Ukraine is on fire: Angelina Usanova will rise like a Phoenix from the flames at a beauty contest

Angelina Usanova/Miss Universe Ukraine

Miss Universe Ukraine-2023 Angelina Usanova will represent Ukraine at the international beauty contest Miss Eco International-2024, which will be held very soon in Egypt. On stage, she will rise like a phoenix from the flames and show Ukraine on fire.

The main goal of the competition is to popularize the importance of caring for our planet and ecology. The winner of the competition will become the UN Goodwill Ambassador for Ecology and the Environment.

“Phoenix” – Angelina Usanova's national costume for the Miss Eco International-2024 contest. This is a mythical creature that symbolizes Ukraine – a country that is under fire every day, but continues to live, rebuild destroyed cities, love, create, give birth to children. It is also a symbol of immortality.

For me, as a Ukrainian, participation in the Miss Eco International contest is an important tool in attracting even more attention to helping the Ukrainian land. My main dream and mission is peace, protection of the planet and ecology. This is a very exciting and responsible moment. After all, the winner of the competition will become the UN Goodwill Ambassador for Ecology and the Environment. Ahead is a crazy rhythm and an incredible atmosphere of the competition, Angelina Usanova shares her impressions.

The contestant's dress was created entirely from recycled materials. Most of the materials were provided by the team of the NGO “Ukraine without garbage”, whose activities are aimed at introducing a culture of household waste sorting in Ukraine. In total, more than 1,500 plastic spoons and more than 500 plastic knives were used for the costume, which the craftsmen found at the “Ukraine without garbage” sorting station.

Angelina Usanova/Miss Universe Ukraine

Used plastic utensilswere used for wings, headdress and corset. The headgear is made from pieces of plastic and plastic knives. Large feathers were cut from sheets of plastic – the basis of the headdress, after which they were given texture and shape with fire.

The skirt is also recycled. The designers spent more than three weeks at the second-hand store in search of curtains, tulles, curtains of various shades of blue and gold colors, from which real couture was created. They specially left parts of the material where the grommets were attached, so that it could be understood that these are ordinary curtains and blinds.

Angelina Usanova/Miss Universe Ukraine

Golden feathers on the corset look as if they are made of metal, but in fact they are made of a pillow from under a pillow, also purchased second-hand . The stones and rhinestones on the dress are not precious crystals from Swarovski, but collected from dresses, tops and T-shirts, found, again, second-hand.

I really wanted to create a dress that would be couture and that at first glance it would be impossible to understand what it was made of. Just after reading the description of the costume, it was clear that it was literally made from trash, while looking like a millionaire, says Lesya Patoka, the author of the idea, the founder of the Patoka studio.

Especially for Earth Day. , which is traditionally celebrated today, April 22, singer and musician Angelina Usanova presents a video clip for the song “Earth”. The track was born after watching a documentary series on the topic of preserving the vulnerable environment of the planet Earth.