Successful and Independent by FOBERINI: Olexandra Kucherenko

Behind a beautiful appearance, something else should always be hidden. What is hidden behind yours?
Purposefulness, diligence and perfectionism are the qualities that lead me to my dreams, goals and achievements. In any case, I'm determined to get the best result. I always believed that external beauty is a reflection of internal.

Do you agree with the statement that beauty is worth the sacrifice? What sacrifices did your beauty cost?
I like another statement: beauty will save the world. Better she brings happiness, love, inspiration and good into our lives than sacrifices in the name of appearance and envy. I'm appreciative to my parents and nature for my beauty. In many ways, it helps me and doesn't require any sacrifice in return. It remains only to support it.

Share your beauty recipe.
The key to good appearance and well-being: healthy nutrition, proper care, regular sport, good sleep. But my beauty recipe is not about cosmetics, diets and fitness. True beauty comes from within. Therefore, it's important to develop as a person, to cultivate oneself, to think positively, to give goodness to everything around and to feel happy being alive.

Winning "Miss Ukraine" is not only a status and gifts, but also a great social responsibility. What charitable and social projects have you been involved in? What were the difficulties?
After winning the competition, I had a lot of charity, social projects. After all, "Miss Ukraine" is the ambassador of goodness, the face of our country at the "Miss World" contest. With my beneficence project, I traveled to Ukrainian orphanages, rehabilitation centers, and boarding schools for a year. Together with the "Miss Ukraine" committee, we held charity events, participated in philanthropy auctions, collected and donated money for complex children's operations to the Heart Institute, visited the elderly at the Scenes Veterans House, went to Avdeevka and helped poor families with many children. Difficulties arose rather of a moral nature. Diseases, war, the cruelty of life - it is very painful to see the grief of people and every time it's psychologically difficult to experience it with them. Helping someone, you always give some part of yourself.

How has your character changed after winning "Miss Ukraine"?
This year in the status of "Miss Ukraine" gave me invaluable life experience. I think that I became more reasonable, responsible, kinder and more attentive to others.

What is it like to be the main recognized beauty of Ukraine and represent your country on "Miss World"?
It's a great honor, pride and responsibility to be "Miss Ukraine" and represent our country on "Miss World". Despite all the difficulties that were at competition, I managed to tell and show the world that our nation is smart, beautiful and kind.

What is the guarantee of victory at the "Miss Ukraine" contest?
I never dreamed of winning a beauty contest. But the stars came together so that, even without being winner of children's, regional, university competitions, I became "Miss Ukraine 2016". I think my iron rule helped me win this title: always be yourself, as you are.

What was the most memorable thing about the "Miss World" contest?
The moment from "Miss World", which I'll never forget, is the finale of the talent contest, in which I ended up with perfomance of my dance. Then, among the 10 named finalist countries, hearing my native “Ukraine” was great happiness and pride for me.

What are you doing now? What projects are you working on?
Now I've become the face of the social project "Mentoring." It's essence lies in the fact that every person who really wants to help a child from an orphanage or boarding school can become a mentor for him — a friend who will help to deal with problems, socialize, find his own path in life. I'm present at every signing of the memorandum in different cities of Ukraine, which allow this important and, in my own experience, necessary project to come into force. Also, now I participate in the project "Dance with the Stars" at "1 + 1". A true love of dancing led me to my dream — for this legendary show.

Beautiful to the right, smart to the left. How do you deal with this stereotype?
Around the title "Miss Ukraine" revolves a lot of stereotypes. I love to destroy them. I like to see how my interlocutor's eyes widen with every new word I say. I was surprised that I didn't fit the established image of a “silly beauty”.

Share your recipe for success. What role does beauty play in it?
Successful will be the one who works hard, strives, develops, burns with his work. One who has become a professional, an indispensable person in his field. To succeed, you need a goal, a strong desire to achieve it, hard work and luck. Beauty is also good luck. But it's one is not enough — it's only a merit of nature, and not of man.

Everyone has weaknesses. Tell us about yours.
My weakness is dancing. Since childhood, I gave all my strength, time, opportunities for training, master classes, performances. I can’t live without movement, creative flight, fiery music.

What is your strength?
My strength is my family. My family and friends who love me, support me, surround me with love and warmth.

What is your main goal in life?
I think the main goal of every person is to find happiness. My happiness is in development: in the profession, in my personal life, in my favorite business.

What have you done for Ukraine?
I love Ukraine. This is my home, my native land. Here I feel comfortable and happy. All my victories are the victories of Ukraine. I believe that in the future there will be even more! I want to always live and work for the good of my country, to help it with all my good deeds, charitable projects useful for our society.

How do you like to celebrate Independence Day of Ukraine?
On this day, I like to walk along the favorite streets of our capital.

Producer: Katerina Zemlyana

Photo: Olexander Gurman

Jewelery: Jewelery Buro Art

Style: FOBERINI