Wednesday September 14th, 2011 store behind our house. We used to go to of 21, I had just got engaged to Romesh that store regularly to buy lollipops or my husband, and when I went to sweets with those pennies. So much that America he came along. I just put my the shopkeeper nick named up the portfolio through and got accepted from “penny girls”. My father gave up on so many modeling agencies. I got accept- counting the pennies at a point and just ed to LA models. At that time Asian let us have the whole tub! faces were becoming very popular. So Kumar: Your sister has a beautiful mine was the right face. The agency guy voice. Didn’t you want to become a told me what he was planning for me and singer yourself ? that apart from modeling, he would put Nushara: Oh I wanted to. But maybe I me in to acting classes as well so I could am not being blessed that way. But I do do commercials as well as acting. Of enjoy listening to her singing. course the money was amazing. I was Kumar: What kind of change in you offered thirty thousand US Dollars. But has Romesh brought about? at the same time the owner of the agency Nushara: A big change. He has also took me in to a room and said “i don’t opened a lot of doors for me. know why I’m telling you this, but I need Kumar: Tell us about your two to tell you the pros and cons of this princesses and the prince industry.” He told me the good, the bad, Nushara: Oh they are fun. They are the ugly, things that I might have to deal 11, 7 and 2. with, that I might have to compromise as Kumar: What does motherhood mean a woman. I still thought I would take it to you? up and it wasn’t the work that scared me Nushara: It’s so rewarding. I really but what scared me the most was the life don’t know what my life would be with- that I might have to adopt. So I thought out them. It made me more responsible. about it and actually prayed about it and I am careful about certain things now. was at a standpoint thinking “ I don’t (Thinks) I don’t think I would bunjie know what to do” because I had yearned jump now although I wanted to before to be there my whole life and it was just (Kumar chuckles) And its very impor- there for me to grab. I would walk past a tant to be an example to your kids set of fellow models and would hear because children are like sponges they them say “Is that her fiancé, oh they are absorb everything from around them. So so over.. that is so over” So I debated if you need them to be good citizens, suc- with my self. I asked myself “What do cessful people, achievers, you need to you want” I would answer “This is what model them yourself. I think it chal- I want” then I would ask myself again. lenges you as a person because when you “What would make you happy?” I would answer “Family. To be with a family and be in a loving environment makes me happy” so it dawned on me that nothing was more important to me than having a good family life. Even if you pick up a magazine what are all these Hollywood stars looking for? Family, fulfillment, love, happiness. In our race to be bigger and better and to achieve things, we for- get these core values. We forget what really matter the most. And that is where we all go wrong. That is where things just fall apart. That’s why we actually e reproduce today, extracts from don’t leave a legacy. Because we don’t Prime TV’s Round Table Celeb pass it on to our children. So I decided to WChat hosted by Kumar de Silva, give up the opportunity that I have been Nushara Fernando Atapattu. This pro- waiting for my whole life for what has gramme was telecast last Monday, 12th now made me happier and wholesome in September 2011. life. It was the right decision and I’m Kumar: Good evening and welcome to proud of myself that I was strong Celeb Chat. My guest today is a many- enough back then to make that albeit it times-beauty-queen. She was Miss Sri WAS the toughest decision I have had to Lanka for Miss Asia Pacific 1993. Miss make in my life. That was also the wis- Sri Lanka for Miss Universe and Miss est decision I made in my life. World 1994 and Mrs. Sri Lanka 2001 and Kumar: Don’t you miss all the fame 2002 – Nushara Fernando Athapattu. (to We need to learn how to now? the guest) Nushara which title did you are there as a parent, you really need to Nushara: Well, I still feel appreciated. enjoy the most of these four titles? embrace that without being too extreme and to get your act together as a person because YOU called me here! (Kumar laughs) Nushara: I enjoyed the last one, The you pass that down to your children. Kumar: Nushara, yours was a very Mrs. Sri Lanka for Mrs. World title. be able to appreciate that. If you ask MEN, what Your children watch you. So I think my enlightening interview. Thank you so Kumar: Why was that? kids made me a better person because I much for being my guest tonight. All the Nushara: By that time, I had got they find attractive, I don’t think they will go for NEED to be a better person for my kids best to you. more experience, a little more mature to be that. Nushara: Thank you and was ready to take on the world by the size 0s. Kumar: What would your Kumar: What has been your toughest that time. I was more relaxed and confi- decision so far? Celeb Chat is telecast every Monday dent with myself. age be when you want to quit modeling? Nushara: When I was young I had a at 9pm on Prime TV/ CSN. Kumar: What have you learnt through dream of how my life would be have to Repeats the following day at 8am. all this about being a human being and Nushara: I will always be a model in my heart. It keeps me be when I grew up. Mine was to get to the CSN – UHF 22, Channel 75 on about life? top of my career, do the best in Sri Dialog TV, PEO TV. Nushara: I’ve become a compassionate going. I still go to the gym. I don’t give up. I have 3 kids. But Lanka and then move to USA and own Live internet streaming on person because the titles enabled me to my own apartment and car. So at the age www.primetv.lk meet a lot of different people and go I try to maintain myself. But place to see the world, so I could witness not be extrem- the real lives of a lot of people I wouldn’t ist but realisti- have seen or met otherwise. And it’s cally maintain taught me how to tolerate different per- my self. So sonalities. It’s helped to be able to com- until god keeps municate with many different people. It’s my legs healthy helped me to co-exist with different I will still go on nationalities and communities as well. the ramp at 85! Because Dubai, where I live now is a Kumar: What has been melting-pot of nationalities. So it comes bad. Your personal feeling about the gar- your best memory in in handy. ment shouldn’t take over. Whatever you your childhood? Kumar: What was your first modeling are wearing at that time is the BEST gar- Nushara: Growing up appearance? ment ever. That has always worked for with my sister was great. Nushara: When I was 10, I modeled for me. This is a job. It’s not about you. We had lots of fun togeth- the fashion designer of the year through Kumar: What about the regime. The er. We grew up in Canada. Senaka De Silva. So I was a child model. diet, the gym etc? I used to model on and off since the age There are so many won- derful memories growing of 10. But I became a real model with all Nushara: I do agree with the regime. up with her. Once she dis- the training at the age of 15. But I don’t agree with what is happening covered a tub of pennies Kumar: (To the camera) Nushara’s right now with the size 0s. I like the time from underneath my par- very first TV interview was on Bonsoir, when Cindy Crawford was modeling. ents’ bed and she showed many years ago in 1991 when she won They were healthy models. They were it to me. I said “Oh ok, so the Model of the Year. (To the guest) very slim yes. But healthy too. I don’t it’s a tub of pennies” but define a model? think anyone should look gaunt and she always thought a lit- Nushara: A model is someone who emaciated. Size 0 sends a wrong message tle more ahead that I did, would market the clothes she is wearing to the younger generation.