Back from Puerto Rico with cemented friendships
Striking a pose with the other contestants: Sade (first from left in the back row)
It had been a night that they had been waiting for, for over three months. On March 16, Miss Poland, Karolina Bielawska was crowned Miss World 2021 in a much anticipated pageant finale that had faced the brunt of the pandemic, with a last minute postponement back in December which had seen the contestants having to return home. Just back from a second trip to Puerto Rico where she featured in the Top 40 contestants, Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World, Sadé Greenwood sat down with the Sunday Times for an exclusive interview.
“In those final moments, walking down that stage, there was that realisation that ‘wow, this chapter of my life is finished’. This would just be a memory for the rest of my life. No one realises the hard work that goes behind this and how from the moment you touch down, you represent your country and have to stay strong throughout,” Sadé shares.
Determined to enjoy her second time the best she could, Sadé went out of her way to step out of her comfort zone and became firm friends with the other 39 contestants whom she had not had the chance to get to know too well last year.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, unfortunately there were not many events during the finals week but it was the night of the grand finale that will hold a special place in Sadé’s heart.
Sade Greenwood: Back home. Pic by Akila Jayawardana
“You always hear about the rivalry between contestants. However, the moment the winners were crowned and every break in between the top 13, the top 6 and final 3, all the girls would come backstage and be so supportive of each other,” she says, adding that those moments really cemented her belief in uplifting one another and women’s empowerment.
Each of the top 40 contestants had to maintain a blog chronicling her Miss World journey as well giving an insight as to who she really is. “ When people ask you to talk about yourself, it’s hard because where do you start? What is it about yourself that people would like to know? It was challenging and something I had never done before, but I genuinely enjoyed it and am also thinking of continuing the blog,” she says.
A ritual that Sadé religiously follows every night is to check her Instagram DMs and she is always heartened by the overwhelming support and love she receives from her followers.
“There are these little girls that message me saying it’s their dream to one day represent Sri Lanka, like I have. Maybe not in pageantry but something else. To know that there are people getting inspired is my greatest achievement. You don’t realize the impact you have on a lot of youngsters,” she shares.
As she transitions out of her Miss Sri Lanka title, Sadé is determined to give her utmost to the platform given to her. She wants to continue with her conservation work as it has fostered a greater love and appreciation of the environment in her – something she would like to awake in more youth as well.
Before she set off to Puerto Rico, as the social and sustainability ambassador of Tokyo Cement, Sadé went to Mannar to plant mangrove plants alongside the Navy. She has continued her work with Pearl Protectors visiting conservation centres and highlighting the threat to marine life. This she hopes to continue with.
On a different note, as she told the Sunday Times (in the article published on January 30 prior to the grand finale ‘Puerto Rico, here she comes again!’) Sadé has a passion for singing and is currently working on releasing her very first song next month.
“I always think when one chapter closes, another one opens but you have to really put yourself out there and not be afraid to kind of jump into the deep end.”
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