Her crowning moment off the stage
View(s):Reigning Mrs. Australia World, Nilupuli Karunarathne, who has Lankan roots, talks of her determination to overcome postpartum depression and her charitable platform “Empowering Mothers”
By Shanali Fernando
Mrs World International is a celebration of womanhood through an equal opportunity platform for married women to showcase their talent and beauty and empower women worldwide to make a positive impact on their own lives and the world around them.
Nilupuli with her husband and their twins
The contestants are judged on beauty, poise and personality, swimsuit, and evening gown. The preliminary pageant will be held on January 19, with the grand finale on January 21. A strong advocate for motherhood, Nilupuli is looking forward to the opportunity to share her project, “Empowering Mothers” on the Mrs. World stage.
The past 10 months leading up to the international pageant has been an exciting ride for the mother of two, which she couldn’t have done without the support of her loving husband who is her “pillar of success”. A proud product of St. Paul’s Girls School, Milagiriya, where she was a member of the Eastern band and the editor of the science society, Nilupuli’s transition from a shy schoolgirl to a confident young adult came about when she started working as a banker, first at a private bank and later a public bank. She is an Associate of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka specializing in Credit Administration, Credit Risk, and Mortgages.
After marrying the love of her life they journeyed across oceans to settle down in Sydney in 2016. Moving from one city to another was comparatively easier for her than moving to Miles, a smaller quiet town in Queensland where she now lives with her husband, a general practitioner, and their twin toddlers.
The slower pace of life in Miles gave her time to pursue her Masters in Business Administration with a Finance specialization at Victoria University Melbourne.
Stepping into motherhood was not an easy journey for Nilupuli despite all the plans she had put into place, having to face Graves’ disease and gestational diabetes.
Their joy was immense when their twins were born but the challenges continued. They say baby blues are normal, they say ‘oh it will go away with time’, but as weeks turned into months the anxiety and blues seemed to only worsen for Nilupuli, compounded by sleepless nights and tears that flowed for reasons that she couldn’t comprehend. Little did she know she was battling postpartum depression and anxiety, common in most new mothers.
Nilupuli says she was fortunate her husband was quick to recognize her symptoms and respond by referring her to a psychologist where her recovery journey began. “I was adamant I battled this out without any medication or any anti-depressants, and I turned to a series of more holistic steps. Pilates classes once a week, home workouts, meditation, cooking my favorite dishes, watching teledramas, and making sure I got to sleep. Another thing that helped me was talking, and having meaningful conversations with people in my life who had a positive impact on me, like my husband, mother, and close friends,” she says.
It was then that she looked to do something different and the Mrs World opportunity came up. “A part of the recovery process was also giving myself a new challenge, finding new ways to grow as an individual. And that was when I decided to follow my passion.”
Nilupuli believes that participating in a pageant also amplifies an individual’s voice. It’s a platform to reach out to more people, have them hear your story, and be an inspiration and comfort in times of need.
She is determined to win the title not only for herself but on behalf of all mothers around the world. As a survivor of postpartum depression and anxiety, she is committed to helping other mothers who are struggling silently through her charitable platform “Empowering Mothers”. This is an educational social media initiative that provides support and education to new mothers and families who are navigating postnatal mental health issues and reducing the stigma associated with it. Not limited to Australia, the organization is available to mothers all around the world. She is also an active volunteer with the Gidget Foundation Australia.
Whilst very settled in Australia, she cherishes her memories of home, “The food and cultural events are what I miss most,” she smiles. As Sri Lankan expats in Australia, talking in Sinhalese and celebrating the national New Year is a must. Passing on their deep-rooted love for mother Lanka to her children is a priority for her.
Nilupuli’s YouTube channel, Twin Mom Diary, charts her journey of motherhood, travel and lifestyle and there’s more on her online platforms Facebook and Instagram: empowering.mothers1.
Email: info.twinmomdiary@gmail.com if you or a known mother needs someone to speak to.
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