Thanuja keeps it simple.

2010/05/12
RACHAEL PHILIP
rachael@nstp.com.my





Being on the go is tough on skin. Miss World Malaysia Thanuja Anandan tells RACHAEL PHILIP that Mum’s skin potions and a good moisturiser help
IT has turned her life upside down — there’s no denying it.

From a lanky law student, Thanuja Anandan has transformed into a gorgeous, confident beauty queen.


Winning the Miss World Malaysia title last October put her in the spotlight, opened doors and kept her on the go.

"My mother gave me a good foundation. She taught me to take care of my skin. Skincare is a traditional thing in our home. Everything comes from the kitchen"

Perhaps the one most visible change Thanuja embraced was cosmetics.

For someone who didn’t believe much in colours — a strictly khol-and-lip-gloss-only person — she’s now vibrant in more ways than one.
“I hated make-up.

Even after winning the crown, I was keen to maintain my simple, fuss-free look,” the chatty 23-year-old says.
Then she joined the other beauty queens at the Miss World pageant and there, her impressions changed.
She was with some 100 women for six weeks, moving from London to Abu Dhabi and finally South Africa, where the pageant was held last year.
“The girls were all stunning, perfect.

The papparazi followed us all the time.

You have to look your best always, even if your programme starts at 2am.
“During the six weeks, the organisers didn’t call us by name.

We were known as Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines,” says Thanuja who stands at 180cm tall.
“Then it hit me.

I am no more Thanuja, I am Malaysia and if I look better with make-up, so be it.”
Thanuja had brought with her RM3,000 worth of make-up that she won in KL, and her new friends helped her get acquainted with the palette of colours, the different types brushes and other beauty paraphernalia.
“Perla (Beltran) — she’s sweet — from Mexico eased me into it, teaching me stuff like ‘This brush is for this and here is how you use this one’.”
So, no cat fights in the changing room?
“My group (of seven girls) was nice.

We took care of each other,” she says.
Thanuja didn’t learn much about make-up from her mother who is a lipstick-only person.

But she did pick up something more valuable.
“My mother gave me a good foundation.

She taught me to take care of my skin.

Skincare is a traditional thing in our home.

Everything comes from the kitchen,” she says.
If there is a breakout, a pimple, rash or even dandruff, the solution is found in the kitchen.
The family of four siblings were regularly treated to scrubs and cleansers made from yoghurt, green beans, honey, cumin and turmeric.
“I like to keep it as simple as possible.

I think that’s why I have a fairly good complexion.

I don’t believe in burdening the skin too much.”
And this is her No.

1 rule: Never go to bed with make-up on.
She says: “Even if I get home at 6am after long hours in front of the camera, I trudge to the bathroom and clean it all off.”
Her face has been coping well with the additional powders, foundation and colours.
There are days when she moves from one air-conditioned room to another or is holed up at a venue, her face under hot spotlights.
“I have combination skin.

These days I’m on the go all the time.

Hydration has become important.”
Her friend introduced to her to Eucerin’s new range of moisturisers called Aquaporin Active and she has been using it for a month now.
She likes the texture, It does not feel sticky under make-up.

And the eye cream does not migrate into the eye, causing irritation.
“It’s excellent.

The cream gives the eyes a lift and makes dark circles disappear,” says Thanuja who, besides fulfilling her duty as a beauty queen, is kept busy with modelling.
Thanuja recently posed for an ad campaign by People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta).
Peta Asia Pacific will use the on-going campaign in support of spay-and-neuter awareness.

And it will be used by Peta Asia Pacific for awareness purposes.
“I’m an animal enthusiast.

For me, animals have always come first,” says Thanuja who has been housing animals since she was 10.
“They are the most underprivileged beings on the planet.

They can’t voice an opinion or cry out in pain.

Why should animals be treated any different from babies?” says Thanuja.

who has two dogs, Nala, 14, and Sheeba, 5.

She hopes to work for the United Nations, advocating animal rights one day.
“My dogs and I spend lots of time with each other.

We have deep conversations.

If you treat them like people, you can have a fulfilling relationship with pets.”
This is also a love she shares with her twin sister, who is a banker.
From young, both loved beauty pageants and always tuned in to the glamorous shows on TV.

But while Thanuja’s more extrovert, her sister’s shy.
“But she’s my biggest cheerleader.”


Read more: Cover Story: Thanuja keeps it simple http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/CoverStory_Thanujakeepsitsimple/Article/#ixzz0oSMtcvML