First-ever Miss Sri Lanka New York pageant held on Staten Island

23 October 2022 12:06 pm - 30 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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nws sri lanka Angelia Gunasekara was crowned the first ever Miss Sri Lanka New York at the pageant held at The Vanderbilt in South Beach.

More than 300 attendees came out to support 14 contestants who dazzled at the first-ever Miss Sri Lanka New York beauty pageant.

Beyond serving as a celebration of culture, the event had a twofold mission; first, to support Sri Lanka in these trying times.

“At the beginning we thought of a way to help Sri Lanka. We are in a difficult condition,” Miss Sri Lanka New York 2022 Committee member Chandra Muniweera said.

The organizers said funds raised at the event will go to the national cancer hospital of Sri Lanka, which is currently struggling with equipment and medicine.

Secondly, the pageant aims to help “young women realize their full potential and become role models for future generations, in line with core Sri Lankan values,” a statement from the pageant’s booklet reads.

Miss Sri Lanka NY

The committee decided to hold the event on Staten Island, where there is a large, vibrant Sri Lankan community.

Thousands of Staten Islanders originally hail from, or have roots in, the South Asian island nation of 22 million, and census data shows the borough is home to at least 30% of all Sri Lankans in the city.

“We have the biggest Sri Lankan community here so we thought we should do something...Sri Lanka is not in a very good situation at the moment. So we were thinking, what should we do?” Miss Sri Lanka New York 2022 Committee member Sujani Fernando said. “We thought, we have to do something for the community and the girls here. To bring their talent, to bring some exposure for them. Meanwhile collect something and send it back to Sri Lanka.”

Sponsors and guests were treated to a delightful display of elegance and class. However, unlike typical pageants, the event had a traditional Sri Lankan flair. As white lights danced across the ballroom, dancers from the Sri Lankan Dance Academy of New York and Kalanikethana New Jersey mesmerized the audience between competition segments.

There were multiple “mini pageants,” including the most photogenic contest, the best national costume segment, the talent competition, the personality pageant, and the congeniality contest. Most had been completed prior to the event, with the exception of national costume.

During a candlelit dinner, guests saw the national costume segment in which the contestants donned elaborate outfits that resembled various national symbols of Sri Lanka. Then, the hopefuls switched into Havana dresses, painting the stage with a collage of colors. Finally, the competition wrapped up with a classic evening gown segment.

Of the 14 women that entered the pageant, a vast majority reside on Staten Island:

Sawandi Desilva, Staten Island
Mithma Dissanayake, Staten Island
Anuki Fernando, Staten Island
Chamika Goonewardene, Staten Island
Angelia Gunasekara, Queens
Nithuli Hewagama, Queens
Dilmi Kapuge, Staten Island
Daphne Karawita, Staten Island
Tharushi Kapuge, Staten Island
Dakshi Silva, Long Island
Amanda Vipul, Staten Island
Amaya Wanigarathne, Staten Island
Chaamy Yapa, Staten Island
Shalkey Fernando, Staten Island

The judges included previous Miss Sri Lanka winners such as Sri Lankan film actress Sachini Ayendra and Uschi Perera. Alongside them was 2012 Miss Asia USA, Christine Kahn, Media Attorney Maryse Selit, and IT Manager at Estée Lauder, Imad Hyder.

After the judges deliberated, the winners were revealed: Angelia Gunasekara of Queens was crowned the first ever Miss Sri Lanka New York. The first runner up was Amanda Vipul of Staten Island. The second runner up was Amaya Wanigarathne, also of Staten Island.

The contestant pool was so strong that the judges chose a total of six finalists -- more than the originally planned five. The women had received instruction from Los Angeles-based pageant coach Morina Dass in the months leading up to the pageant.

The mini-pageant winners included:

Miss Photogenic: Amanda Vipul
Miss Best National Costume: Amaya Wanigarathne
Miss Talent: Tharushi Kapuge
Miss Personality: Anuki Fernando
Miss Congeniality: Dilni Kapuge

After her win, the beaming Gunasekara was crowned with a handcrafted tiara from Ashadi Jewellers. Committee members presented all contestants with gifts. The top three received unique rewards, bouquets and cash prizes. The grand prize was $1,000.

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Comments - 30

Chris Sunday, 23 October 2022 12:28 PM

Wasn't there a huge brawl? Utter disgrace.

R T Sunday, 23 October 2022 12:52 PM

Men are not vain or idiots . It is the women who are vain and idiots. Suppose men over expose their body parts , people would laugh at them. But this is what women do, Look at her showing her full thigh.

mujeeb Sunday, 23 October 2022 12:54 PM

Grand Prize 1,000 Dollars????? R U FREAKING KIDDING ME!!!!!!

