Business meetings, classrooms, and concerts have all transitioned to Zoom. Now, beauty pageants are going online, too. Miss Sri Lanka Australia 2020 which was usually held amid much glitter and glamour was held on an online platform due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Representing the Miss Australia Queensland title was Upekha Liyanage. A medical doctor by profession, one has to only browse through her credentials to note that she has potentials which exceeds her beauty.
Upekha completed her PhD at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and the School of Medicine, University of Queensland. Her PhD was undertaken in the Statistical Genetics laboratory at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. She was initially inspired to do cancer research by treating cancer patients as a medical doctor in Sri Lanka. She has made important contributions to Australia’s “national cancer” - skin cancer - during her PhD. She was the lead researcher on the world’s largest genetic study of non-melanoma skin cancer, which doubled the number of identified risk genes, and revealed potential immunotherapy drug targets. Her causal inference work has extended the knowledge of modifiable risk factors and skin cancer. She presented her work at several local and international conferences including American Association of Cancer Research, Atlanta, USA.
Taking part in a beauty pageant was not in her cards. An advertisement on the internet had caught her eye and she had decided to give the competition a go on impulse.
“There are many reasons why someone would enter a beauty pageant, and it is unique to the individual. For example, to boost confidence, to serve the community, or to meet new people. I have taken spontaneous decisions in my past, and I rarely regretted the outcome, if it is good or bad, because I owned it. I like to explore new things and new experiences, so I thought I should try,” Upekha explained.
Though it was held virtually, the pageant was a beautiful and memorable experience for it’s contestants. Upekha says that she is grateful to the organizers of the Miss Sri Lanka Australia pageant, director Dilkie Perera, and the executives Sav Perera Jain and Vishni Perera-Jainudeen for the wonderful guidance they provided and for making the event a success.
“We had this pageant in the wake of the Covid-19 first wave in Australia. The competition brushed up my skills on getting the best use out of the limited resources, multi-tasking and time management. Many believe that pageantry is composed of beautiful women who are self-absorbed, superficial and lack intellect. But my thoughts were always contradicting popular belief, and this pageant proved to me that all the contestants are beautiful, confident and intelligent,” she mused.
The Miss Sri Lanka Australia Pageants are held with high esteem, run professionally, includes modeling trainers with international runway experience in Milan, Paris, London, and Berlin Fashion Weeks, and judges comprising mostly of Directors of other Pageants held in Australia. Renowned beautician Michael Wijesuriya was flown from Sri Lanka to be a judge at one of the previous Miss Sri Lanka Australia Pageants. Tanis Pillai-Betts, a well-known figure in the Sri Lankan Fashion industry, who now lives in Melbourne, has been an advisor to the pageants as well.
These pageants provide a platform and opportunities for winners to explore and pursue their interest in fashion, modeling, and pageantry. Most contestants take part after their professional university education completion or whilst in their full-time professional jobs. The pageants provide winners and participants with modeling experience and runway opportunities, where they can continue their passion and gain exposure to Australian mainstream pageants and fashion shows.
Queried on how the pageant impacted her lifestyle, Upekha says she got the opportunity to become more exposed to the modeling world.
“I am a multifaceted person. I love to do a lot of different things at the same time. However, modeling is something that I had limited exposure before the pageant. With the experience I gained through the pageant, now I have more confidence in myself as a pageant winner, it has definitely changed my life for better opportunities,” she said.
Though she does not follow a specific beauty routine, Upekha says that she gives prominence to personal hygiene and drinks plenty of water. She also stays away from artificial beverages and food.
Besides fashion and glamour she enjoys traveling, reading and pets. She says that she loves traveling because it takes one out of one’s comfort zones.
“We get to explore different cultures, different cuisine and new people. I feel deep affection for animals. I believe humans and animals have equal rights to live comfortably. Humankind is just one out of many species, and they should not exploit their right to live in this world to destroy the habitats of animals. Even though my time is very limited these days, I contribute to few animal welfare projects in Australia. Also, the opportunities to actively engage or initiate animal welfare projects are much more in Sri Lanka. So I very much look forward to actively engage in such projects when I come to Sri Lanka,” she said.
A product of Sri Bodhi Vidyalaya, Gampaha, and Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, Upekha graduated in medicine at Sri Jayewardenepura University before receiving a full scholarship to study PhD in the School of Medicine, University of Queensland. Her father, L D Perera, was a Tax Consultant while her mother, Seetha Perera, was a Bank Manager. Upekha lives in Brisbane with her husband, Sujeen Liyanearatchy.
In addition to her clinical and research accomplishments, Upekha has a strong passion for teaching. She has been working as a casual academic in School of Medicine, University of Queensland. She has contributed to the Science in many ways by volunteering as a UQ medical student mentor, actively participating in community outreach events as a science ambassador representing QIMR, and co-organizing ASMR medical research week activities in Queensland. As a dedicated scientist, Upekha brings a solid skill set in, with her previous experience in medical training and clinical research setting. She plans to continue her work on cancer control.
“For me life is all about staying true to myself, following what I am passionate about and having the right balance no matter what I do. Despite many challenges I faced during my teenage years, I worked hard to get into medical school and pursue my dream of becoming a doctor. I always had a strong desire to help people, and I thought that was the best way for me to create positive change. During my PhD candidature, I was able to identify new skin cancer genes, which doubled the known skin cancer genes as the first author. This is the largest skin cancer genetic study to date. So, now as a clinician-scientist I will continue to do good towards the society,” she expressed.
Asked if there are any dreams she has not fulfill yet and Upekha says that she has completed many of her bucket list, and it is getting smaller now.
“However, on top priority, I would love to travel and explore places in countries that I have never been before. To name a few, pyramids in Egypt and the Greek island Santorini. Also, I have a strong desire to meet in person and listen to live damma talk of Ven Ajahn Brahm in Perth,” she revealed.
Upekha aspires to be a role model for women who want to leave their comfort zone and follow their deepest dreams.
“I believe that my clinical skills and compassionate character put me in a position to support women having issues like mental health and domestic violence, or any other issue commonly faced by women in our society. For anything they need, I will be there for them,” she said.
“Mrs Sri Lanka Australia is a not just a beauty pageant that look into your outer beauty. It’s a great platform for those who are confident about their outer as well as inner beauty. That’s why intrinsic factors like your intellect and your personality plays a significant role in this competition. So those who aspire to take part, I would say you will not need to have second thoughts,” is the message she delivers to youth who are vying to take part in future Miss Sri Lanka Australia pageants.
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