Dialogue of cultures and elegance. Miss "Grace International" was chosen in Vitebsk
Almost a week of rehearsals and master classes is behind us – and here it is, the long-awaited finale of the V Open Competition of National Cultures, Creativity and Beauty "Grace International" in Vitebsk. Ten beauties from Belarus, Russia, China, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Cameroon, Kyrgyzstan, and Zimbabwe vied for this title (the last three countries were represented in the international project for the first time). As the participants themselves shared, this year's competition turned out to be warm, engaging, and incredibly atmospheric. BELTA correspondents observed the decisive events.
The challenges for the girls began on Friday afternoon. The hall of the main building of Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov (VSU) temporarily turned into a large culinary venue. Here, the girls presented their national dishes and drinks, surprising with their flavor combinations. Karavai, draniki, shchi, beshbarmak, kulibat, and sambalam – the menu was more than diverse.
Next, the finalists were awaited by their appearance on the big stage. The fact is that the main venue for the project, the "Vitebsk" concert hall, is preparing to host the Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, and renovation work is in full swing there. Therefore, this year the competition was warmly hosted by VSU.
The creative performance, the public speaking competition, and the fashion show were part of the evening program. In addition to spectators and jury members, numerous support groups for the participants were seated in the hall. The team of fans and friends of the Chinese participant He Yu made the impression of being the most prepared – long before the start, they occupied the front row, holding posters with the girl's portrait.
"Tender, refined, like an angel," described the participant Victoria Bogush, an employee of the educational department of the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts. "Despite He Yu being so fragile, she has a very strong character: she always defends her point of view. You know, she really wanted to come to Belarus. While in China, she studied the history and culture of Belarus, she likes our architectural monuments. She received her bachelor's degree in her homeland, professionally practices choreography, and now she is studying for her master's degree with us."
The hall greeted the finalists of "Grace International" with thunderous applause, as if stars had taken the stage.new magnitude. Later, posters with images of other project participants and their university flags were unfurled above the audience. The creative performances of the participants began with stories about national cultures, introducing some traditions from distant countries. For example, Aizhamal Bayamanova spoke about the national horse game in Kyrgyzstan. Rutenndo Ruzive invited everyone to see how a wedding ceremony takes place in Zimbabwe. And Nelli Blandin Djiejiip from Cameroon initially engaged in a dialogue with the audience through a video introduction, which she voiced in Russian – with a charming accent, openly and sincerely. The representative of Minsk State Linguistic University shared that she finds the meaning of life in simple things, such as respect and love. The girl is crazy about dancing because it energizes her and gives her the opportunity to enjoy the stage.
Matryoshka dolls, a каравай (round loaf of bread), and painted scarves adorned the choreography of Russian participant Stefania Osherova. If dancing is her passion, then public speaking, as the girl admitted, is not easy. "The stage – it's probably great, but you have to get used to it. Since I'm not someone who likes to speak in public, it was incredibly difficult. Reciting a poem and similar things is a very big step for me. But I'm glad I overcame myself and performed with dignity," shared the first-year student of the Vitebsk Order of "The Badge of Honour" State Academy of Veterinary Medicine.
The contestants were supposed to talk about their hometowns in their native language. The theme was: "My Unknown City." The Russian participant shared a couple of legends about Smolensk. She was given confidence by the encouraging words coming from both the audience and backstage – from other participants. "Despite the fact that various nationalities are represented here, we all supported each other. We tried to convey our thoughts in different languages," Stefania Osherova smiled. "We communicated mainly in English; some girls used open translators on their phones, where you speak, and they read it immediately."
Lu Danyi's two-minute story, accompanied by pleasant nature sounds and a video of breathtaking landscapes, was about her hometown, Guilin. "There is a folk saying: if"If there is paradise on Earth, it is Guilin," assured the Chinese woman. "That is why both Chinese tourists and tourists from all over the world strive to visit this wonderful place."
A student from VSU told a legend about the origin of the karst hills scattered along the Li River, about the beautiful landscapes, the symbol of Guilin - a mountain shaped like an elephant dipping its trunk into the water to drink. A few words about cormorant fishing, national dishes... In conclusion, the future music teacher invited everyone to Guilin for a tea ceremony.
"It was very important for me to represent China, my homeland, and myself. But the competition opened up the world to me in all its diversity. I made new friends, got acquainted with the cultures and traditions of other countries, which made my life brighter," shared Lu Danyi.
The "Grace International" competition is not about rivalry, but about friendship, believes Karolina Yakubova from Vitebsk State Technological University (VSTU). The Belarusian admitted that she appears before the audience with some excitement, but kept her emotions in check until the last second. It was she who became the owner of the crown and the title "Miss Grace International - 2024" - the jury highly appreciated her artistry and incredible energy. At least 40 pairs of eyes watched the girl's performances - family, fellow students, members of the student club, and university administration.
