Police officer, dancer, makeup artist, entrepreneur, and volunteer in the Ukraine war.
How to stay true to yourself when life throws challenges your way.
I I was born and raised in a small town in Ukraine. At age 4, I started dancing, and it changed my life. When I danced, I felt like the happiest girl in the world. I dreamed of dancing my whole life!
The Path to Police Academy
But at 16, my dancing ended. It was time to choose a university, and my mom made the decision for me. I ended up in police academy because «it was the right thing to do.» The next 4 years were tough. Life in the barracks, early mornings, and endless classes were overwhelming. Every day, I knew I wasn’t doing what I loved.
Dancing with the police ensemble saved me. Before every performance, I did makeup and hairstyles for my teammates. They glowed with happiness and told me I was great at it. That’s when I realized I could dedicate my life to revealing women’s beauty, not catching criminals. Just thinking about it made me smile.
I spent my final year at the academy working as a waitress and saving money for my own beauty salon in Kyiv. It was my bold beauty dream.
Opening a Beauty Salon
At 22, I opened my beauty salon in Kyiv. For the first few months, I worked 10-hour days doing everything myself, from cleaning to marketing. Seeing beautiful, happy clients made me feel joy instead of fatigue! I realized that nothing is more inspiring than doing what you truly love.
I was so passionate about beauty that I became a certified makeup artist. Within a year, I was speaking at beauty conferences in Ukraine as a top expert.
Participating in MRS GLOBE
When Kyiv became unsafe, I moved to the USA. To keep my spirits up, I returned to dancing, and it changed my life again.Thanks to dancing, I entered the MRS GLOBE 2024 contest. I saw it as an opportunity to showcase the strength and resilience of Ukrainian women and inspire them to achieve their goals. I believe true strength lies in building your life no matter the circumstances, even during war. Judging by the positive feedback, I succeeded.
My New Plans: Makeup Championship and Dance Schools
At MRS GLOBE, I made it to the Top 5 in the USA, a big achievement for me. But the biggest reward was gaining confidence and finding a supportive community. The friendly environment at MRS GLOBE helped me integrate into life in the USA faster.
Now, I’m absolutely happy and believe I can thrive as a makeup artist in Miami. My next big plan is to compete in the World Hairdressing and Makeup Championship in Paris this fall. It’s a great honor to represent the USA in two categories: Brow Shaping and Smokey Eyes. For a girl who recently moved to the USA, it’s a dream come true.
I also have a new dream. I want to open my own dance schools in the USA and Ukraine, so more people can experience supportive communities, express emotions through their bodies, and discover their inner strength.
I believe anything is possible. Life has taught me to follow my heart because it leads to true happiness.
Remember what brings you joy
and make it a priority in your schedule.
Your life will change for the better,
just wait and see.
Wen I was little, my mom dreamed of me becoming a police officer. I tried hard to fulfill her dream, but eventually realized I had my own dreams — like doing makeup and dancing professionally.
Now I understand it’s important not to live up to others’ expectations, even if they seem right and good. Doing so means betraying yourself. When you do something against your desires, you lose energy, motivation, and interest in life.
There should always be something in life that brings joy — whether it’s dancing, music, travel, hobbies, or meditation. It doesn’t have to be your profession; it’s enough just to enjoy it.
Dancing was my anchor in tough times. It helped me get through challenging police training and cope with anxiety and depression caused by the horrors of the war in Ukraine. I’ll never forget the horror I saw and heard. But dancing helped me pull myself together and keep moving forward. Giving it up would mean giving up on myself.
