Ukraine's Viktoria Apanasenko reveals national costume for 71st Miss Universe


Miss Universe Ukraine 2022 Viktoria Apanasenko finally revealed her symbolic national costume for the 71st Miss Universe pageant.

The "Warrior of Light" costume symbolizes her nation's fight against the darkness, like an archangel Michael with a sword protecting Ukraine. It was completed in four months of extreme conditions, to the sound of sirens, without electricity, and by candlelight.

In addition to a weapon in her hand, the costume also features a monolithic jumpsuit that covers Viktoria's body like armor, a vyshyvanka-styled white dress with puffy sleeves and skirt with over 10 meters of fabric, a beautiful headpiece, and wings inspired by the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

"It is the personification of inner strength, courage, determination and will flowing in our veins. War cannot break our strength and will not discolor our hearts. Ukraine will bloom like a phoenix even in a fire. It shines with bright rays of kindness and faith," Viktoria shared on social media.

"We are all true warriors of light - unbreakable, made of steel, who will definitely defeat the darkness and evil that has come to our land," she added.

Designed by costume designer Lesia Patoka, the meaningful national costume will be showcased during the upcoming 71st Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA this January.

Photos: Olena Rozbytska / Miss Ukraine

Popular posts from this blog

Miss Universe Portugal 2025 is Camila Vitorino

Image
Former Miss Queen of Portugal Camila Vitorino was crowned Miss Universe Portugal 2025 last Saturday, June 14 in the beautiful and historic city of Elvas. The 26-year-old from São Sebastião, Setúbal made history as the first married woman and mother to become Miss Universe Portugal. Laura Malaquias, Diliana Fernandes, and Ivone Carneiro were announced as the first, second, and third runners-up, respectively. Last year's winner Andreia Correia passed on her crown to her successor at the end of the event. "It is with great honor that I carry this sash on my chest representing all women, all mothers and the Portuguese people. I promise you that I will give my best on behalf of all of Portugal," shared the new Miss Universe Portugal. Camila is no stranger to beauty pageants, having won Miss Queen of Portugal 2019. She was supposed to participate in Miss Earth 2020 but ended up not competing due to professional reasons. She will now prepare to represent Portugal at Miss Univers...
Read more

Meet the winners of Binibining Pilipinas 2025

Image
Binibining Pilipinas 2025, the 61st Binibining Pilipinas pageant, was held on Sunday, June 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The show was hosted by former titleholders Kylie Verzosa, Mary Jean Lastimosa, Maureen Montagne, and Nicole Cordoves. Katrina Anne Johnson from Davao was crowned Binibining Pilipinas International 2025 (Miss International Philippines 2025) and she will represent her country at the Miss International 2026 competition in Japan. The title of Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2025 (The Miss Globe Philippines) went to Annabelle Mae McDonnell of Iligan and she will head to Albania to compete in The Miss Globe 2025. Dalia Khattab of Las Piñas and Kathleen Enid Espenido of Siargao were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. Last year's winners Myrna Esguerra of Abra and Jasmin Bungay of Pampanga crowned their respective successors at the end of the event. A total of 36 contestants from across the country were selected to participate in the ...
Read more

Miss Universe Peru 2025 is Karla Bacigalupo

Image
Karla Bacigalupo was crowned Miss Peru 2025 (Miss Universe Peru 2025) in a national competition held last Sunday, June 15 in the historic city of Cusco. The 33-year-old actress and producer will now prepare to represent Peru at Miss Universe 2025 to be held in Thailand this November. Former Reina Hispanoamerican Maricielo Gamarra was announced as first runner-up while former Top Model of the World Janet Leyva finished as the second runner-up. Last year's winner Tatiana Calmell crowned her successor at the end of the event. She placed in the Top 12 at Miss Universe 2024 and was awarded the continental title of Miss Universe Americas. The new Miss Universe Peru was born in Lima and studied business administration and management at the University of Lima. She later moved to the USA to pursue acting. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Organización Miss Perú (@missperuofficial) Photos: Hose Vilela / DH Agency, Miss Peru Or...
Read more

French model Adonis Renaud wins Manhunt International 2025

Image
Adonis Renaud, representing France, was proclaimed Manhunt International 2025 on Tuesday, June 10 at the CDC Ballroom in Bangkok, Thailand. The 22-year-old model from Marseille beat over 30 other contestants to win the international title. He became the second French winner next to Fabrice Bertrand Wattez who won in 2002. Piyumal Sithum Pattuwearachchi of Sri Lanka was named first runner-up while Rhyeme Wright of Jamaica, Jordan San Juan of the Philippines, and Vu Linh Nguyen of Vietnam were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. This year's event marked the 23rd edition of the annual male supermodel competition. The new Manhunt International succeeds last year's winner Kevin Dasom from Thailand. Aside from prize money, the winner also receives a one week trip to Los Angeles, modeling contract, acting workshop, international photoshoot, skincare package, casting and audition opportunities. Meet the 23rd Manhunt International: View this post o...
Read more

