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Merit Award Winner Sunday Observer Fashion Designer
of the Year 2009, Anushka De Silva :
Anushka shines!
by Nilma Dole
The dynamic and enthusiastic
Anushka De Silva is more than just a girl in a wheelchair. Brimming with
ideas and innovative concepts, Anushka is a girl who isn’t restricted in
any way and having many goals in life. “I want to open my own fashion
store complete with accessories, clothes and shoes and I also have a
dazzling fashion show idea,” she says with a smile. She became my friend
after we learned we shared the same age and similiar interests. Anushka
likes listening to Kelly Clarkson and so do I. She also loves
experiencing new things and it is this passion that has inspired the
artist in her.
 Anushka speaks with a refined American accent even though she was
born in Leicester, England. “I went to a public school and it was a good
experience because I got on well with the American students there,” she
said. Anushka’s father is a retired chemical engineer and it was his
career that took the family places. Anushka has two younger sisters,
Ashanthi who was the worlds first gene therapy patient and her sweet
youngest sister, Dilani.
As for her fashion flair, Anushka says, “I love the hippie look and
like to mix and match with my designs.” She does the initial sketches
and explains to her mother how she wants the designs done. “I try to
recreate as much as I can from what I visualize in my head and explain
it to my mother who sometimes has a difficult time adhering to my
perfect standards,” she laughs. Anushka attended the Parma High School
and the North Olmsted School in Ohio excelling in the field of arts. “I
was inspired by art ever since I was a small and fashion designing came
naturally to me afterwards,” she said.
Anushka is an avid traveller and has seen three continents which is
quite a feat for a girl in her position. “I would love to see Mexico,
Spain and Puerto Rico and hope to travel more in the future,” she said.
Taking a look at her creative workshop room, her mother showed with
pride that she designed her own room along with cute handbags, petite
dresses and minature jewellery trinkets. “Anushka has a ton of ideas
which are amazing but to put it into practice, we need plenty of funds
and patience,” said Mrs.De Silva with a wink.
At the end of the day, it was sheer will power and courage that made
her win the prestigious merit award for the Sunday Observer Fashion
Designer of the Year competition last year.
Anushka is lucky to have supportive parents who have stood by her
through thick and thin. “I am forever thankful to my parents and wish
they’d give me more freedom but if anyone wants to hire me as a creative
consultant, I am more than willing,” said Anushka with determination to
succeed in life.
Mr. and Mrs. De Silva said that they appreciate Sri Lankan kindness
and the fact that they have never had problems whenever they travelled
with the girls because people have a caring heart. “We greatly
appreciate the love and warmth bestowed by people in Sri Lanka because
they know how we feel,” said Mrs.De Silva. She believes that you should
overcome all obstacles to find the confidence to face the public. Mrs.De
Silva said, “I want her to try to do things to be productive and
creative making her worthy to society.”
Anushka sets the example for many disabled people to follow, proving
that no matter what background you come from, everyone deserves a chance
to prove to society that you can succeed if you give it a go. Anushka
said that she is keen in working with disabled children and would like
to partner with others to have a fashion show and give a helping hand to
such activities.
“I graciously thank Mrs. Chula Nanayakkara for her undying support,
all the Sunday Observer readers for voting, our friends and my lovely
family for everything,” concluded Anushka. |
