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| Sunday, 25 December 2005 |
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Ms. Lanka: Beauty for a cause by Rikaza Hassan
Ms. Lanka, 'Beauty for a Cause', was held for the eleventh consecutive year at the Trans Asia Hotel last Sunday. Organised by Technique International Director of Studies, Mrs. Gwendoline Kuhatheva, this year's event was in aid of educational equipment for the children of the women's wing of the Blind School, Ratmalana. Since its inception in 1995, then held in aid of the Daya Mina Day Centre for the mentally handicapped, Technique International has continued to find cause to help the poor, the destitute, the orphan and the differently abled. The contest began with the presenting of the fourteen contestants in apparent designer costumes. The competition for the mini-title of Ms. Elegance saw the contestants in alleged designer evening wear, fake smiles frozen in place (if the next Batman movie needed a female Joker, they would fit the bill just right) doing their cat walking in the most inelegant manner possible. The saree parade was no better other than for the gorgeous sarees that the contestants were draped in. As the contestants were more individually introduced, they consisted of A/L students, students and employees in the business and accounts trades.
Most of them apparently practised charity, yet unlike their hobbies they were not specified. Quite a number of them had hobbies that would qualify them to be a Stepford wife: singing, embroidery, playing musical instruments, sketching, etc. Yet they had high hopes of excelling in their chosen fields, expectations of becoming CEOs and MDs one day. The semi finals saw five contestants picked out of the fourteen and then presented with a simple question. The contestants who answered in both English and Sinhala either dodged the question altogether or gave senseless answers. The ingratiating session over, it was time for the presentation of the mini titles, including those already contested. The categories included beautiful eyes, personality, talent, body beautiful, photogenic, congeniality and beautiful smile among others. Last year's winner took her final bow and spoke a few words of the purpose of the contest and their work of last year's contest. Surrounded by all the participants, the countdown began from the fourth runner-up - Mihiri Prasadi, the third runner-up Sunali Ratnayake, the second runner-up Dilrukshi Weeramanthi, the first runner-up - Chamalsha Ratnaweera, and the winner Radika Gunawardena. The only relief as she was crowned by the past queen was that she at least had potential to turn out to be a 'real' beauty queen with the proper guidance. As the Ms. Lanka 2005 contest came to an end with the participants walking off the stage with their gifts, posing for photographs, the audience walking themselves out, it occurred to me that the most professional thing about the contestants had been their immaculate hair-dos and make up. It seemed that even the three hours of spa therapy that the contestants received had not helped most of them.
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