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Blessie’s favourite things 

19 Jun 2022

By Kusumanjalee Thilakarathna PHOTO © KASUN S. THILAKARATHNE Eight-year-old Blessie Joshna is not an unfamiliar face for those who enjoy watching television. We have seen her in many popular TV commercials; she has been in more than 40 commercials. This little star is also a talented artist with a special interest in pencil drawings. She also practises dancing with her mother. She shares what she enjoys doing on her YouTube channel ‘Blessie Joshna’.  Q: Blessie, can you introduce yourself to us? A: My full name is Kotikalage Blessie Joshna Emerald Perera. Everyone calls me Blessie. I am eight years old and I live in Wattala. I attend La Salle English Medium School and I am now in grade four. There are four members in my family – my mother, my father, my brother Shone, and me. I love to dance, sing, and draw. I enjoy reading books during my free time too. I have a big doll collection. I like collecting different types of dolls. I enjoy cooking small dishes. I like doing cooking videos for my YouTube channel.  I have many pets – two dogs, lovebirds, and some pet fish. Among them, I am most attached to Jaike – my German Shepherd puppy who is only seven months old. I like to help poor people. My ambition is to be a teacher. I like to teach children. I have a passion for modelling and have appeared in more than 40 commercials.    Q: We would like to hear more about Jaike. A: He is black and peach in colour. He is a German Shepherd. He is very naughty but so innocent at the same time. When I got him, he was just a little pup and he has gotten so big in the last couple of months. He likes to eat chicken, biscuits, and cake. When he is being really naughty, we scare him with a cane but we never hit him, because that will hurt him. I have trained him. Now he can follow the commands, ‘eat’, ‘spit’, ‘take’, ‘lay down’, and ‘go to the cage’.   Q: Do you have any advice for dog owners? A: Yes. Love your pets as much as possible. Take good care of them. Take them for the vet visits as scheduled and give their vaccines on time. More than anything, it’s important to spend time with them as much as possible. You have to also try and train them and teach them discipline.   Q: Can you remember your first experience in front of a camera? A: Yes. It was a commercial recorded for a bank. I felt very shy and needed my mother to be near me but it gave me enough experience so that I could forget my shyness and be camera-ready always when it was time for a shoot.    Q: How can you avoid being camera-shy? A: Listen to the director properly and try to understand the steps correctly. That is the main thing. Be friendly with all the groups which support the overall production like cameramen, makeup artists, and supporting staff. When everything and everyone looks familiar, it’s easy to relax. Also, remember to be on location on time and to cooperate with the other models. Then, try to give it your best!   Q: You have beautiful hair. What do you do to maintain it? A: I apply oil and comb it every day. That helps to keep my hair well-nourished. Using good shampoo and conditioner is also important to maintain the type of hair I have. Once a month, I have to trim the ends and that helps to keep my hair damage-free. Eating healthy vegetables and fruits also helps a lot.    Q: You said drawing is one of your hobbies. What do you like to draw? A: I mainly do pencil art. There are no special themes that I like to draw. I master my skills in pencil art by watching tutorials on YouTube. I have participated in several art competitions and won first and second places too.    Q: Your other hobby is dancing? A: Yes. I love it because I train with my mother. We both dance together and my mother is a very talented dancer. We follow a western dancing style.    Q: How is your experience having your mother as your dance trainer? A: Well, it’s fun. She is strict and fun at the same time. She shows me the movements and teaches me how to follow the rhythm. She also corrects my moves if there are any flaws.    Q: What about music? A: I like to sing and I can sing nicely too. I love to learn how to play the piano too. But I am not attending any practices yet.    Q: What books do you enjoy reading? I enjoy reading books like ‘Alice in Wonderland’, ‘Heidi’, ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’, and fairytales.   Q: What is your favourite among these? ‘Heidi’. I like Heidi’s character and how that story flows. I have read it many times. Sometimes, I imagine that I am Heidi and I act like her.    Q: Did you ever want to try acting? I have had many chances and invitations but I haven’t wanted to try it out just yet. I will not be able to manage my time between acting, school, and my other activities. Unlike commercials, acting in dramas or movies takes up a lot of time. I will give it a try in the future, maybe in another year or two.    Q: Are there any supporters you would like to thank? A: First of all, I want to thank my family, especially my brother. He always comes with me to every shoot. I want him there. I want to thank aunty Neoma who gave me the opportunity to perform in advertisements. I also want to thank all the model casting directors uncle Nishan Anjana, uncle Dewa, aunty Senani, and uncle Janaranjana. I want to thank all the directors and assistant directors who support me to do my act well. Also, all the crew members – from transport, makeup artists, costume designers, and those who give me delicious and healthy food on the set.     


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