Kadu Karaya Monday, 24 October 2022 10:35 AM

Sorry, to hear you're unhappy. Maybe you can top up the prize money with what you have. Make the winners even happier with extra monetary donation from Sri Lanka.

Sokrates Sunday, 23 October 2022 01:39 PM

I'm now waiting for the first-ever Miss Dwarf Fat-Ass Sri Lanka New York pageant.

Mr Mentally Weakened Sunday, 23 October 2022 03:41 PM

I also expect you're the type who idealizes as whiter skinned is purer woman too. Sri Lanka Mayanayke will appreciate your liking!

Dilmi Kapuge Sunday, 23 October 2022 01:57 PM

Spelling error: should be Dilmi Kapuge not Dilni

European Sunday, 23 October 2022 02:18 PM

Only backwarded sexist countries think this is important. Women- and LGBT rights emancipation concerned : Sri Lanka has still a long way to develope.

Kadu Karaya Monday, 24 October 2022 10:42 AM

Please donate foreign exchange to us so we can sooner overcome these European brought in issues as soon as possible.

Dr De Alwis Sunday, 23 October 2022 03:25 PM

I was there. It was not only a total embarrassment and humiliation. How demeaning to females to have events like this in the 21st century. I only went there to support the cancer hospital of Sri lanka. It was total shambles and joke of an event !

Joseph fox Sunday, 23 October 2022 03:30 PM

What about the big fight that happen after all.people hitting each other like mad hahaha sri lankan style

Kadu Karaya Monday, 24 October 2022 10:40 AM

It's more like New York black American style! In Sri Lanka there would be a lot more injured persons.

Ceylonese Sunday, 23 October 2022 03:44 PM

Ela kiri

UMAS Sunday, 23 October 2022 03:48 PM

First ever president to run away from the country at midnight is MR GOTABAYA RAJAPAKSA

UMAS Sunday, 23 October 2022 03:52 PM

First ever parlimentarian to loot the tsunami relief fund money is MR MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA

Kadu Karaya Monday, 24 October 2022 10:33 AM

I was unaware. Please share your evidence about it him being the first!

AIA Sunday, 23 October 2022 04:38 PM

Reported as a delightful event but according to the social media there’s was an ugly commotion after the function. Wonder if it’s confirmed

Be Fair Sunday, 23 October 2022 04:44 PM

The after party is supposed to have been a great demonstration of our heritage

M Fernando Sunday, 23 October 2022 04:52 PM

By all acciunts, the after-party was a roaring success also.

Kamu Seeni Sunday, 23 October 2022 05:06 PM

Whatever happened after the even, it's in America... Sri Lankans here despise dual citizens, as per the recent 22A. Some of the contents, may be purely Americium citizens, while others dual citizens. Wonder when Sri Lankan living here will realise that overseas grown of up persons of Sri Lankan origin are starting to more despise those who live here because of the continued disparaging of dual citizens.

Spartacus Sunday, 23 October 2022 05:29 PM

Wherever Sinhalese congregate, their will be jealousy and drunkard skirmish. This is why in Sri Lanka the minorities are treated badly.

Dee Sunday, 23 October 2022 05:37 PM

Real Sri Lankan values were well showcased at the after-party. Seems like most of the Sri Lankan Staten islanders are from our villages where every wedding, funeral or even an attaining age party ends up in a brawl with full flown 'adi pudi'

Kadu Karaya Monday, 24 October 2022 10:37 AM

You're like the pot calling the kettle black.

Mohan Sunday, 23 October 2022 07:14 PM

I see the pageant as vanity. Beauty is impermanent.

Beauty Queen Sunday, 23 October 2022 08:58 PM

The Report says nothing about a Brawl at the Pageant ?

Kadu Karaya Monday, 24 October 2022 10:36 AM

Probably you're not as attractive as those young women and men who participated in the events. So, you look for other things to get excited.

Uda ratta Sunday, 23 October 2022 10:07 PM

They are wearing western dress. What happened to our traditional sari? A disgrace to embrace the western culture.

Kadu Karaya Monday, 24 October 2022 10:31 AM

Maybe you go to the USA and tell them that? Tell men to wear national as well, or sarong as that's more traditional. Sari is good enough for government office worker, but it's not beautiful enough for pageant. Kandyan Sari is makes young woman look stupid like too.

Vijitha Monday, 24 October 2022 02:48 AM

None of them look great. We have good looking people in Sri Lanka ? What happened to them. I guess they are studying hard and making career for themselves

Mar Sun Monday, 24 October 2022 08:53 AM

Ended with security demanding every Sri Lankan to "Get the F out!". What a disgrace! Ashamed to call myself Sri Lankan.

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First-ever Miss Sri Lanka New York pageant held on Staten Island

Comments - 30

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