JULIA SONALI FASHION MODEL ,TELIVISION PRESENTER ,DESIGNER, INTERNATIONAL CRICKET HOST ,WINNER OF BEST ANNOUNCER IN RAIGAM TELEE AWARDS, FEMALE FACE OF ASIA 2024 ON JOURNEY TO PINNACLE OF FAME – By Sunil Thenabadu
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Dona Julia Sonali Kaluarachchi is the solitary child in the family. Normally it is her mother Shirani Jayasinghe who give names to all her relatives, but father Krishantha Kaluarachchi had vehemently said he is going to name her when she is born. As a very keen fan of Julia Roberts he had been named her Julia Sonali Her father was described by Julia as a classic person with a different vibes, who reads a lot, watch videos ,very intelligent and a cricketer, absolute cricket fanatic . Though Julia was the only child she had never felt solitary or isolated as there were several relatives around her including her grandparents Father is a native of Dehiwala though had relatives while a large number of mother’s relatives had lived in Godagama in the neighbouring vicinity to her dwelling having three generations to closely move with. The bonds with both families had been almost same, but the members of her mother’s family she affirmed were very emotional individuals .It was revealed by her mother that Julia was petted to tall altitudes by her Atha( grand father) and grand and great grand mother by buying her sweets,fruits and other eatables which Julia always expected them to bring when they arrived at the dwelling It was cited that they had lived in the same house as Julia.
Julia had attended St Joseph’s Girls School for three years and the international school Royal Institute having attended Rosh International in the nursery class, At the Royal Institute Julia has had a number of steadfast friends but at the government school St Josephs she had been guilty of performing all immoral activities fictional to do. She had confessed that while her tenure at St Joseph’s she was able to understand that there are many different types of characters and individuals. Julia had in her short tenure only at this school during which time she had learned a vast fragment about life. Julia’s mother had stated in a television interchange “Jeevithayata Ida Denna” When she was very young has had a tremendous obsession to watch planes as such has had ambition to become a pilot. Mother related some amazing stories when Julia was just three years old, one was on the day when all arrangements f to read her first letters at the auspicious time she had gone with the cameraman to take her photos like in a photo shoot. Another day mother had reminded for her third birthday when all were ready to cut the cake she was missing was located from a bedroom having applied lipstick ,other make up material on her face. Also when she was a little older she after her parents retired to bed to she used to wear sarees and shoes with high heels had walked inside the house as her passion. Julia had collected many Manipuri sarees of grand mother and other elders had been used to wearing them for weddings and functions which had delighted many audiences.. Her mother had affirmed that when she was very young had done many abnormal acts which are not performed usually by kids of her age, like applying lipstick, other related beauty culture ingredients a craze not possessed by other kids. Hence she had been an exceptionally unique kid. Another bizarre incident was when she with parents had attended a prize giving ceremony of one of her cousin sister’s nursery. When it was announced for someone to volunteer to make a speech for which Julia had written something on a piece of paper had addressed the guests on stage to the amazement of all. The school authorities had framed Julia’s photo and sent home by post.
Julia is a staunch Buddhist as both parents are Buddhists. But from her young days she had loved to learn the doctrines of other religions too as they all inhibit similar philosophies also as there are no boundaries not to learn the beliefs of other religions. Julia imagines that what she does not like to happen to her she too of the strong belief should not to happen to others..
Julia has had initially an ambition to become a pilot which later was transformed to be a lawyer. When in her ninth standard she had inadvertently viewed a Ramp model which had prompted her to visit a computer café to search on fashion too to acquire what it was like on FTV Fashion TV. Young Julia had been very aggressive when young disliked when her Uncles and Aunties after marriage when visited their dwelling as she was of the view that the attention to her would diminish. Julia had learnt to cook had stated in a dialog that she could cook any dish whether traditional or baking As she had been close to grandmothers .elderly cousins she is one who could adjust to any type of living. On maturing she own a high level of patience, who hardly fires up ,which change is a surprise to all her family members. Julia imagines all friends selected need to possess similar vibes so that one could live lightly.
At school as she had not very strangely possessed the talent she had acquired or she had not been a star in school as she has had migraine hence could not participate in sports. But she had performed dancing as a member of the dancing group. In school Julia had participated in the western band playing the trumpet had been interested in accumulating friends having comparable vibes. Very strangely Julia had never touched a microphone while in school. During a television conversation when questioned on any love affairs Julia honestly conveyed that she has had three serious love affairs until then but now all the boy friends are now married but not involved subsequently.
