Puerto Rico, here she comes again!
19-year-old Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World, Sadé Greenwood, talks to Ruqyyaha Deane as she prepares to head back for the rescheduled finale of the world pageant, that came to a halt last year due to COVID-19
An open heart and an open mind are the two things Miss Sri Lanka, 19-yearold Sadé Greenwood, carried with her as she represented the “22 million hearts of Sri Lanka” at the Miss World contest held in Puerto Rico late last year making it through to the Top 40 and being placed in the Top 10 in the -‘Beauty With A Purpose’ mini pageant.
Contestants from 98 countries around the world had travelled to Puerto Rico in November 2021 for the 70th edition of the pageant with the grand finale scheduled for December 16, being abruptly postponed hours before, when Puerto Rican health authorities confirmed 17 people – contestants and staff involved with the pageant had tested positive for COVID-19. With the contestants’ safety in mind, it was announced the pageant was postponed and the disappointed contestants had to pack their bags and return home.
The pageant finale will now take place on March 16, at the Puerto Rico Coliseum Jose Miguel Agrelot with the reigning Miss World Miss Jamaica Toni Ann Singh who was crowned in 2019 finally due to relinquish her crown.
Having already put Sri Lanka in the Top 40, the first Sri Lankan to make it so far since 1978 in this oldest of international beauty pageants, Sade is now immersed in preparations for the finale. Calling it an honour and huge responsibility, she is determined to represent her country as best as she can.
Born and raised in Sri Lanka to a British-German father and
Sri Lankan mother along with her elder sister who currently lives in London, Sadé says she is never someone to say ‘no’ and would always dive in head first to every opportunity presented to her.
This is how as an active student at Asian International School she was scouted at just 14 to be a model by Jacuie Mei, the founder of The Model Atelier. And why when her mother mentioned that Siyatha Miss World was open for applications and encouraged her to apply, Sadé said yes.
“As I was involved with a lot of charity work, I always wanted to get involved in a platform where I could promote and endorse the wonderful work that the organisations I work with do. When my mother brought up how the Miss World platform would be ideal to do that, I knew I had to apply,” she says.
A lover of all animals, Sadé has been volunteering since she was quite young in a number of causes and is currently the ambassador for Pearl Protectors which she has been working with since 2019. It was this particular collaboration with Pearl Protectors who strive to get more youth involved in spreading awareness on marine conservation and highlighting plastic pollution in our oceans, that earned Sadé a place in the top 10 for Beauty With A Purpose.
The Miss World competition doesn’t look only at beauty but a myriad of other factors such as conduct and personality, adds Managing Director of Ceylon Tours Ltd Suren Ediriweera - franchise holder for Miss World Sri Lanka, confidently assuring that Sadé will make the country proud come March.
The Miss World experience thus far has been life-changing, Sade says. “It’s been really exciting. When I went to Puerto Rico
I didn’t know what to expect because it’s a whole new different kind of environment. But it exceeded my expectations. It was just wonderful; the people, the culture, everything.”
Currently majoring in International Relations at Tokyo International University and doing her studies online – another pandemic affected aspect in her life - Sadé says that the Miss World pageant has simply accelerated her dream of giving back to the community in Sri Lanka. “I see myself hopefully coming back here and working with communities in Sri Lanka to develop them. I want to help villages that don’t have basic necessities,” she tells us.
Looking to spotlight Sri Lanka’s design talent and craftsmanship, she chose to wear creations by local designers such Aslam Hussein, Lois London, The Three by tpv and Amilani
Perera at the Miss World events. “I was very grateful that Hiran Wijesekera explained to me before I left to Puerto Rico, the different elements and components of the costume I was wearing and what they represented. From the headpiece to the draped skirt, I was able to educate my Miss World sisters about our intricate national costume,” she adds
With singing being one of Sadé’s passions, one of her favourite memories is the bus rides the contestants went on where they would just break into song. It didn’t matter if they all didn’t know the language but the music and dance was what they all connected with. Practising a local dance in the heart of San Juan on cobbled pathways and around brightly coloured buildings had residents out on their balconies watching, she recalls.
She also bonded with the other sub-continent contestants over a little matter of rice. An avid rice-eater, Sadé would hope and pray before every buffet that there would be rice among the dishes and she soon noticed that the other Asian contestants were looking forward to the same thing, she laughs. Sadé is full of gratitude to franchise holder Ceylon Tours Ltd and the Siyatha team along with Sangeetha Weeraratne, Aseka and Channa Wijewardena, Kumar De Silva, Senaka De Silva, Athula Mahawalage, Dananjaya Bandara, Designs by Rhona, Ramani Fernando Salons and her family and friends for their support.
She carried a little memento of her island home, a miniature elephant souvenir when she went to Puerto Rico as a gift for each of her fellow contestants and as she makes her second journey there in March, Lankans will hope she brings back the crown.