FLASH: FOR MISS SRI LANKA 2007 CLICK HERE
by Zanita Careem
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Smart and sophisticated chic and stylish, beautiful but still simple and charming. These are the adjectives that came to my mind when I met the reigning Miss Sri Lanka 2006.
Winning the title Miss Sri Lanka for Miss Universe Jackie… as she is fondly known does not end there.
She has plans and she is determined to pursue these just like she pursued the goal of being selected as Miss Sri Lanka. She does not believe that luck or looks alone, suffices she conjures up a goal before her and that it is attainable and she spares no effort to ensure that she achieves it. That’s Jacqueline Fernandez for you. A perfect combination of beauty and brains, the quintessential 21st Century Lankan woman who is all set to create a niche for herself in the world, in which she plans to firmly install the beauty of Sri Lanka on the map of the world.
She has returned after representing Sri Lanka in this years Miss Universe pageant in Los Angeles, California USA.
A Bahrain born beauty even though Jacqueline was not able to bring the coveted Miss Universe 2006 crown, she said that the experience of first winning the Miss Sri Lanka this year and the chance to compete on the international stage was an exhilarating experience. In the course of this adventure Jackie did meet many celebrities former beauty queens, actors and actresses. “The experience was enormous, meeting contestants from other countries, exchanging cultural values, sharing experiences and meeting people were unforgettable said the this young beauty queen.
“For me taking part in this pageant meant putting Sri Lanka in the global spotlight. I felt that the world has a negative perception of this beautiful island and we are only associated with war and devastation. I wanted to change this image and be a Ambassador for my country” said Jackie with much enthusiasm.
Talking of some of the highlights of the pageant she said the friends of the South Asian American Communities, bestowed her with the Kalpana Chawla Award, as the outstanding woman of the year.
Hundreds of VIP guests attended this gala ceremony held at the Disney Concert Hall including 2004 US Presidential Nominee Senator John Kerry, Los Angeles Mayor Anlonia Villaraigosa and Grammy Award winning music producer Rie Worke.
M/s Fernandez was given this title for her outstanding worked towards humanity and for her excellent representation of Sri Lanka. Her immediate response was “it is a honour for my country, as she was one of 13 people to receive awards that evening. She also attended gala dinners with many VIPs present and judged the Miss Sri Lanka USA beauty pageant.
Many offers have definitely opened for me since the contest said Jackie fluttering her eye lids. Dressed in a simple and elegant dress, with her hair tied up, she was amiable, and shook hands with all those who spoke to her at the office of the Island editorial. When we probed as to what was the most unexpected and best experience she has had since winning the Miss Sri Lanka title Jackie with her foreign accent said.
The future holds many great possibilities will you give a try to be Hollywood star “she quipped” of course why not! Actually I am meeting Rie Worke, the biggest producer in the music world having produced music for artists like Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Jessica Sumpsion and Jenifer Lopez. He has invited me out to discuss what I could possible do in Hollywood, said Jackie with confidence.
She was named as one of the favourites to win the crown by the US media, there were many articles written about her. They described her as worldly having been born in Bahrain, educated in Australia and now works as a TV presenter in Sri Lanka. She was even photographed for page one of the Los Angeles Times California (Orange County Edition).
Jackie has taken part in several major fashion shows in Bahrain including the Jewellery Arabia and visual image shows. True to her word of being a humanitarian social worker Jackie has started her own foundation which currently sponsors 25 tsunami affected children and 30 women left endowed by the tsunami, through loans and cash for work programme. The funding comes through whatever endorsements she makes as Miss Sri Lanka.
She is also the spokes person and an advocate for the eradication of child sex tourists in Sri Lanka. The crown gives Jacqueline Fernandez a good platform to make the world set up and take notice. –Leisure
September 23, 2006 at 11:58 pm
[...] Reigning Miss Sri Lanka Jacqueline Fernandez has set herself a definite goal- she plans to re-brand Sri Lanka by re-positioning it on the international stage as "Beautiful Sri Lanka". [...]
October 30, 2006 at 12:24 pm
I think Jacky has real patriotism & she is doing her best to with best of her ability within her capacity to to help our mother land to eradicate the advesities faced by our children.
We need to wrend our hand in helping her to accomplish this task.
January 10, 2007 at 9:19 pm
“Trying to make a difference”- Jackie
Without a shadow of a doubt one of Jackie’s most striking attributes is her overwhelming sense of modesty. Jackie is ardently dedicated to making a difference. Whilst being on her path to success she has felt the need to share her happiness with those around her.
Jackie is relentlessly trying to create awareness and raise funds for the crippled children in Sri Lanka. The Crippled Children’s Association in Sri Lanka is a non-profit organization serving physically and developmentally challenged children and young adults. It helps children with developmental disabilities, to reach their full potential by developing the necessary skills for independence and self-esteem. It provides habilitative care in a residential setting whilst also providing an educational facility at the Sevana Lama Nivasa which is just next door. Mrs. Sharmila Samaranayaka, of the Crippled Children’s Association, couldn’t have put it more simply or appropriately- “We need to do away with the discrimination facing crippled children in Sri Lanka, so they are able to enjoy all the same opportunities as us and ultimately be liberated in their hearts and minds.”
Her desire to help these children was initially inspired by the work she did as a teacher earlier in her life. This desire has grown stronger with time and Jackie has passionately been trying to ensure that these children have a better quality of life. Physically and mentally disabled children face a life of many adversities, which, if harnessed at the right age can be avoided. However, the sad reality is that the most severe and often unavoidable plight that these children face is the sense of abandonment and neglect.
