Pageants a passion not career choice
View(s):- Strongly connected to her Lankan roots, Tharika Goonatilleke from Down Under is set for the
global stage after winning the title of ‘Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka 2023’
By Dilushi Wijesinghe
‘Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka 2023’ was her first international pageant representing her Sri Lanka roots which she says meant a lot to her. “I don’t think being born in Lanka really makes a difference whether you’re Sri Lankan or not. It’s rather how connected you feel. I don’t feel like I’m Australian or Sri Lankan, I feel like I’m both,” she smiles.
Tharika: Every pageant a learning experience
Describing herself as a shy person, she recalls stepping into her first pageant ‘Miss South Asia Australia, Victoria’ in 2019. Regardless of her lack of experience apart from a few workshops and her self-conscious walk down the runway, she was crowned the winner.
Tharika next took part in ‘Miss Photogenic Australia 2023’ where too she won the title.
“Ever since I was young I’ve always been into fashion. Everyone who knows me knows that I love clothes,” she says. But despite her flair for fashion, entering the world of beauty pageants was difficult for her introverted, “homey” personality. Public speaking was another challenge. “That was something I really had to overcome because they put you on the spot in pageant interviews,” she says.
Although the competitive atmosphere of the pageants can be overwhelming, her focus is to gain experience. “You can be one of two people in that kind of an environment. You can either be the person who’s just focused on the win, or you can be someone who wants to learn from the experience,” she says.
A graduate of Monash University, Tharika has a BA in Human Rights and Criminology, and is currently studying for her Masters in the same field. She also works on the editorial team of News Corp Australia.
She launched her own organic skincare line ‘Deorta’ when just 19. Interestingly, the base ingredients for all her products is rice. “That’s a passion I happened to make into a business,” she says.
Tharika currently runs the charity founded by her father (whotohelp.org) that facilitates connections between international sponsors with families and schools in rural Sri Lanka that lack basic necessities and rations for children. She is also a longstanding committee member of the CCC Foundation, a non-profit charity organization in Sri Lanka. Her father, whom she calls her “No. 1 supporter” is the one who taught her her mother tongue. Today, she’s able to speak fluently and communicate well in Sinhala. She keeps in touch with her Lankan roots by listening to Sri Lankan music and cooking local food. Her parents were originally from Kelaniya and she has two elder sisters and two dogs “Malli and Salli – the craziest two in my family.”
While encouraging young girls to follow their dreams, Tharika says, “At the end of the day it is your decision. If it’s something you want to do, you should do it.” And if anyone is afraid to communicate with their parents, she encourages them to talk to their parents explaining their intentions and the benefits they gain by doing so. “For me it wasn’t a career choice. I don’t plan on living off pageant titles. This is just something I enjoy doing.”
Tharika will be flying to the Philippines for the international Mrs. Tourism pageant to be held from September 23 to October 3. The local pageant was organised by Gold Ray Productions.
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