‘If there is a will there is a way’ they say, and the young and vivacious Ishanka Madurasinghe, the new Miss Sri Lanka for Miss Universe 2010 exemplifies this maxim. Sharing some moments with the Sunday Times soon after winning the title, Ishanka explains how she slowly trod the path to success overcoming the trials and challenges…with determination, hard work and dedication.
Coming from the outskirts of Kegalle, Ishanka is in her second year of a History Special Degree at Kelaniya University. An old girl of Kegalle Puvakdeniya Vidyalaya and Ranwala Mahanaga Maha Vidyalaya, Ishanka during her schooldays shone in the field of sports representing her school at all island meets and even obtaining places for high jump and long jump at provincial level competitions.
The Ford Super Model pageant held in 2007 opened the doors for this rural beauty to enter the fashion world when she became the first runner-up at the competition. Since then, she has built close ties with the fashion industry through modelling, taking part in various fashion shows and associating with the pioneers in the field.
Her enthusiasm for modelling as a teenager was sky high, says Ishanka who recalls how she used to pretend she was on the catwalk wearing high heels just for the fun of it.
"Becoming Miss Sri Lanka was a dream that I had since my childhood. But this is not something that happened overnight. It is a dream that I worked hard on achieving for a very long time,” she says.
Asked where she drew inspiration from to take part in a beauty contest, Ishanka says it all came about through an encounter she had with one of the foremost beauty queens who made our country proud at a world pageant. “My mother was a social worker and a women’s activist. When I was about 15, I had to accompany her to one of the women’s forums which our former Mrs World Rosy Senanayake was taking part in. The impression she created on me at that forum was remarkable; I was fascinated by the way she spoke, the way she presented herself and how she mingled with the people. It made me realize what a lot of work a woman in her capacity as a beauty queen can do. I felt proud of her and I wanted to become someone like her someday,” she explains.
Having participated in the Miss Sri Lanka for Miss Universe competition in 2008, Ishanka won the mini titles Miss Personality and Best Hair. Although her goal of winning the main title was not realised, she was determined not to give up. “The knowledge and experience that I have gathered over the years being in the modelling field, the knowledge I have gained from my academic life, all that contributed to my winning this time,” she says.
In addition to the main title, Ishanka also bagged the Best Hair award, and says she was targeting the Miss Personality title although she didn’t succeed this time.
And what were the final few moments of the pageant like? Ishanka says she was very nervous and freezing! “It was at the back of my head that I would win, but you can never predict what would happen in a competition like this,” she says with a smile.
The support she received from her family- her mother who is a single parent and her younger brother was amazing, she says. “They have been my pillar of strength throughout. In addition there were so many people who helped me become what I am today,” she goes on.
She says she realized the full weight of the responsibilities that go with the title the moment her name was announced and the crown placed on her head. “It is not just to take part in the international pageant in Las Vegas next month but it is a big commitment. I have to be an ambassador of Sri Lanka to the whole world and ultimately bring back honor to the country in whatever way possible.”
Stressing that she believes she has the potential to make her country proud on the international stage, the 23-year-old says serving the affected community in her country especially the war victims would be her first priority if she gets an opportunity to do so by winning the international pageant… her next big goal.
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