She’s not quite Miss Universe but twenty-five year old Eleni Ratnayaka was almost crowned Mrs World Australia.
The Greek-Cypriot mother of two received the third highest number of votes in the Mrs World Australia finals last week.
The competition was the first international beauty pagaent to be held in Australia exclusively for married women.
“I would like to be a role model for women of my age and prove that you can be married or have children and still have your own goals and ambitions to reach for,” she said.
Although she didn’t win, Ratnayaka was awarded the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Award, which will see her as a spokesperson for Ovarian Cancer Australia.
“It is such an important cause and more awareness needs to be raised – nearly 75 per cent of ovarian cancer cases are caught too late,” she said.
Mrs World Australia, which aimed to raise funds and awareness for Ovarian Cancer not only judged applicants on their beauty and knowledge of current affairs, but on an essay addressing how they would work with Ovarian Cancer Australia to make a difference.
Ratnayaka said she would like to create an Ovarian Cancer Australia postage stamp, as well as to distribute awareness pamphlets across doctor’s surgeries.
A stay at home mum and a model for several years, Ratnayaka also works with youth in her local suburb of Noble Park.
She has been married for over six and a half years to her Sri-Lankan husband and has two sons, Tarren 4, and Kalen 4 months.
“I enjoy helping others in the community whilst teaching good values to our eldest son,” she said.
“I would like to continue charity related work in future, and start up my own business working with kids.”