The challenges for the girls began on Friday afternoon. The hall of the main building of Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov (VSU) temporarily turned into a large culinary venue. Here, the girls presented their national dishes and drinks, surprising with their flavor combinations. Karavai, draniki, shchi, beshbarmak, kulibat, and sambalam – the menu was more than diverse.
Next, the finalists were awaited by their appearance on the big stage. The fact is that the main venue for the project, the "Vitebsk" concert hall, is preparing to host the Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, and renovation work is in full swing there. Therefore, this year the competition was warmly hosted by VSU.
The creative performance, the public speaking competition, and the fashion show were part of the evening program. In addition to spectators and jury members, numerous support groups for the participants were seated in the hall. The team of fans and friends of the Chinese participant He Yu made the impression of being the most prepared – long before the start, they occupied the front row, holding posters with the girl's portrait.
"Tender, refined, like an angel," described the participant Victoria Bogush, an employee of the educational department of the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts. "Despite He Yu being so fragile, she has a very strong character: she always defends her point of view. You know, she really wanted to come to Belarus. While in China, she studied the history and culture of Belarus, she likes our architectural monuments. She received her bachelor's degree in her homeland, professionally practices choreography, and now she is studying for her master's degree with us."
The hall greeted the finalists of "Grace International" with thunderous applause, as if stars had taken the stage.new magnitude. Later, posters with images of other project participants and their university flags were unfurled above the audience. The creative performances of the participants began with stories about national cultures, introducing some traditions from distant countries. For example, Aizhamal Bayamanova spoke about the national horse game in Kyrgyzstan. Rutenndo Ruzive invited everyone to see how a wedding ceremony takes place in Zimbabwe. And Nelli Blandin Djiejiip from Cameroon initially engaged in a dialogue with the audience through a video introduction, which she voiced in Russian – with a charming accent, openly and sincerely. The representative of Minsk State Linguistic University shared that she finds the meaning of life in simple things, such as respect and love. The girl is crazy about dancing because it energizes her and gives her the opportunity to enjoy the stage.
Matryoshka dolls, a каравай (round loaf of bread), and painted scarves adorned the choreography of Russian participant Stefania Osherova. If dancing is her passion, then public speaking, as the girl admitted, is not easy. "The stage – it's probably great, but you have to get used to it. Since I'm not someone who likes to speak in public, it was incredibly difficult. Reciting a poem and similar things is a very big step for me. But I'm glad I overcame myself and performed with dignity," shared the first-year student of the Vitebsk Order of "The Badge of Honour" State Academy of Veterinary Medicine.
The contestants were supposed to talk about their hometowns in their native language. The theme was: "My Unknown City." The Russian participant shared a couple of legends about Smolensk. She was given confidence by the encouraging words coming from both the audience and backstage – from other participants. "Despite the fact that various nationalities are represented here, we all supported each other. We tried to convey our thoughts in different languages," Stefania Osherova smiled. "We communicated mainly in English; some girls used open translators on their phones, where you speak, and they read it immediately."
Lu Danyi's two-minute story, accompanied by pleasant nature sounds and a video of breathtaking landscapes, was about her hometown, Guilin. "There is a folk saying: if"If there is paradise on Earth, it is Guilin," assured the Chinese woman. "That is why both Chinese tourists and tourists from all over the world strive to visit this wonderful place."
A student from VSU told a legend about the origin of the karst hills scattered along the Li River, about the beautiful landscapes, the symbol of Guilin - a mountain shaped like an elephant dipping its trunk into the water to drink. A few words about cormorant fishing, national dishes... In conclusion, the future music teacher invited everyone to Guilin for a tea ceremony."It was very important for me to represent China, my homeland, and myself. But the competition opened up the world to me in all its diversity. I made new friends, got acquainted with the cultures and traditions of other countries, which made my life brighter," shared Lu Danyi.
The "Grace International" competition is not about rivalry, but about friendship, believes Karolina Yakubova from Vitebsk State Technological University (VSTU). The Belarusian admitted that she appears before the audience with some excitement, but kept her emotions in check until the last second. It was she who became the owner of the crown and the title "Miss Grace International - 2024" - the jury highly appreciated her artistry and incredible energy. At least 40 pairs of eyes watched the girl's performances - family, fellow students, members of the student club, and university administration.
"When you go on stage and realize that the audience is yours, there are people who love and support you, you see those familiar and dear eyes, and you realize: everything is fine, you are going in the right direction. This energizes you to give your all, not 100%, but 200%, 300% to perform your act," the girl shared after the performance. "I love our university because we are like a family and we support each other immensely."