Thailand's Opal Suchata Chuangsri crowned Miss World 2025

Image
Opal Suchata Chuangsri from Thailand beat 107 other contestants to be crowned Miss World 2025 on Saturday, May 31 at the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The 22-year-old beauty has made history for her country as she became the first-ever Thai woman to win the prestigious title. She also won the multimedia fast track challenge. Hasset Dereje Admassu from Ethiopia, Maja Klajda from Poland, and Aurélie Joachim from Martinique were announced the first, second, and third, runners-up, respectively. Completing the Top 8 finalists were Jéssica Pedroso from Brazil, Selma Kamanya from Namibia, Krishnah Gravidez from the Philippines and Maria Melnychenko from Ukraine. The beauties from Ethiopia, Brazil, the Philippines, Martinique, Poland, and Australia were respectively named Miss World Africa, Miss World Americas, Miss World Asia, Miss World Caribbean, Miss World Europe, and Miss World Oceania. This year's competition marked the 72nd edition of th...
Read more

Spain's Juul Messiaen crowned Man of the World 2025

Image
Man of the World 2025, the 7th edition of the annual Man of the World competition was held on Saturday, May 31 at the SM North Edsa Skydome in Quezon City, Philippines. Juul Messiaen, a 23-year-old model, athlete and real estate agent from Málaga, Spain bested over 20 other contestants to win the international male pageant. Israel Sierra of Mexico was named first runner-up while Sittichok Panitloedtewa of Thailand, Honza Jiránek of the Czech Republic, and Sworman Delgado of Panama were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The new Man of the World was crowned by his predecessor Sergio Azuaga of Venezuela. He became the first Spanish representative to take home the title. "My first walk as Man of the World 2025 — a moment of pride, purpose, and promise. This is more than a title — it’s a mission," Juul shared online. "Let's lead with heart, live with honor, and uplift the world together," he added. View this post on Instagram ...
Read more

Venezuela's glorious years at Miss Universe pageant

Image
With an impressive seven winners so far, Venezuela can be considered a powerhouse country when it comes to the Miss Universe pageant. There is no doubt that the annual Miss Venezuela is also regarded as one of the most prestigious and anticipated national pageants in the world. Although the first titleholder was named in the early 1900s, the competition was officially established in 1952 — that same year the country debuted at Miss Universe. Prior to its first victory in 1979 courtesy of Maritza Sayalero, Venezuela had already achieved several placements and runner-up finishes that seemed to herald glorious decades ahead. Three more winners emerged during the 80s and 90s with Miss Universe 1981 Irene Sáez, Miss Universe 1986 Bárbara Palacios, and Miss Universe 1996 Alicia Machado On top of that, from 1983 until 2003, the country achieved a total of 21 consecutive placements — the second-longest streak next to the USA. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ste...
Read more

Miss Global 2025 is Nguyen Dinh Nhu Van of Vietnam

Image
Nguyen Dinh Nhu Van from Vietnam was crowned Miss Global 2025 on Sunday, March 9 at the MCC Hall, The Mall Lifestore Ngamwongwan in Nonthaburi, Thailand. The 33-year-old model hailing from Lam Dong province bested over 60 other contestants to become the first Vietnamese representative to win the international beauty title. Keri-Ann Greenwood of Jamaica was named first runner-up while Ediris Rivera of Puerto Rico, Lindsay Lauren Becker of the USA, and Xena Ramos of the Philippines were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The rest of the Top 10 finalists were from Belarus, Darya Hancharevich, Ecuador, Juliana Robles, Indonesia, Baby Kristami, Switzerland, Jordena Lajci, and Venezuela, Andrea Del Val. Jana Marvanova of the Czech Republic and Kiko Uchizone of Japan were announced as additional finalists for winning the Miss Global People's Choice and Miss Global Sisterhood awards, respectively. Completing the Top 20 semifinalists were the contestants from Bolivia, C...
Read more

Miss Universe Ukraine 2025 is Sofiya Tkachuk from Rivne

Image
Sofiya Tkachuk, 25, from Rivne, has recently been crowned Miss Universe Ukraine 2025 and will represent Ukraine at the 74th Miss Universe pageant. Anastasiia Hrytsak was named first runner-up while Karina Zakharash, Anna Fedorenko, and Alice-Maria Oleksyuk were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. In view of the ongoing full-scale war in Ukraine, the Miss Universe Ukraine organizing committee has once again decided not to hold a national pageant. The finalists were selected through online voting. The new Miss Universe Ukraine succeeds last year's titleholder Alina Ponomarenko and will head to Thailand this November to compete in Miss Universe 2025. "When I was four years old, my family moved abroad. I grew up among different languages and cultures, but I always felt: my roots are in Ukraine, and my soul is Ukrainian," she said. Sofiya holds a degree in finance from EAE Business School in Barcelona and is fluent in English and Spanish. Her life and ...
Read more

Miss Washington USA 2023 is Samantha Gallia of King County

Image
Miss King County, Samantha Gallia was crowned Miss Washington USA 2023 in the state competition held on Sunday, November 13 at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center. The 24-year-old breast cancer support advocate is a graduate of a doctorate degree in dentistry from the University of the Pacific and is currently an oral and maxillofacial radiology resident at the University of Washington. She succeeded last year's winner Mazzy Eckel and will now represent Washington at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada. Green Lake's Taylor Mann and Stanwood's Stephanie Yerigan were respectively announced as the first and second runners-up while Mukilteo's Jesi Williams and West Bellevue's Starla Sampaco rounded out the Top 5 finalists. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Samantha Gallia, DDS (@drsamanthagallia) "I have about a million thank yous to make, but for now- thank you to every person who has ever believed in me and poured into me. I am so gra...
Read more