A night for beauty
A wave from Miss World Sri Lanka Nadia Gyi (above) and below from the evening gown and swimwear segments of the pageant. Pix by Amila Gamage
Nadia Gyi was crowned Facia Miss World Sri Lanka 2018 at the grand finale of the Facia Miss World Sri Lanka 2018 pageant held on September 25 at the Hilton ballroom, in another elegant and glamorous celebration of beauty, talent and ambition.
Peshala Wijesundara was the first runner-up and Nilushi Pawanya was adjudged second runner-up.
Nadia was crowned by former Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World, Dusheni Silva. Nadia will go on to represent Sri Lanka at the Miss World 2018 pageant, which will be held in Sanya, China in December.
Organised in association with Model Shop and Voice of Asia Networks, the coveted title of Facia Miss World Sri Lanka 2018 was awarded after two months of careful selection and rigorous training of the 11 finalists.
The judging panel for the evening comprised director Bennett Rathnayake, beautician/entrepreneur and grooming instructress Wena Goeiyana, Founder and CEO of Nalaka H Consulting Inc. Nalaka Hewamadduma, Mrs Singapore Universe 2011 and Mrs Singapore World 2010 Kenny Santika and stylist Gerald Solomons.
The pageant was choreographed by veteran choreographer and designer Senaka De Silva, and included multiple dynamic dance performances celebrating the beauty of Sri Lanka by the Channa Upuli Performing Arts Foundation, as well as a stunning rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody by Voice Print.
The dance performances accompanied the resort wear parade designed by Eric Suriyasena, and the evening wear parade designed by Charith Wijesekara. Contestants walked the stage in elegant batiks and striking red sequinned gowns respectively, as the judges made their deliberations.
The winners of the mini pageants were: Miss Congeniality: Rumali Gamage; Kiss Miss Popular: Dilakxi Anthony; Facia Most Beautiful Skin: Rumali Gamage; Fadna Body Beautiful: Nilushi Pawanya; Denta Most Beautiful Smile: Rumali Gamage; Offmarks Face of the Year: Uthpala Dissanayake; Miss Sports and Fitness: Nilushi Pawanya; LICC Model of the Year: Nadia Gyi; Singer Miss Talent: Keshi Fernando; Aliya Resorts and Spa Dances of Sri Lanka: Dilakxi Anthony and Triumph Miss Confidence: Nadia Gyi.
Ornella Gunasekara, Miss Universe Sri Lanka acknowledges the audience and below contestants in tradtional wear and swimwear. Pix by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
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Confidently Beautiful is the motto for the Miss Universe Pageant and in a grand evening of glamour, Ornella Gunasekara took the crown as Facia Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2018 and will be representing Sri Lanka in Thailand for Miss Universe in December. Marion Wettasinghe was adjudged first runner-up and Natalee Fernando second runner-up.
The Facia Miss Universe Sri Lanka pageant was held by Model Shop in association with Voice of Asia Network.
A troupe of Channa-Upuli Dancers began the evening with flair, culture and zeal as they performed a procession style dance. The 11 contestants then adorned in beautiful traditional wear designed by Lou Ching Wong, confidently paraded on stage, vying for a place as a finalist in the Miss Universe Sri Lanka pageant. Lou Ching who is also the producer and the choreographer of the show did an outstanding job in terms of the production.
After brief introductory videos by the contestant, the heat was brought on with the swimsuit category. A fun tropical day at the beach was acted out by the contestants clad in swimwear.
The competition ended with the evening wear category in which the contestants were dressed to impress in black gowns designed by Lou Ching. The judging panel included renowned actress Veena Jayakody, creative director at Hilton Colombo Kay Ng, hair stylist and the first Sri Lankan man to climb Mt. Everest Johann Peiris, acclaimed dancer Upuli Panibharatha and Singapore Beauty Queen Director Nisrina Nurul Hidayah.
The winners of the mini pageants were: Denta Most Beautiful Smile: Amandi Soysa; Facia Most Beautiful hair: Wasana Gunasekara Offmarks Face of the Year: Natalee Fernando; Singer Miss Talent: Marion Wettasinghe; Fadna Miss Body Beautiful: Marion Wettasinghe; Aliya Resorts and Spa Dances of Sri Lanka: Marion Wettasinghe; LICC Model of the year: Ornella Gunasekara; Real Radio Miss Popular: Ornella Gunasekara; Triumph Miss Confidence: Ornella Gunasekara and Facia Miss Congeniality: Ornella Gunasekara.
Glamour off stage: Guests at the event