With a fair complexion, naturally curly hair, lovely eyes and expressive face it is no wonder that Nuwangi Bandara was voted ‘Miss Beautiful’ at a mini pageant of the same name. This was at the Miss Asia World 2011 pageant where she also bagged the First Runner Up title. To this beauty from Southern Sri Lanka the ‘Miss Beautiful’ win came as a great surprise. “There were so many beautiful contestants that I never expected to win,” says this Southern belle who is completely unconscious about her beauty.
Nuwangi Bandara hails from Gonapinuwala, Hikkaduwa in the district of Galle in Southern Sri Lanka. And she loves the rustic charm of her home environment with its paddy fields,tea plantations and the green of the countryside not to mention the waterways, She loves it so much that she prefers to live there and travel to Colombo and other places for assignments and business.
Nuwangi attended The famous college for girls in Galle, Southlands College and did her A/L’s in the Biology stream. She says that she only concentrated on her academic work while at school.
Dance and drama
Nuwangi joined the Cultural Centre Galle which is run by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs . Here, she learnt traditional Sri Lankan dances- the Kandyan, (up country) pahatha rata (low country) and Sabaragamuwa dance forms, She also got grounding in theatre and enhanced her knowledge of the subject by attending workshops.
Modeling and advertising
In 2006, Nuwangi’s remarkable good looks caught the eye of a beautician and she invited Nuwangi to participate in a bridal show as one of her models. Nuwangi readily assented and was dressed as a western bride. She along with the beautician won the third place at the competition. This was the catalyst which propelled Nuwangi Bandara to become a top class model.
Nuwangi joined the well know modeling guru Rozanne Dias’s Academy of modeling to further hone her catwalk talents and she also walked the ramp on modeling assignments for Rozanne, Today, Nuwangi Bandara is sought out by many for modeling jobs including commercial advertisements Her face is very familiar to Sri Lankans as she has appeared in many Nuwangi has been featured in top brand commercial advertisements commercial advertisements including Dialog, Swarnamahal, Laughs gas, Orange Electricals, Chint Electricals, Jayoda Lottery, BOC and Milco Milk.
Beauty care
As a model it is imperative that Nuwangi maintains a trim figure and good looks. She does this by exercising at home on her range of exercise machines and dieting if she has gained a little weight. Otherwise, she does not follow a strict diet. “I eat anything” she laughs. Fresh fruit forms a large part of her diet.
This Southern belle does not rely on artificial means to maintain her looks. The various beauty creams touted in the market are a no-no to her but she does use a sun screen when going out in the scorching Sri Lankan sun. She also attends to her hair by pampering it with olive oil treatments regularly. Though she has straightened her curly locks from time to time she now retains her naturally curly locks in all their glory.
Music Videos
Nuwangi’s talents in dancing and drama gave her many opportunities to star in music videos. Among them are Anduna Senehe (Chandu Yasasvi), Sithata Danena Aadaraye (Thilina Nanayakkara), Ranrasa (Roshan Udayanga), Sanda Eliya (Jagath Shantha) and Obawa Sihiwenawa (Mahes Madu).
Fashion
Nuwangi favours casual and light clothes like tee shirts ,denims and dresses. She loves dresses both long and short. For evening wear she likes long, formal gowns. This beauty is lucky to have a mother who is a retired sewing instructress and who lovingly fashions elegant, eye-catching clothes for her lovely daughter.
Tele dramas
This lovely girl has made her mark in the world of Sri Lankan tele drama by portraying several interesting characters. She played a major role, Ruwanthika in Director Suneth Malinga Lokuhewa’s Ayemath Aadaren telecast on ITN. Among other tele dramas to Nuwangi’s credit are Ithin ita passé directed by Chandika Wijayasena for Nilwala Productions and telecast on ITN, Director Sandun Rajakaruna’s Sihina Piyapath for Nilwala productions and again telecast on ITN and the ever popular Bonda Meedum directed by Chandika Wijayasena for Nilawala and telecast on ITN. She also acted in Doowaru directed by veteran Director Nalan Mendis. This was telecast on Swarnavahini.
An unforgettable photoshoot
Nuwangi says one of the most memorable events of her modeling career was a photoshoot she did in the Maldives. The client was an Indian clothing and jewellery brand Shukran Creations. The venue was Aadaran Club on the island of Rannalhi on the South Male Atoll. Nuwangi overnighted there and came back home with many beautiful memories of blue green seas,golden sands, waving palms and the myriad of marine life inhabiting the Indian Ocean lapping at the islands.
Businesswoman
Nuwangi Bandara is a modern day, astute businesswoman who runs car rental service - Driveit car rentals. CHR and a wagon R. When business is brisk she outsources - She operates from her home in Gonapinuwela and owns a Prius, an Alto, a Wagon R and a CHR. When business iis brisk she hires additional vehicles. They are given on either self drive or with driver basis.
Nuwangi lives in the heart of Southern Sri Lanka with businessman father Bandara, mother Vasantha Hettiwatte and brother Chathuranga who is a software engineer.
For relaxing she loves to watch Hindi and Tamil movies . Listening to music is also a favourite past time.
This Southern belle is bitten by the travel bug and has visited the Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. She also loves to travel the length and breadth of this island and loves the cool climes of the Central hills. Nuwara Eliya and Kandy are on top of her list of favourite places.
Like all Sri Lankans Nuwangi has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. As there has been a decrease in modeling and acting assignments. Due to the breakdown in tourism car rentals too have decreased.
What of the future? Nuwangi hopes that business in the’ new normal’ will improve. She also hopes to open a salon as she has qualified as a beautician. She also dreams of the day when she and her boy friend will say “I do”.
