The Story Behind Mrs. World

MRS. CAROLINE JURIE

1. To start with, how would you introduce ‘Caroline Jurie’ to others?

I would say a simple woman who was born in a middle-class family, sometimes stubborn, fights for what she believes and a person who is willing to learn what she doesn't know.

2. As we have heard from several interviews you had featured in, you have had a relatively tough childhood. How did you overcome those different problems and challenges to become this successful personality today?

Since my childhood, I have always had this dream and I wanted to win my life. However, the struggles that I went through were tough and challenging. When I was a teen, people bullied me by saying many negative things to me. Even there was a time that I felt that I didn’t want to live anymore. I still remember that I tried to commit suicide, and my best friend saved me, and from that point, I realized that there is a reason why God wants me to live. There was a time I was asking from God as to why I got this life. Every time I do something somehow, I get protected. Then I had a feeling every time that even though this world doesn’t want me, but God has a plan. I worked hard for myself. I always thought that I would show them who I am, and that is how I started my journey.

3. Did you ever have the dream of participating in a beauty pageant when you were a child?

Yes. I have always had a dream to participate in a beauty pageant. Still, when I was not married, I didn’t get the opportunity to join. It was because of I had to leave this country to work for myself as I was from a middle-class family. I didn’t let my dreams go away, and even though I was married, I somehow achieved it.

4. You won both titles of Mrs Sri Lanka and Mrs World. This would not have been an easy task since it requires a lot of training and self-discipline. Looking back at those days of competing in those pageants, how would you share your experience?

I would say it was not an easy task. I had to work hard. I was not living in Sri Lanka, and I was living in Dubai. When I had to attend to the Mrs Sri Lanka competition, I had to leave both my baby and my husband for the first time, and I had to come to Sri Lanka because we were all living in Dubai. For the audition, I had to come alone to Sri Lanka. I got my husband’s support and my mother-in-law looked after my baby. I had to come alone and face challenges. My two best friends helped me a lot because I didn’t know anyone in the industry and so much had changed when I came to Sri Lanka. They helped me in everything I did to get ready for the competition. I never thought that I would win. I worked hard because my husband, my mother- inlaw and my two good friends gave me their 100%. I needed to give the same to them also. There were many sleepless nights, in which I was practicing, and studying. At the same time, I had to take care of my baby and my family, and it was challenging.

When I won Mrs Sri Lanka, I couldn’t believe because at that time some close people told me that I could not win and maybe I will be placed third. I was really sad, but it got me determined to show them who I am. I loved the industry, but I didn’t have the touch of it. I struggled until I went to the United States because I didn’t have a makeup artist. Also, it wasn’t easy to communicate with a different nationality for makeup. They all have the same white skin colour, but ours is different. It was hard to communicate with the artist to put makeup the way I like. I didn’t have a team with me because I went by myself, and there was a problem with my visa as well, until the last moment I never knew that I would make it for the finals. Somehow, I achieved it by working 16 hours a day and following a fixed routine continuously.

Every morning from 5am to 9pm we had to wear shoes with heals and practice. By the time I got to my room my legs were swollen. Still I make sure that I study and I go through my work. Imagine having a visa issue and being two days late for the pageant, every minute was so special for me in the struggle I endured every day. When they announced the Mrs World I cried; usually, people cry with happy tears, but I cried as all hard work paid off. It was the most challenging journey, and somehow, I did it.

5. How would you put the feeling you felt at the moment your name was announced as the winner in those pageants, into words? Also, who helped you to achieve this golden milestone in your life?

When you work extremely hard and achieve it, there are no words to say because we were carrying this burden a quite a long time and then all of a sudden all of that is being released.

6. Sri Lanka was able to secure this title after 35 long years, and you were the one to win it back to our motherland. How do you feel about this victory?

I feel great and honoured. Mrs. World taught me that nothing is impossible. It's, not about feminism, or you need to be on a certain level to achieve this. Its, not about where you stand if you really want something and work hard for it; nothing is impossible. You have to be a strong person.

7. How are you adapting to this new life with all the publicity and attention? How is your family dealing with it?

It’s about how you handle yourself. First, you should never forget where you come from and who you are, and that’s the principle I follow. It’s tough and not easy, but you will get through it. When it comes to my family, I switch off my mobile when I come home and keep it aside. I never answer anyone’s call when I am with my family, especially with my daughter. She needs me, she won’t see me as Mrs World, but as her mother, but you have to balance it. You will get something, and you need to balance and maintain it. If you have this one principle in your life where, you will never forget who you are and where you come from. You can continue it, sometimes you forget, you withdraw, sometimes you don’t know yourself, it may be because of work stress and publicity. You need to realize it at a certain time. I worked hard because If I don’t, someone else will take my place and at the same time, I worked hard for my family as well.

8. You have represented Sri Lanka not just in this pageant but also through netball. Can you tell us more about the story behind netball and your other interests? Do you still do any sports?

Currently I don’t engage in any sport, but back then I was so obsessed with netball, I wouldn’t have had a life without it. Netball in a different way taught me to be strong. Even there was a point when you have to give up on your life, you always have to have a second option. I will never forget two coaches in my life. Tekla who was my school coach at St. Sebastian Balika Maha Vidyalaya and International coach Thilaka Jinadasa. They were really passionate in coaching. Once I got punished in front of everyone from my school coach just because I was late for practice.

