Nadeeka Samanmalee Perera, 23 y.o. The famous Sri Lankan model was adjudged the world's best model at a modeling contest held in Spain. Nadeeka was adjudged Miss Sri Lanka last year and represented the nation for the Miss World contest held in China. Except the Best Model award, she also won the first places for the Best Photogenic, Best Glamour, Best Catwalk and Best national Costume events. This is the first time a Sri Lankan woman won a world's first place in this category.
Nadeeka Perera enjoys social dancing, volleyball, sewing, designing and making costume jewellery, watching TV programmes on travel and tourism.
Nadeeka's aim in life is to encourage all young women to believe in themselves and overcome all obstacles which prevent them from fulfilling their dreams.
A few days ago, Nadeeka arrived home in Colombo with a triumph, as the girl who brought home an international trophy and title International Best Female Model of the World 2007.
Sri Lankan Daily Mirror's Kshanika Goonesekera reports about this event... Two hours after stepping on home soil and no doubt with many tales to tell, Nadeeka Perera towering above all others walked in with perhaps an, 'oh, no more photographers,' and rushed to greet her friends waiting in a corner. After many hugs and kisses she turns to us straightening a dishevelled sash and a smile for the flashing lights. "There was no direct flight to Sri Lanka and I had to spend three days in Paris," she said as the vigorous clicking subsided. It had been a dream to go to Paris for a long time but this time she was in too much of a hurry to come home to enjoy it much. Finally here, she was a little reserved giving short answers and frustrating the few gathered reporters but a small mispronunciation and all that joy waiting to be let out, spilled with an eruption of laughter.
The strain, the tiredness vanished. Those sparkling eyes, the red cheeks were enough to speak volumes of the immense joy and pleasure of the feat accomplished and the fact that she was home once again. Of course her career has just begun, with invitations from the organizers of the international competition to comeback but nothing could be done before Nadeeka came home. The International Model competition held in Spain with 48 contestants was her second international pageant. The Miss World pageant held in China in 2005 having been her first. This will open many doors for her in this field, she said.
"The day before the competition everyone was sure that I would win." The seven days spent in Spain were tiring as well as amazing. "You had to be well groomed at all times," she explained saying that even though breakfast was at eight to be ready with hair and make up Nadeeka was up daily at least by six. The reason for bringing home the mini title of Miss Glamour she said. "And there were parties every evening," she grins implying that with all that fun an early morning would have been difficult but at least alcohol would not have played a part in this for she does not indulge in it. Best National Costume, Miss Catwalk and Miss Photogenic were the other mini titles brought home.
"Two days before the competition on our way back after dinner I fell, it was so bad that I could not go for any rehearsals”, but against doctor’s advise she sat at the rehearsals determined not to let her injury cripple her, "I wore a knee guard during the contest, even for the swimsuit competition." First runner's up of the female competition was Miss Gibraltar and the 2nd runner's up, Miss Spain. The male competition was won by Mr. Spain, followed by Mr. Morocco as first runner's up and Mr. Gibraltar in second. "Mr. Morocco was the best looking from all the men and I admired Miss Spain for her excellent figure."