During her tenure at the Royal Institute her parents had given her the school fees term to term to pay at the counter which they could well afford, also the fees for extra classes. When this was done continuously Julia had thought to herself that it was a ‘Sin’ that she should very soon find employment not to burden the parental duo. To her A/L study she had selected Commerce stream but later she had regretted for not selecting the Arts stream. After A/L levels Julia was adamant to select a job but was not in any grouping as she was a master of none in addition she had been an introvert. Her ambition and goal was not to receive any funds from parents after bidding adios to school but to somehow own money via any of her aptitudes.
When she was very young Julia had been chubby, but later she had slimmed down after she had seen international models ramping in the net on FTV Fashion TV . She had then got a feeling to become a ‘ramp’ model not knowing she has had an innate talent. In Sri Lanka there are two such ramps yearly one going to the International- ‘Colombo fashion ramp’ and the other ‘Mercedes fashion ramp’ ,Julia has had a strong intent to participate in both after viewing them in the net. Julia had lost weight via determinedly wilfully on her own accord from 69 kilos to 49 kilos by sacrificing the favourite foods she liked to consume, having weighty intentions to walk on ‘ramps’. At the culmination of her era in her Advanced Level two class friends Ovinya and Sanuli had told that there are auditions called in a ‘Kids’ channel. Though Julia has had possessed any talent had thought to herself ‘should try’ as it was for kids as she had loved kids in her family circle having earned their attractions and had learnt to handle them having had a distant dream of having her own Montessori too.. Strangely her mother had advised her ‘what are you going to do, do not go’
She had triumphed in the first audition itself to be selected, had been taught the basics ,the tradition how to speak to the microphone , how to sermon an audience by Kanchaka Gallage whom Julia considers her ‘Guru’, Founder and Chairman of A-Plus Kids who also had also taught Julia the ‘traditions’ desired to know in announcing like saying ‘Ayubowan’ etc, to who she addresses as her “Sir’.
What her main responsibilities were to review to kids after watching a ‘movies ’ like for e.g Harry Potter etc which she had performed precision satisfying the kids. Within weeks Julia had impressed the authorities had continued to perform with passion and enthusiasm the Kids program in then TV Didula , thereafter in A+TV thereafter the same program entrusted to her After a successful tenure of a few years in KIDS channel in year 2020 Julia was selected to TV1 as recommended by ‘Sha Shakthi’ , when she had to present ’Robaina’. also, for teenagers having received a huge boost from Prabath whom she says was a treasure to the channel with vast skills and possessing an amazing personality for one year adding as a WOW person thereafter after he left Julia had continued solo for three years, then had joined with MTV- MBC presenting a Christmas program and followed by other programs. It was added at a television dialog that Julia is now a ‘logo’ at Sirasa. All audiences wish her to be entrusted to present more programs.
Julia had accentuated that for a ‘girl’ if she keeps her backbone strong and straight to follow desires and talents one cannot fail., but one should select the perfective field where one could triumph in a stable manner to be autonomous in life. In the same year 2020 Julia had participated in the only two ‘ramps’ conducted yearly. Until then Julia’s mother had accompanied her always not that she was suspicious but she has had a fear as Julia was the only child. Even for parties, to restaurants with friends she had participated staying away but watching the proceedings. After a long stint Mother had allowed her to travel to her occupation all alone but after she had given Julia a solid basement. From this time Julia to safeguard her wishes she had been more careful in her activities. Julia believes if anyone follows his deeds to be a fan of hers, eighty percent of her assemble of virtues belonged to her mother ,was described to be a ’ wonder woman’ , the balance twenty percent from herself and father It is learnt that mother who is an excellent seamstress toils despite her daily chaos to stitch her blouses and other dresses as a skilled seamstress .
Thereafter Julia was entrusted with the Voice Teens digital as host where again Julia had moved with teenagers. Julia had felt relaxed and comfortable with the rhythm with the progress of the program .Then she was selected to present ‘Tharu Irida” with the help of Vikum and Heshan where she had to find the unique way to communicate with so many viewers as well as the artistes participating. She learnt how to make a ‘respect climax’. The most recent triumph was her entry to the media related to ‘cricket’. Her father had been a die hard cricket fanatic who knows whether the umpires decision ids correct before ‘decision review system’ confirms the verdict, On cricket Julia had learnt from her father who had been a cricket fanatic having played the game seriously. He was a person Julia recollects keeps the alarm to get up in the wee hours of the morning to watch live Test cricket not involving Sri Lanka, this Julia recollect from the time she was three years old. Julia had learnt details about many Sri Lanka matches tried to be updated hence Julia has had a fair knowledge about cricket which allowed her to justify the decision to be selected to host cricket tournaments like Asia Cup 2022 and ICC world Cup 2023 for MTV MBC TV. She recollected the back up given by Vindana and Imesh had acknowledged to unprecedented tall elevations sans any hesitancy unlike many others who like to ditch when a novice enters the arena The behaviour of the seniors had given Julia a huge boost .Julia had conveyed in a dialog that they extended their hundred percent without been even slightest stingy making Juliya very comfortable. At the Asia cup Juliya was made to visit the playing area at the Pallekelle International cricket stadium had added with so many fans was described as a sheer ‘Pissuwak’ when fans screamed ‘Julia’. After her association with legends like Mavan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya, Roshan Abeysinghe ,Russel Arnold, She had received good comments after her pioneering appearance in 2022 from those in the commentary box like the heavy weight Roshan Abeysinghe complementing on her improvement in year 2023 After which the T20 KD had stated that year 2023 was Julia’s best year in her tenure at MTV MBC .Julia had stated at an interview that even in the event she has to leave Sirasa she had vouched that she will never join another television channel.
