Sep 15 2016.
views 4847This year Miss Grand International will take place at the Taj Samudra on September 20, from 7PM onwards. This year the pageant as usual advocates "Stop The War". With the pageant happening next week, Life Online spoke to the top 10 contestants!
Fiona Fernando (Contestant 1)
Age: 19
School: Holy Cross College, Gampaha
"I’m really lucky to participate, and the rest of the 9 contestants are extremely helpful and beautiful. There’s a lot of competition and this was a big opportunity to showcase my talents."
Shashini Rathnasiri (Contestant 2)
Age: 24
School: St Joseph School, Kegalle
"We are all good friends and I really like this opportunity and very happy about this pageant and everyone is talented and I’m enjoying this. And I hope to do my best."
Shalindi Wandana (Contestant 3)
Age: 21
"I took part in Derana Miss Sri Lanka and wanted to participate in this pageant and do my best."
Vereena Ranathunge (Contestant 4)
Age: 26
School: Little Flower Convent, Bandarawela
"This is the first time I’m doing this and its quite challenging since its my first time, and with a very supportive team and im learning a lot."
Chalani Shehani (Contestant 5)
Age: 20
School: Buddhist Ladies College
"Great experience, I am very passionate and confident with everyone and the crown is my main target!"
Chamodhi Perera (Contestant 6)
Age: 21
School: Lyceum International School, Wattala
"I've learned a lot, earned a lot of good friends and it was a great experience."
Nilusha Madhuwanthi (Contestant 7)
Age: 23
School: Madape Central
"From the 10 contestants here they are extremely talented and it's also a huge opportunity to be able to represent Sri Lanka to the world as a young person!"
Sabeetha Wanniarachchi (Contestant 8)
Currently studying at University of Northumbria
"It's been exciting and as a part time model to win something and to make a name, to get into a higher position, it's required to get recognized and highlighted."
Harshani Ruman (Contestant 9)
Age: 24
Currently studying at BMS College
"It's been great! This is my third time and I've represented Sri Lanka in one pageant and was placed third. The other girls and I are having a great time!"
Shenali Wickramasinghe (Contestant 10)
Age: 18
School: Royal Institute
"It has been one of the best experiences of my life, and it feels great to be selected in the top 10 and to be considered as a beauty queen and an opportunity to stand up for something that matters!"
I was also granted the chance to meet Ornella Gunesekere, who was crowned Miss Grand International Sri Lanka last year.
"This year were having a pageant in a bigger way whereas in the last two years it was more quieter than an usual pageant. The girls have been working very hard and I spent the last week with them and I'm very proud of how enthusiastic they are. They are on the ball and they are all beautiful, and I'm finding it difficult to see who's going to be my successor! As sad as I am to let it go, at the same time I'm very happy and honoured to see who's going to take it up. For the past few years at the Miss Grand international we've made it to the top 20 to the top 10 and sometimes even the top 6. And I've won the Ms. Popular Award out of 78 countries! So we're looking for someone who can follow me and do even better than I did. This year the pageant is to be held in Las Vegas and we're looking forward to it! I'd also like to thank Which Way West for providing the hospitality!"
Photographs by Kushan Pathiraja
1 Comments
ANTON says:
Sep 17, 2016 at 01:20 pmFRANKLY, I HAVE BEEN OBSERVING THEIR HAIR STYLES , DRESSES ...... ETC