Last night, the Miss Universe organization made the public announcement through their Miss Universe app that Miss Universe Ukraine Viktoria Apanasenko is the winner of the Best National Costume at the Miss Universe 2022 contest. This subtitle news was declared two months after the grand coronation event was held on January 2023 where Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel was crowned as the eventual winner of the 71st Miss Universe. Originally the international pageant statement was scheduled for 28 February, however, the online voting was postponed until 15 March 2023 before the final results could be received. The Miss Universe pageant fans had voted for the Best National Costume and Miss Ukraine came out victorious for wearing a symbolic and powerful costume to portray the light on the current devastating situation happening in her home country.
The «Warrior of Light» costume symbolizes our nation’s fight against darkness. Like Archangel Michael, who defends Ukraine with a sword, it protects us. Viktoriia has a weapon in her hands, her body is covered in armor, and at the same time, she carries light through the darkness that came to our peaceful lands with the aggressor. The monolithic jumpsuit symbolizes armor and wraps Victoria like a second skin. The white dress consists of a stylization of a vyshyvanka with puffy sleeves and a skirt that has more than 10 meters of fabric to it. The headwear is decorated with spikelets, which are traditional in Ukraine. Symbolic wings are burned in battle, framed in blue and gold armor in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, and decorated with various mirror ornaments, opened for the decisive battle. The costume was created in Ukraine in four months in extreme conditions, to the sound of sirens, without electricity, and by candlelight. This beautiful national costume was designed and constructed by Lesia Patoka and Nagolovy. During the National Costume competition, the hosts, as part of their description said, “Nothing in this world can stop the spread of her wings!”
Before traveling to New Orleans, Louisiana to compete in the 71st Miss Universe competition, Apanasenko was volunteering with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, preparing food for the army and victims of the war. She told Insider she was contacted by her organizational committee to attend the Miss Universe pageant while she was washing the floors of the restaurant where she worked. She added: “I see a lot of broken lives. Some people lose their homes. Some people lost their land, and some people lost their parents or children. But every time I see strong power inside of people — that’s why I chose a warrior because it shows how Ukrainians fight right now for the future, for their freedom, for their independence, for every inch of our land and our history.”
What do you think of this news? Comment below
Become a part of the Pageant Empress family
Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/PageantEmpress/
To bring news and updates regarding beauty pageants.
