My predecessor as Miss World was Aishwarya Rai, a truly great representative of Asian womanhood. Her grace and charm and beauty captivated people of many nations worldwide. I come from a different culture and background but like all in the Miss World family there is a common thread. We all wish to do all we can to help disadvantaged children under the motto of Miss World, "Beauty with a purpose." This will be the 46th year of the Miss World pageant during which it has raised over US$ 150 million worldwide to help disadvantaged children, including a few years ago with the Variety Clubs International partially funding the medical teams from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London to operate on hundreds of children in Sri Lanka with cleft lips and palates. Although we are proud of our charitable record, we know that it is small compared with the Rotary Club movement, which has a worldwide reputation for its charity work. I was delighted when I was told that they are projecting the theme "Towards a drug-free generation," during my visit. Drugs are the greatest threat to our young people since World Wars and no stone should be left unturned to combat the menace. I am proud to join the Sri Lanka Anti-Narcotics Association and the Rotary Clubs of Colombo East and West to help in promoting their new theme "Build a future with action and vision." The future belongs to our younger generation. It is up to us to do all we can to ensure that it is a future not blighted with drugs.
Miss World Jacqueline Aguilera: Tall, statuesque, brunette, and glowing. A beauty spot on her cheek. Speaks lilting sing-song Spanish, but doesn't exactly shake the earth when she walks. Elegant yes, but arrogant, no. Jaqueline undulates onto a sofa at the "Oberoi, and pretty though they may be, we bet those legs are tired. She's been jet-lagged all the way from London ; standing through perfunctory speeches about SLANA drugs and other such weighty concerns would have tested the endurance of a saint. But, it's all in a day's work for Jacqueline, we suppose. Her minders are protective, over protective, you could say. Heavily built women around her carry handbags with concealed guns. That could make us hard-boiled scribes nervous. But Jacqueline is a nice girl. That's what being Miss World is all about. Ask Miss Manners. She said "good manners is basically about making everyone around you feel comfortable. " We are comfortable. A coy chat with Miss World, then......
Rajpal: You got to be very tired?
Jacqueline: No, that's quite alright though.
Rajpal: Well, you are Miss World. Now that it's over, why did you think you won?
Jacqueline: It's my luck. It's nothing special. It could have been anyone else.
Rajpal: Jacqueline, what was more important. Your personality, or maybe your looks?
Jacqueline: It's a union of both. Together!
Rajpal: You are just nineteen, and suddenly thrust into this whole big thing. The whole world at your feet as it were, and probably a lot of attention from men, especially men! Is it difficult to handle it? I mean how do you handle it? Jacqueline: Everybody speaks so warmly, and with the best intentions.
Renuk.: A little bit about your childhood. You had three sisters. What was it like growing up? Did you have any intentions of being a beauty queen, or did you get into it by chance?
Jacqueline: I was a model since the age of nine.
Renuka: How did you get into the modelling world so early?
Jacqueline: it's normal in Venezuela.
Renuka: Are your sisters also in modelling?
Jacqueline : Yes, everybody. My mother, she always supports us.
Renuka: Your sisters are pretty as well?
Jacqueline: My little sister is like me. My second sister is tan, she is like my father, so it was a mixture. We had a very normal childhood. I don't know what it is like in Sri Lanka, but we had a very normal life for Venezuelans.
Rajpal: From whom do you inherit the good looks, mother, or father?
Jacqueline: I'm not like my mother or father. It's a mix.
Rajpal: Do you think you are the most beautiful woman in the world? Jacqueline: All women are beautiful. Anyone can be in my position......
Rajpal: Maybe then there are more beautiful women than you, Jacqueline?
Jacqueline: Of course, yes. But I don't think beauty is only physical. It has to be spiritual as well. That is what one has to cultivate.
Rajpal: Having accepted that, what is your strong point, taking your physical attributes. Hair, eyes? Jacqueline: I don't know really. That's not something I can say.
Rajpal: You are not going to be Miss World forever, of course, so Jacqueline, when you start looking for a partner, what kind of person will you be looking for?
Jacqueline: Intelligent, sentimental, most of all somebody who respects my rights Ñ as a couple.
Rajpal:So have you found Mr. right?
Jacqueline: No.
Renuka: What's the normal age of marriage in Venezuela...
Jacqueline: 16, 18.
Renuka: Your mother married early as well?
Jacqueline: 19.
Renuka: Will you follow?
Jacqueline; Maybe. I can't say, until I find the person....
Rajpal: Your philosophy of life? Fun loving? Serious?
Jacqueline: Just like any other young person, but all extremes are dangerous.
Rajpal: You are obviously popular, being Miss World. Popular people become politicians, will you be one?
Jacqueline: Maybe. Maybe I will, but I have to study first.
Rajpal: How many kids do you want have when you marry, Jacqueline?
Jacqueline: Two.
Rajpal: Two. Boy and a girl?
Jacqueline: Boy and a girl.
Rajpal: Which men do you find most interesting? From which part of the world.
Jacqueline: I have a lot of friends, men as friends, but I am not looking for a partner, so I really haven't looked at it that way.
Rajpal: If you had to do it all over again, what would you like to change.
Jacqueline: Nothing really. I don't look at the past or future. I live in the present.
The room was packed to capacity. Everyone looked excited, the security men bustling about, frisking people, checking camera bags, etc. A group of familar looking parliamentarians hovered around, adjusting their ties, while the ladies tucked away a stray strand of hair and checked on their make-up.
