The Gaia Kodituwakku youd meet now didnt come with her titles (think fitness guru, entrepreneur and radio personality); she was the girl you accidentally struck up a conversation with at a party and wanted to be friends with forever. Her humble dude attitude and strong female persona left me with the impression that she has persisted despite all obstacles thrown in her path.
THE SO-CALLED SPOILT BRAT
Imagine an overprotected only child from a very conventional family who didn’t even know how to make herself a cup of tea by the time she went abroad for her higher studies. That was Gaia at the age of 19. Then life threw her a curveball.
She experienced abuse followed by chronic depression. And, just like any other young adult, she also faced an identity crisis to the point where her accent and handwriting would change according to the person she was talking or writing to. She was a chameleon – a confused one at that.
Then she stumbled upon fitness – where she encountered strong women lifting heavy weights shoulder to shoulder with men, challenging themselves out of social norms and rediscovering themselves. Gaia wanted to be one of them. “It was not just about losing weight, I wanted to become stronger,” says Gaia. She was adamant and highly disciplined with herself and underwent crazy routines.
YOU LOOK LIKE A MAN
Gaia didn’t always have the perfect body she has now. She underwent body issues and still goes through them. When she was a child everyone knew her as the ‘fat girl’ and when she started working out, she lost weight and became too skinny. When people started chiming in with the usual commentary on how a woman should not be fixated on a man’s occupation, she was loud and proud of it, although it wasn’t an easy journey. “People would tell me that I’m going to break something and that I’m not going to have children and other ignorant misconceptions.. It was an uncomfortable journey fighting against the norm, and it certainly wasn’t easy,” she reveals.
Denne historien er fra October 2018-utgaven av Cosmopolitan Sri Lanka.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra October 2018-utgaven av Cosmopolitan Sri Lanka.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Letting go of fear
Oozing confidence, Shalindri Malawana learned a long time ago how to take on anything life thrust at her.
Conservation and care
Savera Weerasinghe’s career, from a non-profit to the manufacturing industry to sustainability, has always had a single common theme: start small, think big.
A woman with a cause
Shiandra Gooneratne is in a bat t le against an age-old enemy and plans to make a difference
Telling stories making space
Nabeela Yaseen created a platform for women and girls to feel safe, seen, and supported. She never expected just how many of them would need it.
Saving the environment
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Doing her own thing
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Dance etched in her veins
Thajithangani “Thaji” Dias lives and breathes dance
Changing mindsets
Randhula De Silva, CEO of Hatch and Director of GIZ, is a disrupter at her core. And she’s just get ting started.
A guide to making it big in your career
It 's in the details
How To Watch A Movie Alone And Have The Best Time Ever
Movie marathon, anyone? No? Cool, I‘ll go solo!
