The Best Version Of Herself

Thanuja Ananthan Speaks Up About Being Bullied When She First Debuted in the Entertainment Industry and How Her Animal Rescue Work Has Kept Her Grounded Throughout the Years.

- Poon Li-wei

When Thanuja Ananthan’s mother placed both her daughters in front of the television so that they wouldn’t disturb her in the kitchen, little did she expect the glitz and ritz of the Miss World programme that was on screen to completely alter the course of Thanuja’s life. “My sister and I were hooked! We loved watching the women parade in their huge ball gowns as they announced their country’s name. From then on, it was an annual affair at home – we’d watch the pageant together,” she reminisces, before charmingly quipping, “My dad told me to finish my degree and then I could do whatever I wanted. I did that and the next thing I knew, I had the crown on my head and you can find all footage of my ugly crying online!”

“BEAUTIFUL FACE, BUT TOO MUCH HAIR”

You’d think that fresh after getting her degree and winning Miss Malaysia at the tender age of 23, she’d be on a high and on her way to becoming Malaysia’s darling – but a rude awakening was in store for her. “I had people telling me that my hair was too big, my skin too dark, or that I had a beautiful face but too much hair. I’d been asked to cut, colour, and straighten my hair!” she shares. In fact, she puts forth the fact that she’s the first full-Indian girl to win such a big title, ruminating aloud if perhaps that had ruffled some feathers.