Next Saturday in El Salvador (Central America), the final of the "Miss Universe 2023" beauty pageant will take place. Two days before that, the contestants will present their national costumes to the jury. The representative of Ukraine, Angelina Usanova, approached this with creativity.
To draw attention to the events in Ukraine and the concept behind her costume, Angelina Usanova, the winner of the "Miss Universe Ukraine 2023" title, a singer and musician, wrote a song called "Peace." The music video for the song was filmed in Kyiv, featuring children to better convey the symbolism of the costume.
The National Art Museum of Ukraine served as the poignant video's location, with the music video directed by filmmaker Ruslan Makhov.
According to the National Committee of "Miss Universe Ukraine," the blue fabric of the costume, named "Berehynia Mother," represents a symbol of a peaceful, calm sky without rockets. The white and milky colors are symbols of peace, while the blue and yellow colors represent the Ukrainian flag.
The golden elements of the "Protecting (Berehynia) Mother" costume represent armor, symbolizing the strength of every Ukrainian mother who protects her children. The small golden angel figurine is a symbol of the priceless life of each child.
The costume was created in Ukraine over nearly two months, using 35 meters of chiffon and organza fabrics. The fabric is printed with a cloud and blue sky pattern. Some elements of the costume were developed and printed on a 3D printer. Approximately 45,000 decorative stones were used to embellish the costume.
"The children do not start wars, but it is they who are unable to defend themselves. The national costume this year is our dedication to the great, sacred, and unconditional maternal love and the vulnerability of children in the face of war. Mothers all over Ukraine implore and dream of a clear and protected sky without rockets. They pray for the lives of their children, mercilessly taken away by war. The world must remember the terrible statistics to protect Ukrainian children," commented Anna Filimonova, the president of the "Miss Universe Ukraine" competition.
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Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in Ukraine:
- More than 500 children have died.
- Over 1,000 children have been injured.
- 379 children are considered missing.
- 19,546 children have been deported by Russia, with only 386 returned.
In total, 7.5 million Ukrainian children are considered affected by the war. This includes children who have experienced trauma, injuries, physical, sexual, or psychological violence, as well as displaced and refugee children, and those who have been abducted or illegally taken out of Ukraine.
