While naturally enigmatic, and with a body most of us would do just about anything for - Ukrainian Queen Diana tells Missosology about the hard-work that goes into her success. She speaks candidly about the highs and lows she has experienced from the pageant and her plans for the future, which includes shooting high-budgeted movies in the year to come.
How were you elevated from being a finalist to Miss Asia Pacific World 2011? Why was the original winner, Florima from France dethroned?Last year Miss Asia Pacific World 2011 was held in South Korea. There were some mistakes in a pageant just due to lack of experience of hosting such events. So one of mistakes was problems with judgement and votes, mostly it was mistake of chaperons and hosts on the stage. That's why actually i am gonna co-host the pageant this year, because last year’s hosts really lacked experience and did lots of mistakes. From our Top 7 finalists only 2 girls were asked final questions. So due to these mistakes after the final organizers tried to correct it the best way. The winner was France and other 6 girls (including me) were just runners-up without ranking, same as in Miss Earth, all runners-up got same power. But practically after the final I was the only runner-up who stayed in Korea with winner for one month more for all the obligations. We did lots of visits, interviews and photoshoots. Also Miss Asia Pacific World Star Ingrid Fernandez from Puerto Rico stayed with us. On May 8, 2012, Florima was dethroned & MAPW Organization decided to appoint a new winner from the runners-up and they asked me if I would accept this crown. After that I was crowned as new Miss Asia Pacific World 2011 and started to fulfil my new obligations. Florima was dethroned due to attitude problem. Sometimes girls imagine that to be a queen means to have some wonderful life, when a lot of people serving you, and you are just seated in a limousine with a glass of champagne. In reality to be a winner of a big pageant means first of all to represent the Organization, to do your best. It is not about getting only, it is about giving: your energy, time, to work hard. When we stayed in Korea after the pageant and just a day before the photoshoot we asked organizers to go for manicure etc. MAPW Organization did their best actually. They took us for manicure, to dentist to whiten teeth and tried to make all queens’ desires come true. But when I heard that she asked for depilation for the legs: "Do you want me to pose with hairy legs on a photoshoot tomorrow???", I felt she may lose her title one day. Unfortunately it was just begging. There was a time when Florima went to a jeweller with her crown to check how much it cost. She blamed organizers that it doesn't cost 10,000 USD. Well, honestly to say maybe that crown really didn't cost that much money, but i really cannot believe that somebody aims to join a big beauty pageant to win a crown and later to take diamonds of it and sell it....Pardon...
The pageant was filled with controversies last year. Can you summarize to me your whole experience as a participant?Personally I absolutely enjoyed the competition, I enjoyed almost each single second of my stay in Korea. It is not my first international pageant and even if compare with others, I’d say that Miss Asia Pacific World was a great and nice experience. I loved Korea, people, our chaperons Ken and Sean, I met new friends in my life: Miss Malaysia, Miss Brazil and Miss Netherlands. I am so glad of our temple visit, that day I will remember all my life and absolutely will share my new knowledge with my friends and family. That's was unforgettable!!! What I didn't like is unfixed schedule, because we never knew the program and was difficult to manage clothes. Also I expected more from talent competition as I used to bring piano from Ukraine, I believed it is important part. Also I didn't like mistakes during the final, but thank God the organizers solved the mistakes and for sure better late than never! It really showed me the organizers are honest, just didn't have experience, which is normal for people who holds the pageant for the first time. I just want to say from my heart that Korea is now like my second home, and because of the pageant I discovered a new country, I enjoyed our program, I enjoyed the food and ate the most delicious cream-soup in the world - with broccoli in Daegu city. This journey is maybe one of the top-3 best events of my life!
How’s life after the Miss Asia Pacific World pageant?After the pageant in Korea, the organisation still took care of me even when I was just a runner-up. Also I got so many contacts and work after that.
Before your participation in Miss Asia Pacific World, I’m sure you used to have perceptions about the pageant. At this present time, how would you define Miss Asia Pacific World in your own terms?Miss Asia Pacific World is absolutely a great chance for the girls to make a career in showbiz industry. It is a pageant not about charity like Miss World etc. It is absolutely for girls who wants to be singers, actresses etc. MAPW is not just a show, it is a chance for the winner and the runners-up to actually even by just being a contestant, get a contact.
We are wondering if you have beauty secrets. Please share this to us.Well...i guess best beauty secrets I learned from Shandi Finnessey, Miss USA 2004. Let's say it is more not about the secret, but a general idea. She said that experienced beauty queens learn a lot of tricks to show themselves in a best way like to wear a right bra and high heels etc. As for me. I think it’s very important to have your style, to use the best cosmetic products like Kerastase for the hair, Shu Uemura lash curler and eye shadows, also brushes, Chanel lip pencils, Serge Lutens lipstick, Darphine skincare etc. This is just my list, but for sure each girl can choose the best for her. But biggest secret is to sleep enough it helps you look fresh and gives you energy to look good. Also I think sometimes you need to use service of some good professionals: to find right hairdresser, also make-up artist to shape the brows because it is architecture of the face. As for the body I prefer sometimes to have protein diet because it is a best way to lose weight, but to keep a toned body and great skin. I like also French vitamins Oenobiol, they have many different kind for all beauty problems. And of course very important is inner beauty, because honestly to say nobody can create an atmosphere which doesn't belong to him/her. So if you are beautiful inside, the people around you will absolutely feel it and see it in your eyes!
What were your obligations & upcoming plans as Miss Asia Pacific World titleholder?During my short reign I visited 8 countries, participated in Cannes Film Festival, turned from fashion model to an actress, received a main role in a film about Benazir Bhutto, which is planned to be applied for an Oscar awards next year. I played in two Ukrainian films as Miss Asia Pacific World, joined charity programs (despite it is not a concept of my title, but I took my chance to use my crown for these purposes too) and lots of other projects and photo shoots for magazines etc. On June 16, i will crown my successor in Seoul and at the end on June I will fly to Pakistan to play in a movie "Daughter of Destiny", it will be filmed in Pakistan, United States and England till December. I still have to do a big lingerie campaign for one Italian company as model, but mostly I seriously turned to an actress nowadays.
What is your advice to this year's Miss Asia Pacific World contestants?My advice to the girls is to be honest with themselves, the pageant is looking for various talents, just for talented contestants, who wants to be Stars, to work hard. MAPW can give lots of opportunities, but just the girl must understand if she wants to be a model, or actress or singer or TV host, no need to think what the pageant is looking for, very important to understand what you want! The pageant just needs a talented beautiful girl with good attitude, who understands that after coronation she will get a chance to travel around the world.
Finally, your message to Missosology?2. I am so glad that Missosology covered the pageant, because we can see all our pictures from all days. Also i am so glad to discover this new website for me and team of Missosology became good friends with many of us! I hope to stay in despite having a busy schedule. Also for those who interested, welcome to my website
www.dianastarkova.com, and facebook
https://www.facebook.com/dianastarkova