They were tough which made me understand that I should respect the sport. My captain Shashika Samarasinghe taught me many facts. I was not in the international team, but I was in the international club, Sri Lankan netball club, where I learnt to be strong and practiced more. The reason I had to stop sports was because I got dengue and my blood count decreased rapidly. The doctor told my mom that I could not continue sports because I had lost a lot of blood. However, I would love to go and watch a netball match.

9. A beauty queen is a person who is capable of and has more potential to take a message across society and to influence people’s lives. You have started many projects, especially ones aimed at helping children. We would love to know about the projects that you are currently doing and the ones you are hoping to do in the future. What are these projects aimed at?

Helping children was my childhood dream, I always wanted to help and inspire them. There are so many children from middle class like me who try to achieve their dreams, but they don’t have anyone to support them to reach a certain level, and there are many talented children. I want to share my life story also because, I started in a middle-class family. I didn’t have everything in my life for me to be where I am today. There were amazing people to support me, and I want to do the same for their lives, to help them reach the highest place possible. I want to be the person to encourage those innocent children and children me that nothing with disabilities to reach the next level. is impossible

In the future, I want to have my own foundation which I would define as empowerment for the children in need. A teenager will not understand, but because I am a mother and when I see how I take care of my child, I want to do the same for the children who lack love and affection.

10. What is your view on the covid-19 pandemic and its effects on society, especially on children? In your perspective, what can we do as a country to dilute the adverse impacts this pandemic has created?

We should follow the rules. If the country says to wear a mask, we need to follow it, I have seen some people who don’t adhere to the rules. This affects many children as they don’t understand this situation and they get stressed when the family is not stable with economic issues whilst being confined to a fixed space. First time in our history, we are experiencing such a situation. It’s difficult for both people and children, as adults we need to be careful and follow the rules for our children.

11. If you had not won Mrs Sri Lanka or Mrs World, where do you think you would have been?

I would have worked in Dubai and worked differently to have a business to settle down in Sri Lanka; I always wanted to settle down in Sri Lanka.

12. Today’s society has defined what beauty is. Social media has drawn beauty standards and tries to mold everyone into the same boundaries of beauty. This has made the youngsters forget their natural beauty and has encouraged them to imitate celebrities and beauty influencers who have done so much to enhance their looks. Simply, youngsters have lost confidence in their natural looks. What have you to say on this?

On the Internet, there are always good and bad things to learn as well. It’s about how you are strong as a person because artificial beauties come in the form of injections; you need to love yourself. You can reprogram, it’s about how you control yourself and love yourself. When I was in Dubai, people love to have our skin tone. We are so blessed to have such a skin tone.

The Internet can ruin your life and also make you a successful person. It’s about how you control the Internet don’t let the Internet control you. It has affected many teenagers. When we were at that age, we didn’t know anything because we didn’t have social media. Social media is carrying young children away. You should stop imitating celebrities, should love yourself, and focus on achieving your goals.

The ideology that beauty only exists only if you are white should be dismissed. You should love your beauty. Always think about a person who is below to you, a person who doesn’t have hands or legs. You are blessed to have a perfect body with good health. Always think down to a person on how he/she is suffering from it.

13. Have you ever been bullied? If yes, how did you face those situations? Bullying is serious. What is your advice to those who get bullied and to those who bully others?

Yes, I have been bullied since when I was going to school. I was thin, and dark because I was always playing netball where tallboys called me the coconut tree. I have been bullied because of my skin, the way I dress, and for the way I talk. There was a time when I was sick and tired of this work because of all the negative comments of me. I tried to commit suicide and my best friend stopped me. People will bully you because they don’t have something that you are having.

Take a negative comment positively and start loving yourself, believe in yourself, and figure out what you want to be in your life. It’s going to be tough, you will fail, it’s not about getting failed, but it’s about after you fail how you take it on and how you progress. There were moments where I got rejected too, but I didn’t let it pass on easily, I fought for it.

14. Balancing both beauty and motherhood is a challenge. Many ladies forget themselves after bearing a child. They fail to maintain the physique and fitness they used to have before marriage or motherhood. This also leads to many family problems too. What is your idea on this?

Its better for you to be healthy. You need to exercise to maintain your health. It’s not only for beauty. If you be really healthy, only then your children can rely on you. For me having a good health is not just to attend a beauty pageant. It’s good for everyone. It’s about health taking its way. Every husband wants to see his wife in good health. Its not about being thin is beautiful, you should not think that you have to lose weight to be beautiful.

15. What is your life goal? Where would you see yourself in five years?

In a few years time, I am hoping get into Bollywood and Hollywood because I love acting and also since I have a global title, I want to get into the global level. I always had a dream to open my modelling academy. I want to train children whoever likes this industry. I want to give my best, to share my experience, with them and open a foundation for children.

16. What is your message to the younger generation, especially those who are passionate in winning a beauty title?

First of all, my message is you need to identify yourself, what do you like about yourself and should develop your goals your plans for your future, and you need to work on it. There is no point of spending time on doing something on what you don’t like because you will end up in that same place. You need to identify what you like, where you want to stand in certain years and work on it to stay positive. Love yourself. For girls who are willing to attend a beauty pageant, yes, it’s an excellent opportunity, and your life will change, you need to work hard too. You will work hard if you are doing what you like.

Interviewed by:

Malshi Shyamika (Keerthi Mihiripenna & Company), Surami Nethmini (Jayasinghe & Company), Sanduni Madushika (BDO Partners), Teshani Wickramaarachchi (Kreston Sri Lanka), Mohomed Ayyash (AJ Associates)