Jackie feels that by working with the children at the Sevana Lama Nivasa, her life has been changed significantly for the better. Jackie says her life has been transformed and that she has learned so much from these children. In return for this, she has now embarked on a voyage to create as much awareness for the disabled in Sri Lanka.
Recently Jackie returned from L.A - yet another adventure on her journey to making a difference. She saw the invitation from the Sri Lanka Foundation in L.A to attend their star studded awards night as an opportunity to promote her cause. By simply selling autographed posters she raised enough money to buy Sevana Lama Nivasa a TV, DVD player and computers. At the event Jackie spoke about how the school, which houses 43 children and 25 students including day scholars up to grade 8, was looking at facilitating ‘O’ Levels, but would have to put up lab facilities first in order to do so. She also made it known that a vocational training centre is desperately needed to ensure a better future for the children. During her trip Jackie had the honour of meeting members of the UN Youth for Human Rights group who are now interested in bringing their work to Sri Lanka to help improve the lives of differently abled kids.
In addition to this Jackie also recently went to Bahrain, her birthplace, where she managed to get a generous donation of an unlimited supply of toys and learning material for the children at the school. She is a firm believer that Christmas should not be dismal for any child.
April 1, 2007 at 7:30 am
Jacque wel done. really speakingyou are the most beutiful miss sri lanka beauty peagent that sri lanka ever produced.you are a perfect girl, you are very talented too. keep it up ok.
April 9, 2007 at 2:04 pm
DEAR JACQUE!
THE MISS SRILANKA 2006 WAS VERY SUCCESFULLY DONE AT WADDUA BLUE WATERS HOTEL YOU ARE THE MOST UPCOMMING THE BEAUITIEST BEAUTY PAGENT THAT SRI LANKA HAS EVRE CHOOSEN YOU ARE ALSO I THINK READING NEWS KEEP IT COOL IAM A FAN OF JAQUELIN [THE BEAUTY QUEEN IN MOST UPCOMING GIRL) DEVNI
May 11, 2007 at 12:40 am
I Want to See All pictures of Miss Sri Lanka 2007
July 10, 2007 at 8:10 pm
I’m not marrying Vivek Oberoi
This is one babe worth a watch and worth her oomph. After all women that can carry off beauty with brains are a rarity and if rumours are to be believed Vivek Oberoi would have been the envy of many eligible men considering his alleged link up with her. Jacqueline was born and brought up in Bahrain pursued a specialisation in media and communication in Australia and was crowned Miss Sri Lanka Universe in 2006.
Jackie (as she is fondly called) literally jumped out of her seat when the rumours about her and Vivek were communicated to “Marrying Vivek Oberoi?” says she. “Oh God, no! At 21, I have no marriage plans. I met Vivek at an awards function two weeks ago, but it was hardly for a few minutes. The media in India loves to blow things out of proportion. I want to say this loud and clear, I’m not marrying Vivek.”
Jackie plans to make a career in the Indian glam industry though, since she has anchored programmes for TV shows in Sri Lanka and as the Indian glam industry is making its presence felt in the international scenario in more ways than one. Making a career in India’s glamour industry is Her desire.
Jackie has a degree in media and communication and it is during the course she realised she was comfortable being in front of the camera. Moreover, the course did help her hone her communication skills, helping her during the pageant,” she says.
Jackie is busy learning Hindi and Kathak at the moment. An entry into Bollywood looks imminent as she is already reading a few scripts.
Jackie’s mantra for such a beautiful and graceful body is her respect for herself and the ability to see the bright side of life. “Always wear a cheerful smile on your face and half the world is conquered,” she says signing off.
August 4, 2007 at 4:16 am
Sri Lanka: Lankan beauty to sizzle at WLFS
August 3, 2007
Jacqueline Fernandez, Miss Sri Lanka 2006, will be the first Sri Lankan ever to walk the ramp of an India Fashion Week event which will be held from September 5 to 9 in New Delhi.
In an exclusive interview with Fibre2fashion, Jacqueline said that Indian fashion has had a lasting impression around the globe. Highly creative designs and use of vibrant colours has made it possible for the Indian designers to carve a niche in international fashion arena.
The beauty queen has the experience of modeling with Indian designer wear which highlights quality. In the last few months, she has appeared on around fifteen Indian catwalks, which displayed the works of the country’s foremost fashion designers.
As the first Sri Lankan to appear at Wills India Fashion Week, Jacqueline is among the top three international faces selected from over a hundred new entrants. Two other models to walk the same ramp are Barbora Brabcova of the Czech Republic and Diva Dhawan, a non-resident Indian from Britain.
Other new faces to appear on the show would be Sonali Sehgal, Shipra Malik, Praneet Grewal, Lisa Haydon, Heema Mandal and Esha Gupta.
According to Rathi Vinay Jha of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), who is organizing 10th edition of the fashion week, “It is really good to see that so many international models are coming to our country and most importantly, they would be showcasing Indian clothes”.
Among the participating designers at the Wills India Fashion Week, couturier Suneet Varma has the experience of designing for Yves Saint Laurent, Donna Karan, Carolina Herrera, Mary McFadden and Nicole Miller.
Although Sri Lanka has been able to create waves in the apparel-manufacturing sector, haute couture designers are yet to debut from the country and Jacqueline believes that her efforts would be able to inspire fellow Lankans to enter the international fashion arena.
“Modeling at the Wills India Fashion Week with some of India’s best designers would certainly give me experience and add value to my portfolio. This an excellent launching pad for any aspiring model,” says Jacqueline.
Among those who have catapulted their careers following a stint at the India Fashion week are Neha Kapur (Former Miss India), Upen Patel, Piya Trivedi and Sonalika Sahay.
Jacqueline is also making inroads into the Indian film scene and has her fingers crossed about a lead acting role in Bollywood.