Pushpika for Top Model of the World 2013:

Ready to blaze another trail

By Anuradha Kodagoda

Exuding radiance and beauty is Derana Veet Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World 2011 Pushpika Sandamali De Silva, who is now preparing to blaze a trail again. This time she's getting ready to show her colours at the upcoming Top Model of the World 2013 pageant.

2011 was a meaningful year for Pushpika when she was crowned 'Derana Veet Miss Sri Lanka 2011'. In the same year, Pushpika headed to London to vie for the title of Miss World 2011 and was selected for the semi-finals of the mini pageant - Beauty with a Purpose.

The Top Model of the World 2013 pageant will be held for the 20th consecutive year this time, from March 16 to 31. The grand finale of the pageant will be held on March 31. This year, the pageant will be hosted by El Gouna, Egypt.This year, nearly 60 countries around the globe will be taking part in the competition organised by the World Beauty Organization, an international company based in Panama City, Panama.

Despite her busy schedule, Pushpika spared some time to share thoughts on her upcoming challenge with the Sunday Observer.

"I consider this opportunity as a great privilege in my professional career as a beauty queen and a model. Even though Sri Lanka has never taken part in the Top Model of the World competition, I am quite confident that I can clinch the crown as the Top Model of the World and that's the promise that I have made to myself and to my fans," gorgeous Pushpika said with much confidence.

Challenge

As a person who believes in hard work and dedication as the only avenues for success, Pushpika is passionate enough to take this opportunity as a challenge, not only to compete with contestants from other countries, but to compete with herself. Therefore, she decided to gain international model training experience before she attended the international pageant which she thinks would add value to the accolades she has earned so far.

"Therefore, I decided to attend a 10-day model training workshop in India and I think that training will be helpful to sharpen my skills in modelling and to achieve my target with great success," she said.

She stressed the reasons for deciding to attend the workshop in India. "I think it is quite important to have proper knowledge and experience to take part in international pageants of this nature. Because this competition is directly linked with a profession, and when we are representing a country, I will be automatically representing the modelling industry and the level of professionalism of Sri Lanka's modelling industry to the world. Therefore, for me, it is quite a responsibility and that's why I decided to get a proper training before attending the event," she said.

Pushpika stressed the importance of having a proper training school for models in Sri Lanka which follows international standards. She said, though there are very good models in the country who do their level best through self-training, it is not enough to compete with other countries which have the best modelling schools and facilities to train professional models.

Family

Twenty three-year-old Pushpika is the youngest child in her family with one elder brother and two elder sisters. Her father is a businessman with a company named New Jayarathna Engineering Pvt Ltd and her mother is a housewife. Pushpika and two of her siblings are shareholders in her father's company. The Polonnaruwa-born beauty queen will vie for the title of Top Model of the World 2013 in El Gouna, Egypt.

Pushpika said the franchise for this title is held by Derana Television and the pageant is different to any other. She expressed her gratitude to Derana especially Chairman of Derana TV Laksiri Wickramage and Program Producer Shermila Dharmarasa for giving this opportunity to her. She believes that this event would open new avenues for Sri Lanka's modelling industry.

"Raja Jewellers is the co-sponsor of the event that I would like to convey my gratitude for the continuous support given. I would also like to thank the official print media partner, Sunday Observer, official costume designer Michael Wijesuriya, official airline partner Kuwait Airways and Dhanushka Nanayakkara for the support given throughout the process". Concluding the discussion, Pushpika said just like a gem which needs to be polished to shine, models need to develop etiquette and talents to be recognised. "A model is a trend-setter. In every country, the latest fashions are introduced through models, and it is vital to sharpen the specific skills of modelling to reach international standards. I will do my best during the training in India and also at the Top Model of the World pageant and my ultimate goal is to bring the title to Sri Lanka," she said.