|
|
 |
  |
| Sunday, 4 April 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Magazine |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Miss World Rosanna Davison visited Sri Lanka as an "ambassador of women." Throughout the whirlwind of social events lined up for her, that winning smile never failed her. She's got those beautiful Irish eyes and she is the daughter of Chris De Burgh, renown for his song "Lady In Red". She's also the reigning Miss World, Rosanna Davison who arrived in our tropical island on the 25th March 2004, on the occasion of Rotary District 3220 (Sri Lanka) 75th Anniversary Celebrations and District Conference. Posing next to Rosanna for a photograph, I feel considerably on the shorter side of life with my head coming up somewhat below her shoulder. Oh well, that is why there is that saying "We all come in different shapes and sizes", and I guess that's why she's Miss World and I'm simply Miss Observer. "Miss World" being all about beauty with a purpose, Miss Davison was here as an ambassador of women, whose primary purpose was to inaugurate a project on empowerment of women in Sri Lanka. "I'm here to help the women of Sri Lanka help themselves" said Rosanna in a press briefing held at Trans Asia on March 26. As a part of the project, Rosanna came up with a women's skills development programme and gave a lecture on "Awareness", "Responsibility" and "Educating Your Child" to about 400 women on the Dehiwala beach, later on (An event organized by SriLankan Airlines). During her stay in the island Miss Davison was a part of Mobitel's launch of Diri Piyasa, attended the Dilmah T-Bar Ceremony and was Guest of Honour at the 13th Rotary District Conference "Dream Conference With A Difference" held at the BMICH on the 26th of M. The Chief Guest was Past District Governor Rotarian Siddhartha S Bose and his wife Ann Sarmila Bose from Calcutta, India. Among Rosanna's International Charity Projects, she has done work for a "Variety" Children's Charity, visited children's hospitals, day care centres and families of handicapped children, raised funds for the Ireland fund of Canada in Toronto and is working on a Spinal Injury Charity in Dublin which she says is her most personal charity of the lot. "Being Miss World" says Miss Davison "is a busy life, but very rewarding. I get to travel, meet various people from different countries and get involved in charities. In one word, it is all amazing". Born on April 1984, Rosanna says she never dreamed her life would turn out as it has. "I mean I used to watch Miss World competitions while I was growing up, never thinking that one day I would be in it or even become it". Being athletic captain in her 5th and 6th year, representing her secondary school in the prestigious All-Ireland Finals, after gaining 4 A grades and 2 B grades she entered the University College of Dublin to study Archaeology, Sociology and the History of Art. Says Rosanna today "I chose subjects which were interconnected and in many ways related to day to day life". It was during this time Rosanna's life was about to change. While out shopping one day, Rosanna was handed a participation form by a girl who was trying to recruit young girls to take part in a regional beauty competition. Being pushed by her friends to give it a go as it would be about music, dance, food and fun, Miss Davison went for it that night, which turned out to be just the beginning of a dream. Winning competition after competition Rosanna finally became Miss Ireland, and then went on to China in 2003 and clinched the "Miss World" Tiara. With a famous father in the "Lady In Red" singer Chris De Burgh (His real name is Davison. De Burgh is merely a stage name taken after his mother's maiden name) Rosanna's favourite song by her father is "For Rosanna" which he first sang when she was born. Being on a break from her studies at present, Rosanna hopes to get back to University at the end of her Miss World reign and pursue a career in the Arts, Fashion, Sports Science and Nutrition. Davison enjoys many sports activities including swimming, water skiing, hockey, tennis, netball, athletics, hill walking and snow skiing and is a keen dancer having studied ballet and modern dance. She is also a fine artist and sculptor and has a love for music, cinema and art. Rosanna's words of advice are "If you want a degree, study hard and focus on your goal. Never give up on your studies, for education will take you a long way in life. I believe if you want something badly enough and you work your way towards it, you will somehow get there". -- Farah |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
