Andrea Fonseka
Andrea Fonseka | |
|---|---|
 Kavita Sidhu, Jimmy Choo, Heah Sieu Lay, Andrea Fonseka and Amber Chia at the launch of "The Twelve" | |
| Born | Andrea Veronica Fonseka 29 August 1984 |
| Education | National University of Singapore |
| Occupation(s) | Model, host, actress, beauty queen titleholder |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Spouse |
Paul Dewar (m. 2010) |
| Parent(s) | Josephine Lena Wong Datuk Dr. G.C.A Fonseka |
Andrea Fonseka (born 29 August 1984) is a Malaysian actress, TV host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2004.[1] As an actress, she is currently working predominantly in Malaysia and Singapore.
Personal life
[edit]Andrea Fonseka was born in Penang, Malaysia, on 29 August 1984. She is of mixed ethnic heritage. Her father is of mixed Sinhalese (Sri Lankan), Portuguese, Spanish and Filipino (Eurasian) descent and a native Penangite, while her mother is of Chinese descent and Cantonese ancestry from Ipoh, Perak.[2] She is the youngest of four daughters and currently lives and works in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. She studied at SMK(P) Taman Petaling (Taman Petaling Girls' National Secondary School) in Petaling Jaya during her secondary school years. She also holds a Bachelor of Laws from the National University of Singapore.
Fonseka married Australian lawyer Paul Dewar on 31 July 2010, in Kuala Lumpur.
Career
[edit]Fonseka first came to the public's attention when she hosted the first season of Xfresh.tv, a teen program produced by Malaysia's Astro TVIQ.
In 2004, Andrea followed in her mother's footsteps, Josephine Lena Wong,[3] and won the Miss Malaysia Universe title.[2] She subsequently represented Malaysia in Miss Universe 2004, in Ecuador.[4] After the pageant, Andrea relocated to Singapore to study Law at the National University of Singapore. She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from NUS in 2008. Shortly after moving to Singapore, Andrea became an ambassador for Marie France Bodyline and appeared on numerous magazine covers, including FHM Singapore.
This exposure led her to becoming a host on ESPN's Score Today[usurped] and then suitcase girl number 10 in Deal or No Deal on Mediacorp Channel 5. Following the success of Deal or No Deal, Channel 5 invited Andrea to co-host the live TV singing contest Live The Dream with Utt and Michelle Chia.[5]
Andrea subsequently moved into acting, starring in small parts in Maggi & Me and Parental Guidance, and then landing major roles in Housemates, the channel 5 drama En Bloc and the feature film Carrotcake Conversations.
Andrea was voted the world's sexiest woman in FHM Singapore's 100 Sexiest Women in the World for 2007. She won No.1 ranking for the second time in 2008, making her the first repeat winner for FHM's Top 100 Sexiest.
2009–present
[edit]Andrea was inducted into the Miss Malaysia Universe Hall of Fame in 2009,[6] recognizing her success and contribution in the regional entertainment industry. In 2010, Fonseka became the Face of the Malaysia International Fashion Week, and fronting the Fashion-TV program.
Fonseka was the National Director for Miss Universe Malaysia from 2010 until 2013.[7]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Xfresh.tv | Host | |
| Miss Universe 2004 | Contestant | Pageant | |
| 2006 | A Light Affair | Contestant | |
| Female Magazine 50 Most Gorgeous 2006 | Contestant | Pageant | |
| Housemates | Andrea | Music videos | |
| Parental Guidance | SIA attendant | ||
| 2007 | ESPN Score Today | Presenter | |
| Deal or No Deal | Suitcase 10 | Game show | |
| Live The Dream | Host | Live TV singing contest | |
| 2008 | Maggi & Me | Sherry | TV comedy |
| En Bloc | Cindy Lim | TV drama | |
| The Carrotcake Conversations | Ruth | ||
| Don't Forget the Lyrics | Herself | Game show | |
| 2011 | BeautyCamp | Host, judge, executive producer | The search for Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 |
| 2012 | The Apartment Style Edition | Guest judge | Episode 205, season 1 |
| 2014 | Asia's Next Top Model (Season 2) | Herself, guest judge | Episode 8 |
Notes
[edit]- ^ HENG, NATALIE. "Like mother, like daughter". The Star. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ a b Former Miss Malaysia shares KL's best-kept shopping secret, Felix Cheong, Asiaone, 18 October 2008.
- ^ Beauty queen follows in mother's footsteps, New Straits Times, 16 April 2004.
- ^ "Ecuador picked to host 2004 Miss Universe pageant". Reuters News. 19 August 2003.
- ^ Bio of Live The Dream host Andrea Fonseka, retrieved February 2009.
- ^ About MUMO Archived 7 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 7 April 2011.
- ^ Andrea Fonseka, National Director Archived 17 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 7 April 2011.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- Malaysian people of Kristang descent
- People from Ipoh
- Malaysian people of Cantonese descent
- 1984 births
- Living people
- Malaysian beauty pageant winners
- Malaysian people of Portuguese descent
- Malaysian people of Filipino descent
- Malaysian people of Spanish descent
- Malaysian people of Sri Lankan descent
- Malaysian people of Chinese descent
- Miss Universe 2004 contestants
- National University of Singapore alumni
- People from Penang