As the anticipation grew the elevator doors opened, and there was Jacqueline Aguilera, the reigning Miss. world, a picture of smart sophistication. Dressed in a greyish green short mini skirt and matching jacket she carried a brown hand bag. Her high heeled beige shoes and a simple black strapped wrist watch, plus a gorgeous 'V' shaped gold necklace courtesy of Swarnamahal, completed her appearance. Stepping out Jacqueline walked towards the 'stage' that was specially erected for this occasion at the Supper Club at Oberoi. But, before reading the stage the beauty stopped to kiss some of the lucky parliamentarians who were present, including, the Minister for Media and Aviation, bachelor Dharmasiri Senanayake, Minister C.V. Gooneratne, Srimani Athulathmudali, and her daughter Serala. The Mayor of Colombo, Mr. Ganeshalingham. Nirupama Rajapakse and many other parliamentarians were also present.
Sipping a cool glass of orange juice the lovely lady then sat on the special divan, with her translator while the emcee for the evening, Arun Dias Bandaranike welcomed the guests. Each minister took their turn exchanging greetings with the beauty, and at one point, Jacqueline shared her seat with three parliamentarians! After chatting to the beauty, Minister C.V. Gooneratne, in his genial manner commented to The Sunday Times, "She is not only pretty, but radiant and elegant too".
The tea was preceded by a video on the drug problem, and the interpreter explained parts of the English narration to the Spanish speaking beauty. When the screen showed a drug offender in Malaysia being flogged, the lovely lady cringed, shaking her head at the visuals. She occasionally questioned her interpreter and looked genuinely interested in the video, though she was aware of all the cameras focused every move on her. She also nodded in recognition at the former Miss World, Aishwarya Rai, who was on the video.
Once the video presentation was over, she was handed a thambili with straws, which she politely sipped. Another photo session with the parliamentarians, and other dignitaries followed. Some lucky ones even got autographed pictures of her, after her victory at the Miss World pageant. After the speech by the host, the Minister for Media Dharmasiri Senanayake, Miss World, gave a brief speech in Spanish which was translated later by her interpreter.
With the conclusion of formalities, after posing for numerous photos and smiling untiringly, the lady was ready to leave. But, not before telling The Sunday Times, that she may be back next year to a land which she had only heard of geographically before but, was no visiting. "All the people are very friendly" the Venezuelan winner said, just before hopping into the waiting elevator, surrounded by the heavy security amidst the continuing flashes from the camera. In her hands she carried some of the gifts and tokens she had been presented with by the dignitaries.
She looked a photographer's dream. Smiling dazzlingly at the cameras as she walked slowly towards the head table, Jacqueline Aguilera was every inch a beauty queen. Standing tall in an elegant grey suit, which complimented her stunning figure, her midnight black hair set loosely on her shoulders, the reigning Miss World made a beautiful entrance . Her training in professional modeling was also apparent , in her graceful stride and photogenic smile. She introduced herself simply and said in rather halting English ( Her native language is Spanish ) " I am very happy to be in Sri Lanka and extend my support to the activities of SLANA." She thanked the sponsors and organizers of her visit to Sri Lanka for extending her this invitation.
The press conference for Miss World, was very well attended. As cameras flashed and Television crews tripped over themselves to get the best angles and moods of the gorgeous woman at the head table, she answered questions posed by the representatives of the media. The only hitch was that Jacqueline had to answer through an interpreter which at times took the punch and excitement out of her answers.
"What did you know about Sri Lanka before you came ? Were you not deterred by reports of violence?"
Jacqueline answered that she had only heard of the country in a geographical sense, and no, she had not hear of any violence and was not deterred in her mission.
"Did she think Sri Lanka is a beautiful country?"
Jacqueline smiled and said that while she was driving down from the airport, from what she could see, the country looked a lot like an island called Marguerita ,close to Venezuela. "What I really appreciate is the warmth of the people which has surrounded me from the time I alighted from the flight."
Speaking of her background and career, Jacqueline said that she came from a middle class family and had a "very normal" upbringing. She said that winning the Miss World title was a lucky break for her. Being a student of Industrial Relations, she has rather put her studies and other career plans on hold for an year or so, while she retains the crown. "It is after all an opportunity of a lifetime and I plan to make the best use of my title to be an ambassador for good will."
Jacqueline appeared to have taken her role at the SLANA , anti- drug run very seriously. She said she was very pleased to be associated with the run and the SLANA's campaign against drugs. She said that drugs destroys the younger generation . "It is only a fleeting moment of pleasure, which is not worth the agony of addiction," she said. She said in Venezuela too there is a serious drug problem, especially since it is one of the countries growing poppy. "But actual numbers of addicts are much less than one would think."
She said, "I feel that the best way of contributing to charity is to help those nearest to you. That is why I am here, among you people, so that I can be close to the problem."
When asked whether she travelled around in other countries too to spread anti-drug messages, Jacqueline answered, " I'd love to have a magic wand, that way I could be everywhere at the same time. This is not possible. But I am sure there are others who could achieve the task as well."
She said that given the context of her country, she was very much interested in charity work and specially work relating to drug abuse long before she was appointed Miss World- in Sun City last November.
Smiling she answered a journalist's question on motherhood, "I may be a beauty queen but I have a normal woman's aspirations and hopes. One day I hope to have a happy, healthy family."
When questions of her dietary habits, the lovely queen answered that she believes in enjoying all things to moderation- "I love chocolates and sweets and cakes- I enjoy these too in moderate amounts."
At the end of the conference, which had to be cut short for she had to go for tea with the Minister of Tourism and Media, Jacqueline came forward to talk to the journalists on a more informal level . She gladly obliged autographs- leaving a memento of her forever inscribed in paper.
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