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Nadeeka’s night
By Smriti Daniel
She stood out from the very beginning; not just because she was beautiful - they all were; not just because she carried herself like a queen – they all did; not just because she seemed at home on the ramp or because she knew the right answers but simply because Nadeeka Perera was different – and not afraid to flaunt it. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner - put your hands together for the new Ms. Sri Lanka World 2005!

Nadeeka won her battle for the crown this Friday at the Colombo Hilton in front of a glittering audience, gathered to watch the Pantene Ms. Sri Lanka World 2005 presented by Art TV. The hosts for the evening were Chandrishan Perera, a prominent personality in the field of Rugby and Nushara Fernando Atapattu, herself a one -time Ms. Sri Lanka for both Ms. Universe and Ms. World.

As the guests wined and dined, the drama unfolded on-stage. Anjane Kathirgamathamby, Milano Rodrigo, Pubodha Jayawardhana, Nadine Samarasinghe, Rozelle Plunket, Bernie Sooriyaarachchi, Olivia James, Ceylonne Fernando, Bhagya Karunatelaka, Gayesha Wickramachchige and Nadeeka Perera: each brought to the competition their own unique presence – a fact that was evident also soon as the curtain rose on the “creative costume” category. Each of the gowns seemed equally fantastic and glamorous and yet one of them stood out clearly from the rest. Nadeeka in her ‘garayaka’ costume carried a mask that kept her principal treasure – her face - hidden most of the time, a ploy which in some indefinable way only served to enhance her appeal. Nadeeka and Lilian Pereira, the designer of her beautiful gown, laid claim to the title in the creative costume category; Ceylonne Fernando in a gorgeous Kandyan sari by Yolande Aluvihara was declared first runner-up and Bernie Sooriyaaarchchi in a creative imitation of a lotus designed by Julia Sandrasagara was declared second runner-up.

The event was also spiced up by the presence of a number of other “mini-pageants”. The Ms. Body Beautiful Swimsuit title was a particular favourite with the audience, and to no one’s surprise Nadeeka waltzed away with the title after her appearance in a hot pink bikini. The competition for “Ms. Titan Talent” had already been held and Nadine Samarasinghe was declared the winner. The very important “Ms Personality” title was awarded to the smiling Olivia James, while Rozelle Plunket was unanimously voted “Ms. Congeniality”. Bernie Sooriyaarachchi was voted Ms. Radiant and Glowing Skin while Nadeeka came back on stage to wear the sash for Ms. Beautiful Hair. Thanks to 1800 votes on the internet in her favour, Ceylonne Fernando was declared Ms. Beautiful Face.

The tension mounted as the five finalists were declared. Olivia James, Nadeeka Perera, Bernie Sooryaarachchi, Ceylonne Fernando, and Rozelle Plunket made the count and were ushered into the question round where each of them shone. Asked questions such as“define success to you” and “what would be the most important thing you could teach your children”, the girls answered with enviable poise.

As the evening came to a close, the panel of judges consisting of Sumithra Peiris, Wibo Wilmink, Geetha Kumarasinghe, Deepthi Perera, Julian Bolling, Samindree Hemachandra and Rosy Senanayake, bestowed the title on a tearful Nadeeka Perera, naming Olivia James first runner-up and Bernie Sooriyaarachchi second runner-up. Anarkally Akarsha, Ms. Sri Lanka World 2004, gracefully crowned the new beauty queen, handing over not just the crown but passing on “the dream of victory for our nation” to Nadeeka.

“I can’t explain how happy I feel,” said Nadeeka, “going on to add that she owed it all to Geraldine Bandaranaike. Nadeeka, who holds that she had less experience on the ramp as compared to the others, feels that it was her faith in herself that carried her through, that and the fact that she is something of a people’s person. Her belief is borne out by how the audience responded to her.

Nadeeka won a Phillips 21” flat screen T.V., a Phillips washing machine, a Phillips home theatre system, a Rs. 25,000 gift voucher from the Aspic Corporation, a Titan wristwatch and a 22 carat gold necklace from Mallika Hemachandra Jewellers. Co – sponsoring the event were Glow, Hayleys Consumer, Titan watches and Jacobs Creek, while Georgéo-Marie, Ceylon Tours Ltd., Mallika Hemachandra Jewellers, Beverly Street and Sri Lankan Airlines were associate sponsors. Gearhouse Studios were the official photographers for the event. The Lankadeepa, Hi! magazine and The Sunday Times were the media sponsors.

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