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| Sunday, 28 August 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Profile: Natasha Happawana
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'One day, I will wear that crown' by Chamitha Kuruppu
"I will not rest until my good becomes better and the better becomes best" is the motto of young Natasha Happawana. At the age of 24 she has succeeded in taking up the challenge of bringing pride to her motherland. This pretty beauty queen Mrs. Sri Lanka emerged the first runner up at the recently held Mrs United Nations International pageant. She was the youngest Sri Lankan to ever win the title, as well as the youngest participant at the United Nations International Pageant. Enjoying her third year as a happy wife, Natasha is reading for her MBA in Business Administration, while working for a travel trade organisation. A product of Musaeus College, Colombo, Natasha's childhood dream was to take part in a beauty pageant. Born and bred in a conservative family, Natasha's parents never allowed her to achieve 'her goals'. "Seeing me in an evening dress doing the catwalk was the last thing on my parents' mind", chuckles Natasha. Young Natasha obeyed her parents' wish and gave priority to her studies. But she never gave up her dreams. "One day, I will wear that crown," she promised herself. Marking another milestone in her life, Natasha married Rasika Perera in 2002, while studying for her Degree in Business Administration. Natasha, tried to convince her husband, but Rasika, once a popular actor who starred as 'Sudu Appo' in the Amba Yahaluwo teledrama knew how hectic the glamour world would be. "He always told me to complete my studies first", notes Natasha. After repeated requests she managed to convince her husband. For the first time in her life she was allowed to take part in a beauty pageant, Natasha participated in the Mrs. Sri Lanka for Mrs. United Nations International 2005. As she always desired, pretty Natasha bagged the title. She was the youngest Sri Lankan ever to have won the title. "Until I took the crown home my father knew nothing about it", asserts Natasha. Last July she represented Sri Lanka at the Mrs. United Nations International pageant competing with 22 countries such as Mexico, South Africa, Bolivia, Japan and Singapore. Stamping Sri Lanka on the world map, pretty Natasha bagged the first runner-up title and two more sub titles; the modelling and fitness subtitles. "When leaving for the pageant I told myself that I have to bring at least a sub- title home. During the event, I wished I would be selected for the top 12 participants. I am happy that I've done more than I wished," stressed Natahsa with a radiant smile. "It's true that I always wanted to take part in a beauty pageant. But I never knew it would be such an unique experience. Friends I acquired from many countries around the world, and the experience I gained from a prestigious international event are the things that I treasure most, more than my crown, "Natasha pointed out. Natasha thanked Studio 9 for all the support they rendered her to make her dream a reality. "After I won the national pageant, Studio 9 gave me a one year training, and thanks to that comprehensive training, I was able to carry myself with confidence," explained Natasha. Despite her busy schedule, Natasha says she always prefers running her own home. "My top priority is to fulfil my duties as a housewife. Although I have an aide to help me in cooking, I manage all my household chores by myself, "stresses Natasha. A brilliant swimmer and a dancer, Natasha says she also loves painting." Whenever I have free time I like to try my hand on the canvas,". This young beauty queen thanked her husband for all the support he had given her. "If it wasn't for him, I would never have been able to achieve this," said Natasha adding her thanks to her parents, sister and Ethiad Airways. After winning the title, she has received a number of offers to join the modelling and teledrama industries. "I may get involved in modelling and teledrama in the near future, but at the moment I will be concentrating on completing my MBA," Natasha pointed out. |
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