines as being kind and helping others and they should be happy. She feels that being happy is very important because there’s a difference between women who just strike a pose and those who smile because they’re genuinely happy.
The Miss Intercontinental pageant will be held on October 16.
The crown
The crown worn by Miss Intercontinental 2015 ValentinaRasulova at the official event declaration is called ‘Oriental Holy Water’ and is worth over USD 360,000.