The Path to My Dream: A Story of Overcoming and Success
Since childhood, I was different from everyone in my family. My mother always said I was special, “otherworldly.” My grandmother insisted we had blue blood and noble lineage, as her grandmother had told her.
I was born with a serious condition – dysplasia of both hip joints. I couldn’t stand or walk, and doctors predicted I might remain disabled. My mother spent almost a month with me in the hospital as my legs were stretched with weights. After that, I had to wear a cast that held my legs in a split position, followed by braces and special rehabilitation. Doctors didn’t even allow me to ride a bicycle, yet my mother enrolled me in athletics and dance classes. That was the beginning of my journey toward overcoming difficulties and achieving success.
Since childhood, I dreamed of the big stage. I’m not sure where that dream came from, but I always knew I was meant to be successful and famous. I was invited to attend a modeling school, and they said I had a striking appearance. Unfortunately, my parents couldn’t afford the tuition, and I had to put my dream on hold.
What followed were years of hard work, self-establishment, and fighting for my place under the sun. I went through an unsuccessful first marriage and divorce, all while trying to find myself. At one point, I realized that I needed to change everything in my life, starting with the city I lived in. It was time to rebuild myself and my life from the ground up, and that was the beginning of a new story.
At 30, I moved to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. I felt it was the right place for me to start fresh. There, I found new love that still inspires me today. We built a big family together – six sons and even our beloved dogs. I was happy, but there was one thing missing. I didn’t feel truly fulfilled as a woman. I searched for myself in various fields – politics, business – and earned several degrees in economics and law. I even managed a construction company founded by my husband. Yet something was still missing: I lacked inner harmony and inspiration.
It’s incredible how one moment can change your entire life. For me, that moment came when I was invited to represent Ukraine at the Mrs. Globe 2017 world competition. I was 37 at the time – already successful in my career and family, living the life many women dream of. I accepted the invitation and realized that this was what I had dreamed of since childhood. But life threw me another challenge…
Two months before the competition, we received heartbreaking news. One of our children – a boy we had raised from childhood, though not biologically ours, and a promising football player – was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. In that moment, my entire world collapsed. Nothing else mattered but him. Every day became a test – doctor appointments, searching for medicines and donors. It was a race for survival. I realized once again that I had to put my dream aside. It wasn’t the right time; it wasn’t the priority. But it was my son, the sick boy, who played the leading role in this story. He told me he would never forgive me if I gave up on my dream. He insisted that I gather my strength and compete on the world stage because this chance might never come again.
I had less than a month to prepare, but I knew I couldn’t let down all the Ukrainians who supported Mrs. Ukraine—and, most importantly, I couldn’t betray his faith in me. I brought second place to Ukraine, becoming Mrs. Globe 2018’s 1st Runner-Up. The first person to congratulate me was my son. He told me that the thing he was most proud of in life was having me as his mother. That was my greatest reward. A month later, he passed away. But his words, the ones that encouraged me to perform, still ring in my ears: “You must never stray from your path.” Those words became my life’s motto.
A year and a half later, in 2019, I created my own beauty pageant in Ukraine and became the national director of Mrs. Ukraine Globe. To say it was difficult would be an understatement.
Without my husband’s support, I might have achieved it all on my own, but the journey would have been much longer and more challenging. Over the years, I’ve come to realize just how essential family support is in everything I do. They are my inspiration.
My hard work and growth were noticed by Dr. Tracy Kemble, the president of the Mrs. Globe organization. After some time, she offered me a position on the international pageant team. I see this as a reward for all the hardships I overcame on my path to fulfilling my dream.
Today, I consider myself a fulfilled woman. I am an international pageant coach, co-owner of Lady Million studio (which creates exclusive outfits and jewelry for beauty queens), the national director of Mrs. Ukraine Globe, and a team member of the world’s most prestigious pageant, Mrs. Globe. The universe has blessed me with many fateful encounters, including meeting an incredible woman who became my role model and mentor—Dr. Tracy Kemble. She believed in me and helped make my dream come true. I never stop learning and improving because I am doing what I love—what truly makes me happy. And my biggest dream now is to give this feeling of fulfillment and joy to other women.
Never stray from your path, and remember that!
I’ve come to understand: life often makes us reflect on the circumstances we find ourselves in-whether they bring joy or challenge. The phrase «we deserve what we have» conveys the idea that our present reality is shaped by our past decisions, actions, and efforts. It serves as a reminder of personal responsibility and the notion that we are the architects of our own destiny. By embracing this mindset, we empower ourselves to strive for better, knowing that our future is in our hands. This perspective encourages us to take full ownership of our lives and continuously pursue our dreams and aspirations.
