One of the brightest stars that illuminate the Sri Lankan Pageant Industry, Miss Grand Sri Lanka 2015 Ornella Gunesekera is the living embodiment of the power of faith.
Her eyes display the charm of a youth and the determination of one who understands the true meaning of life; seated comfortably at Breakfast in the Mount Lavinia Hotel, Ornella opens her heart out to Esteem Magazine about her life, beliefs and the long and persevering journey that got her to where she is today.
“My first fashion show was on 4th December 2009. I was like, 16. It was at the Hilton,” she reminisces, adding that she was bundle of nerves in her first show. A self proclaimed ‘shy girl’ Ornella says that one of the main reasons that kept her in the modeling and pageant industry was energy rush that one gets on the ramp. “As a sport person, I know the feeling, the rush of adrenaline… I love that.”
In 2010, Ornella was given the opportunity to participate in Miss Sri Lanka for Miss Universe. Her striking beauty and intelligence was recognized by National Director for Miss Universe Rosita Wickremesinghe who nominated her as Sri Lanka’s entry for Miss Tourism International. Reliving those moments with a smile, Ornella adds that she was a ‘lost cause’ in a sea of well prepared contestants. “I didn’t know how to do my makeup and my hair. I went for this pageant in China and my roommate Ms Singapore did my hair and makeup for me,” she gushes. Nonetheless she was able to gain valuable experience and insight into the life of a pageant contestant.
As representative of Sri Lanka, Ornella was awarded the second chance to hone her skills and shine the light of Lanka on an international platform at the Miss Tourism pageant in 2011. “That was when I realized that I really like pageants. There you get to showcase your personality and speak with people and you learn about different cultures, languages and different perspectives… people are so different from one country to another and I really love that.” Ornella’s etiquette and respect for her fellow contestants won her the title of Miss Friendship in the pageant and further placed her in the Top 15 amidst 54 representatives. Her third and final international pageant, Miss Grand International held earlier this year marks Ornella as one of the most successful contestants in the history of the Sri Lankan chapter. Placing Top 20 in the Swimsuit and National Costume categories, Ornella moved from strength to strength as she was placed in the Top 10 from 78 countries and further awarded the title of Miss Popularity. Her success speaks volumes about her attitude to life, and her never-say-die attitude is to be admired.
Despite her love for the industry, Ornella is quick to proclaim that as a young teenager growing up amidst a host of male cousins, she never really intended to be a model or a beauty queen. “I was a tomboy. I am the only girl in my whole family, and so I grew up playing basketball, watching wrestling…” An avid sports player in her younger days, Ornella states that her one true passion was to excel in sports, adding that she especially loved to play basketball.
Little did she imagine then that she would have to face some of the darkest years of her life; “I injured my spine when I was 14. I had a fall during one of the basketball games and the vertebral column slipped and today I have two rods and four screws in my spine.” Her honest but shocking revelation is met with a moment of silence and I begin to comprehend the immense mental and physical suffering she must have endured in the flower of her life. “It was horrible because for seven years I suffered in pain and I was almost paralyzed. I lost all feeling in one leg. The doctor said that my brain is giving the signals, but my leg didn’t move… it was really scary.”
Speaking of life after the incident Ornella says that was forced to give up all of her sporting activities, and be extremely careful about her movements. “As far as working out, it was just physiotherapy for my back and walking. For two years I was obviously upset. I went through a bit of depression and I had to be homeschooled.” Taking a moment to explain Ornella says that the accident made her realize how precious life is; being in place of absolute despair, with the crushing weight of darkness engulfing her in its totality, Ornella was able to find the light of faith within sher heart. “It’s when you are broken that you really discover who you are and who God is,” she states emphatically. When I was a gold medalist and excelling at sports, I felt that I can do anything, I am powerful… but God made me realize the truth. My spine is the turning point for my realization.”
A firm believer in the formative power manifest in the spoken word, Ornella surrounded herself with positive affirmations in a bid to escape her depressive state. “I made sure that I put positive things around me and I made sure that I used colours. I am very visual, so I wrote things out and I put them on my wall.” Ornella now realizes that life is all about seeking the joy in everything. “I look at everything and I see life in it. Because I believe in the power of words, all these quotes helped me. I find myself believing them. When you read or hear something, somehow, it can affect you.”
Walking the ramp in high heels isn’t always an easy option for Ornella, who was in constant pain for a long while after her surgery. Going against doctor’s advice, she explains how she recovered to walk the ramp at her pageants; “even the doctor couldn’t explain it. There are only four stages of any medical condition and I was at stage 3+; the doctor said that I should be paralyzed, but I walked.” In the pageant this year, Ornella was determined to show her versatility as a contestant and despite her inability to bend or twist due to the screws in her spine. “I don’t want to be treated differently; a lot of times I have been discriminated and even at the pageant I didn’t get selected for the dance number at first… but I practiced all night and the next day they did the audition again and I ended up being in the middle of the stage!” The value of hard work not to be underestimated, Ornella was able to persevere with unwavering passion and devotion.
Her words and actions reveal the true desires of her heart. Citing her accident and the time spent in medical care of watchful nurses and doctors as her inspiration Ornella states that her ideal job is in the field of service; as a woman with a new lease on life, she believes in sharing her experiences and her story with those in need. “I help the doctor who did my surgery… as a person who has made through many spine surgeries I answer people’s questions and try to help them through it. It’s a counseling service.” Speaking further she adds, “I like to work with customers and to make sure they have everything taken care of. I want to have a profession where every day is an act of service.”
Displaying wisdom beyond her years, Ornella acknowledges the heavy responsibility of her role with the following words; “I’ve been in two places in my heart; one is do I want to be a person who has the voice who speak for others? And then on the other side I am scared because if I do something wrong, then someone else can be mislead.” To be held accountable for every word and action can be tiring, and yet Ornella remains unfazed in the magnitude of it all. “I would say, don’t look to be someone. Do what you do every day to your best. If it’s good, you will get noticed. If you commit to something do it with a full heart. . You can’t get into this industry if you want to be popular, because you will get discouraged. I always say remember why you started,” she advises, unveiling the secret to her success.
In a country where the Pageant Industry is judged with a conservative viewpoint, Ornella has managed to hold her own with a high level of professionalism and integrity. The road has rarely been smooth and yet she is able to shake off meaningless negativity with a simple wave of her faith. She lives her life with a thankful heart, and each day Ornella celebrates her life and appreciates the beauty in everything she perceives… and it is this beautiful attitude is what sets her apart as one of the brightest stars of the future.