How does it feel to be crowned Mrs World 2009? What has changed after winning the title?

I feel happy and proud. I did hope to win when entering the contest, but I was not sure of being selected among the 12 finalists. Now that I am the winner, to know I am the most beautiful married woman in the world makes me very happy.

Can you tell us about your family and your job?

I live in Rostov-on-Don, a capital city in the southern part of Russia, 1,000km southeast of Moscow. I am one of the owners of an advertising agency there. I have been married for seven years. I miss my husband and four-year-old son, who are keeping their hearts for me and watching the contest from Rostov right now. Of course they’ve hoped I will win the contest because for them I am their wife and mother, as well as the best woman in the world.

Have you ever attended any beauty contests before?

I started participating in beauty contests in my country since I was 15 years old. I have taken part in four beauty contests in Russia and Ukraine: three in Russia and one in Ukraine. I won three of the four.

How did you prepare for the contest in Viet Nam?

There were many potential contestants for this contest in Russia 1,000km, more than a hundred. Several organisations in the country chose delegates for the final Mrs World pageant in Viet Nam. It was a very big responsibility for me to represent Russia here. I had to make a very special national costume for this show and prepare to answer questions from the judges.

Now that I have won the title, I will have to improve myself all the time to maintain harmony in my family, making me equal with my husband and making him proud of me.

Did you feel nervous before coming to Viet Nam for this contest?

Of course, I did. I was even more nervous when I arrived in Ba Ria - Vung Tau because all the other contestants were so beautiful. Others participants were also nervous.

Could you list the three most important personal qualities that made you win the contest?

I think I have only two, not three qualities. First of all I was not very sure about winning until the last second of the contest. Because some contestants were so sure they could win. It was a very big surprise for them when they were not listed in the top twelve or top six. I tried not to compete until the last second.

The second quality is to be sincere all the time. When you are sincere, the people and the judges can feel it.

What differences do you see between Vietnamese and Russian women?

I don’t see any difference. Russian women are very close to Vietnamese because they are strong, smart and take care their families.

You are working in the advertising industry, and now you are Mrs World. Do you have any plans that stem from this recognition?

I think I can only answer this question in a couple of days because I was not sure I could win, so I had not made any plans. It was so sudden. Now, the thing I would like to do most is to come back to my family.

VietNamNet/Vietnam News