She was able to give vent to her emotions only after the award ceremony. When asked who she dedicated her victory to, tears welled up in the girl's eyes: "To my beloved Alesya Anatolyevna. She will understand if she reads this." Later, Karolina explained that it was the head of the student club, Alesya Chyslova, who was the "mother" who personally guided her all the way. She surely helped with the stage images as well (Karolina changed five spectacular outfits during the competition).
It so happened that for four consecutive years, no representative from Belarus had won the project. The student of VSTU managed to reach this peak.
The I and II Vice-Miss titles were won by Chinese women Lu Danyi and He Yu, respectively. Russian Stefania Osherova was recognized as "Miss Friendship," and Rutendo Ruzive from Zimbabwe - "Miss Creativity." The title of "Miss Photo" was awarded to Aizhamal Bayamanova representing Kyrgyzstan, "Miss Charm" - to Belarusian Polina Khomenko, "Miss Style" - to Nelly Blandine Djiedjel from Cameroon. The jury awarded the titles of "Miss Talent" to Shehara Ashmine Kunchir representing Sri Lanka and "Miss Fashion" - to Valeria Jose Banies Bolivar from Venezuela.
All participants of the competition were thanked by the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, Viktor Glushin. He noted that it was a difficult but undoubtedly interesting week for the girls. "The geography of the competition is expanding, and because of this, the competition is seriously increasing. It was difficult to choose today, but mathematics decided everything," he said.
The chairman of the jury, General Director of the Vitebsk Culture Center, Gleb Lapitsky, shared that he evaluated the participants' energy. "If it's a dance, I didn't watch if she pointed her toe correctly. Or ifIf it's a song, does it reach the highest note, does one forget the lyrics during recitation. The main thing is energy and the exchange of energy with the audience," he assured.
She was able to give vent to her emotions only after the award ceremony. When asked who she dedicated her victory to, tears welled up in the girl's eyes: "To my beloved Alesya Anatolyevna. She will understand if she reads this." Later, Karolina explained that it was the head of the student club, Alesya Chyslova, who was the "mother" who personally guided her all the way. She surely helped with the stage images as well (Karolina changed five spectacular outfits during the competition).It so happened that for four consecutive years, no representative from Belarus had won the project. The student of VSTU managed to reach this peak.The I and II Vice-Miss titles were won by Chinese women Lu Danyi and He Yu, respectively. Russian Stefania Osherova was recognized as "Miss Friendship," and Rutendo Ruzive from Zimbabwe - "Miss Creativity." The title of "Miss Photo" was awarded to Aizhamal Bayamanova representing Kyrgyzstan, "Miss Charm" - to Belarusian Polina Khomenko, "Miss Style" - to Nelly Blandine Djiedjel from Cameroon. The jury awarded the titles of "Miss Talent" to Shehara Ashmine Kunchir representing Sri Lanka and "Miss Fashion" - to Valeria Jose Banies Bolivar from Venezuela.
All participants of the competition were thanked by the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, Viktor Glushin. He noted that it was a difficult but undoubtedly interesting week for the girls. "The geography of the competition is expanding, and because of this, the competition is seriously increasing. It was difficult to choose today, but mathematics decided everything," he said.The chairman of the jury, General Director of the Vitebsk Culture Center, Gleb Lapitsky, shared that he evaluated the participants' energy. "If it's a dance, I didn't watch if she pointed her toe correctly. Or ifIf it's a song, does it reach the highest note, does one forget the lyrics during recitation. The main thing is energy and the exchange of energy with the audience," he assured.
"This is an exclusive competition, the likes of which are very difficult to find, because it shows how open our country is through cultural dialogue. After all, this competition is in no way about beauty, not only about creativity, or a fashion show. It's about energy. Everyone in the hall today felt such an exchange of energy. We draw from our elegance, African countries – from charisma, drive, Muslim countries – from modesty and female reserve, our neighbors, the Russians – from generosity. It was evident on stage that the top ten strongest participants were chosen. And they are not only beautiful and talented – they also study excellently," said Gleb Lapitsky. He explained that only girls with a high average grade could participate.
Another important feature of the project, according to the Director General of the Center of Culture, is its openness. Once again, the festival confirms the slogan that "Slavianski Bazaar" has adhered to for 33 years: "Through art – to peace and mutual understanding." The finalists are people of different faiths from different continents who, by the will of fate, found themselves on Belarusian soil.
"In this festival, we don't look at flags, or what language people speak. If people strive for creativity, beauty, grace, and want to showcase their national art – that's great. And we give them a piece of ourselves. If you want to be friends with us – come and be friends. And the festival is created for this purpose," emphasized Gleb Lapitsky. He addressed special words of gratitude to the co-organizers – the Ministry of Education, the City Executive Committee, and VSU, without whom the project would not have taken place.