The 29th WBO Top Model of the World pageant concluded bringing much joy and pride to Sri Lanka, as our very own Sadani Vishmitha Peiris won second runner-up place at the pageant.
This week the Youth Observer checked in with Sadani to see how she is doing post her victory and to talk to her about her career and her dreams and passions.
Sadani is a model and ballet instructor and has worked as a high fashion model since the age of 16. Following her win in the WBO Top Model of the World pageant she has stepped into the international modeling arena with a modeling contract with a top-tier Indian modeling agency.
In conversation with Sadani Peiris, here’s what we found out:
Q: How did you get started in modelling?
A: I got started at a very young age. I actually got started at 16. I believe that it is important to learn and observe a craft before you actually get into it. I wanted to do it as a career. So, I wanted to properly learn the art of it. I studied modeling in an institute called Adam and Eve and I studied with Sameera. And thereafter I joined The Agency Sri Lanka and then I started modeling.
Q: What do you like about modelling?
A: I love how it makes me feel. As a Sri Lankan girl, I look a little bit different, very tall, and features are not too similar to most people so I used to get a lot of comments regarding that which were most of the time not so nice and a little hurtful.
When I was in school, I tried to hunch myself, and close my lips when I smiled because I didn’t want to stand out. When I started modeling, however, everything that people used to make fun of or think was weird was considered amazing. People appreciated my look, my stance, and my height and it made me feel beautiful and unique and valued and like myself again. So naturally, I fell in love with it.
Q: How are you feeling about your success since the start of your career?
A: It is difficult to do it as a career in Sri Lanka. I didn’t pursue modeling as a full-time career either. I am a full-time ballet instructor. I started ballet when I was very young and started instructing at the age of 16 again. So I didn’t have to rely on modeling as a career.
I am extremely happy about getting recognized for modeling and getting opportunities to work with all the wonderful designers in Sri Lanka, getting opportunities to participate in the Top model of the world competition, going international and all the rest. I am extremely humbled and am proud of how far I have come.
Q: How was the top model experience?
A: This was a one-of-a-kind experience for me. Personally, I do not like pageants. They focus on femininity and involve some politics I didn’t think were for me. I don’t think I am suitable for it because I am into high fashion. There are many talented models who are able to do pageants and high fashion but I am not one of them, but I wanted to give this competition a try as it was focusing on the high fashion aspect of modeling and it worked out great.
It was a wonderful experience, I got to meet a lot of amazing people from all over the world and I am so privileged to have had this experience.
Q: Did you expect to win?
A: I did not see it coming. This is not because I thought I wasn’t good enough, it was simply because I didn’t think I had the support the other contestants had. Most of the other contestants had a lot of support, family members were present with them, helping them with hair, makeup and everything. I was there all by myself, doing my hair makeup and dressing all by myself. In that regard yes, it came as bit of a shock to me but I am very humbled by the opportunity.
Q: How has your career changed since Top Mode of the World 2023?
A: It has changed drastically, like I said my main target is my ballet instructing, but six months prior to this competition and after that I got incredible modeling opportunities. I got an opportunity to join an Indian modeling agency.
In fact, I got this opportunity prior to the competition but I put the contract on hold and went to this competition and now I am here in India, working with them and it has been the best experience ever. Not many people in my country have gotten this opportunity like this and I am so privileged.
Everyone here is so happy to see me here as a Sri Lankan being here as well. I think it is amazing, living in a country like Sri Lanka, we are conditioned to live in a traditional and rather grounded mindset and we rarely take risks. But I am extremely grateful I took this risk. It is not at all what I expected it would be like and in a very good way.
Q: What is a piece of advice you have received that you try to live by?
A: There are many people who have supported and guided me through this journey, especially my mother and I have taken all the advice they have wholeheartedly given me. I might not be able to pinpoint a specific piece of advice. I am just so grateful for all the guidance.
Q: Who is your biggest inspiration in your journey?
A: All the Sri Lankan designers are amazing, all the fellow models I have worked with are amazing as well. But I am not a person who has a role model, I don’t like to be like anyone else, I believe I am the only version of myself and I love it.
I don’t stick to a specific thing, I love to learn as much as I can from all these talented individuals and be the best version of myself. But if I had to name an inspiration or a role model, it would be my mom.
My mom is very supportive, she is my role model. She has supported my journey from the beginning. She was the one who wanted me to model. She is the one who motivated me to do it at a very young age, it was so amazing she inspired me from day one. She looked up the modeling academies, she took me, to my first class and she was there for me every step of the way. I would not be where I am without her.
Q: Do you have a designer you like to work with?
A: I am excited to work with many people. I had the privilege to work with almost every high fashion designer in Sri Lanka even if it was just for Colombo Fashion Week and I am so grateful for that. When it comes to international designers, I would love to work for versace, Dior or LouisVuitton. I know these are big dreams but I can only dream.
Q: Let’s talk about your big dreams
A: I am still living a big dream. I emerged second runner-up in an organization, while working in India. At present I am so proud of myself, especially for trying something out of my comfort zone. About my future, if I get other opportunities, I will stick through it and try it out.
But I think after a while I want to start teaching again and my biggest dream is to one day start my own ballet academy. I want to go to another country and learn more before I start it. I am not sure if I want to do this in Sri Lanka or somewhere else but I know I want to do it.
Q: Do you have any words of advice for young generation models?
A: I would say there is so much to life than we have seen, the world is so much bigger, try every opportunity, you have to try things to figure out what you are passionate about, and make sure you never give up, get through it and know that you are unique and you are beautiful just the way you are.