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| Sunday, 26 June 2005 |
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The beauty quest by Umangi de Mel
"It was fantastic; something I'd never want to miss but I'll never do it again," says a well experienced yet rather tired Rozanne Diasz, the 27-year-old who was crowned Ms Sri Lanka for Ms Universe 2005 and competed before a worldwide audience for the coveted titled Ms. Universe, that was held in Bangkok, Thailand recently. A model for the past eight years, Rozanne is professionally a crew member at the SriLankan Airlines and runs her own dress boutique in Colpetty. She says that she has not witnessed a proper Ms. Sri Lanka for quite sometime and wanted to give it a shot, especially because of the fact that it's her final year of eligibility for the pageant, "I saw a lot of potential applicants. Thinking it could be a break I went ahead with it," she says.
She considers winning the title Ms. Sri Lanka, a blessing. In a complete state of euphoria, Rozanne says she was a nervous wreck before winning, irrespective of her positive thinking mechanism. And when they announced the winner of the pageant, she knew that she had got the break to represent Sri Lanka. Knowing that she already had the prerequisites, Rozanne got down to the gruelling preparatory schedule in high spirits. "I merely had one month, but I got things done with everybody's help. I had an intensive physical training at lifestyle that took care of my shape. We had an agenda for the pageant so that we'd know the kind of clothes we'd need. I got a proper wardrobe done by Lou Chin Wong. Then I had speech lessons and lessons on poise. I was also trained by Lou Chin Wong to do my hair and make up which came in handy during the Miss Universe pageant as the contestants had to do their own hair and makeup," she reveals adding that her career as a model helped her during the sessions cause she knew what suited her best.
"They made feel so small and I was actually clueless whereas they knew what exactly they were in for. My training was zilch compared to what they had undergone." According to her, the rest knew what the pageant was all about. That it includes other things than just looks. "You've got to be witty and know to carry yourself and move with the various classes of the society to show that you can adapt accordingly. Miss Universe is an employee for the Miss Universe Organisation. She's to raise funds and mingle with people from the top levels and even go to the slums. It was the epitome of discipline back in Thailand. During the girls' three and half week preparatory session, they were to stick to the programme, no matter what. According to her, main competitors like Venezuela and Puerto Rico apparently start the preparatory schedule at the age of seven. The early training that they receive make them physically and mentally strong. Thus, the girls are never tired or lack the ability to smile. As a result of the tough training, Rozanne has fallen ill during the last week. It's been nine years since Sri Lanka participated in the contest and Rozanne says she had to make an extra effort to earn a name again. Yet, determined never to do it again, Rozanne says that the whole event was very superficial. Having been unclose and personnel with the participants thus seeing them both ways, she reveals that they were faking their moods. "They were very sweet and friendly before the camera but quite the opposite off the camera. They'd quarrel for something petty but switch in a split second for the camera. That was very strange to me and guess I don't like to put myself in a situation like that ever. Nevertheless they did bond to an extent." Rozanne has had ample opportunity to learn about many other cultures during the stay in Thailand. She compares herself with the rest of the girls, to find herself rather natural than the other contestants who were 90% made up. "From hair extensions to boob jobs, and I was thinking if we had the sort of facilities, we'd be producing beauty queens. But considering the very limited resources that we have, I think we've done really well." Pointing out the fact that it's not merely an individual's job but team work, Rozanne believes that the participant should be backed a little bit more without pressurising her. The contestant should be in a clear state of mind to participate without having to push herself hard about the ground work," she says and adds, "I had to take care of all that. The situation should be better next year but we've got to send a proper representative as they always expect an equivalent or a better person." She says she felt good when she was compared to Lara Dutta. Having taken it positively, Rozanne says her tan complexion was admired by most of the participants. Yet the best thing that happened to her, she says was the moment she saw the Sri Lankan flag during the final round, "It was a real thrill to see quite a crowd from Sri Lanka including my family. That brought tears to my eyes." Trying a bit of everything, Rozanne says that it's her theme to experience life while doing whatever she does, properly. She also has launched her own designer label called 'Rozanne Diasz' and claims to have her own clientele, "I haven't got enough time to do it on a grand level," she says. Rozanne the actress, has already completed her debut movie called "Dedunu Wessa" directed by Buddhika Jayaratne. "I finished it before the pageant. Although I'm not the 'star' in it, I enjoyed doing my bit, thoroughly. The cinema needs new faces. We've got the talent, just that the right people haven't met the talented ones yet." |
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It's glitzy, an ultimate experience and the cynosure of all eyes but
there's more to the package... awful diets, strenuous training sessions
and the glitches. 
Rozanne has witnessed seven girls who really competed and says that it
was tough. Nevertheless she knew deep down that she stood a chance, "I
knew it's going to be me. I put it down as positive thinking which plays a
major role in such situations." 
Even her all time profession, at the Airlines turned out to be a
blessing as it had taught her the basic etiquette. Irrespective of all the
rigorous training sessions and big time diets, Rozanne explains that she
felt inadequate, the minute she got to Thailand. The 80 well refined and
groomed contestants were prepared with much more grace and confidence. 
