Miss Ukraine and Miss Russia
Beauties bring war to the Miss Universe stage
The war between Russia and Ukraine does not stop at the Miss Universe pageant. The two beauties from the respective countries competed in a costume – with a lot of symbolism.
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Miss Ukraine Viktoriia Apanasenko at the Miss Universe 2023 pageant.
Marian NadlerEditor News
Costume fight at the Miss Universe election: At this year’s beauty contest, the candidates from Ukraine and Russia represented their cultures with their dresses.
The symbols chosen by the two competitors could not be more different.
Miss Ukraine as Archangel Michael
Miss Russia, Anna Linnikova (22), chose an outfit that, according to her, should represent the Russian Empire. The young woman appeared in a skimpy dress studded with precious stones and a blood-red velvet cape.
A crown completed her appearance. The State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg had created the costume especially for Linnikova.
Miss Ukraine, Viktoriia Apanasenko (28), on the other hand, embodied Archangel Michael, who in Christian stories defeats evil as a “warrior of light”. Her costume consisted of a white gold dress paired with towering wings in shades of blue and yellow. Her facial expression and gait conveyed the image of a warrior.
Hometown bombed by Russians
Apanasenko made no secret that the costume was inspired by the war in Ukraine. “I chose a warrior because it shows how Ukrainians are fighting right now for the future, for their freedom, for their independence, for every inch of our country and for our history,” the model explained on Instagram.
Her costume was made in Ukraine “in four months under extreme conditions, to the sound of sirens, without electricity and by candlelight,” said the graduate of a top Kiev university in the run-up to the competition. Her hometown of Chernihiv had been bombed by the Russians during the war.
Both Linnikova and Apanasenko still have a chance at the title of Miss Universe 2023. Whoever wins the competition will be decided on Saturday.