For her higher studies Julia had followed fashion designing and product development. She had stated that she has a hidden talent to change any costume slightly to make it more beautiful , she loves her rare ‘fashion sense’. Julia intends to commence a clothing line soon. According to her before and after the ‘Covid’ tenure the designing patterns had changed. Now she works with many brands and work as a TVC and Ramp model from which she derives an income also from catalogues after checking the brands searching the history. Julia had signed contracts with many brands She recollected at a Ramp her six inch heel had broken off but she had completed the Ramp with her fingers which only her designer had noticed. Julia’s own clothing brand will emerge after much deliberation as she is a person who enjoys her life To commence a serious business she intends to stay calm unlike many others until she is thirty years old.
In year 2023 Julia had been nominated for the prestigious best television anchor at the 20th annual Raigam awards ceremony, winning the coveted award not had in her mind ,as she was on a live at the stein studios with responsibility shouldered in the Sirasa Voice Teens digital .Julia added to the media that her first apprehension was to complete the ‘live’ for which her priority. Her mother had stitched her a rare white beautiful dress to wear for the occasion. Julia had arrived at the venue just ten minutes ahead of the start of the event. After her triumph the parents said the credit for this victory should go to her as it was all her solo effort. This triumph was all the more precious as this field was not as her main chosen arena.
The victory at the Asia model festival ,Face of Asia 2024 -annual Female Face of Asia 2024 was held in Gangwon South Korea with the involvement of twenty seven countries with the participation of many male and female contestants. Also the awards for best country partner and main sponsor awards were won convincingly by Sri Lanka. Julia was more contented when SRI LANKA name was announced a number of times Julia had added that to win these awards there had been terrific pre work outs which were very hectic with training and other areas which had given the team a good basement
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Thus Sri Lankan model Julia made headlines by winning the coveted ‘Face of Asia 2024 trophy’ Even more remarkable is that this was Julia’s first time contesting on an international stage.Julia also stressed that winning ‘Face of Asia 2024’ felt like more than a personal achievement for her; it was a victory for Sri Lanka.The Face of Asia revolves mainly on Personality, Walk, Dress. Discipline .Traditions etc She recalled the ecstasy of hearing her name called on stage: “It was simply a bizarre instant. ‘They didn’t just call out ‘Julia’; they called her ‘Julia Sri Lanka’. Hearing that had meant everything to her. Representing Sri Lanka on that stage was the best experience of Julia’s life .Hence she is so modestly honoured to have had that opportunity.”
Competing against Asia’s top modelling talents for one of the continent’s most prestigious titles as a first-time contestant was deterring experience, but it also pushed Julia to new limits and boosted her to have enhanced the best version of herself. “It was a lot of hard work and sleepless nights getting there, and I had the support of a truly wonderful team,” Julia added..
Preparing for the ‘Asia Model Festival’ required intense dedication and focus. Julia first had to compete for the ‘Face of Sri Lanka’ title, which proved an invaluable acquiring practice. “The competition in Sri Lanka had been tough too,” . “There was so much amazing talent. From that point on, She had learnt to be disciplined and to compete in a way she hadn’t done before. This was her first time competing internationally, so it was a whole new experience to Julia.
Julia also shared that her journey to the ‘Face of Asia’ title would not have been possible without the guidance and support she received from her mentors, Face of Sri Lanka National Director Kalpanee Gunawardana and The Agency Sri Lanka Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kosh Hewage.Julia had quipped that they helped us tremendously, teaching us how to carry themselves , how to be disciplined, and how to be robust competitors. There had been so many sleepless nights and hard work, but in the end, it all had paid off.”
In the context of the above Julia is definitely a multifaceted versatile personality unparalleled and supreme still in her mid twenties has achieved much more than any other female individual of her epoch in native Sri Lanka.All followers of her , Sri Lankans would wish her in the abundance of zones in her selected professions to climb to the pinnacle of celebrity.
