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Moscow Pageant Seeks Beauty of the Soul
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Moscow, Russia—Ten talented students from leading Moscow universities moved on to the final level of the Mister and Miss University 2018 competition.
The unique contest first appeared in 1978 in Japan. This year the contest marks its 40th anniversary. Since 1991, it has been held around the world, annually gathering students from different countries to promote friendship and understanding between different races, religions and nationalities. Since 2007, the contest has been held regularly in Moscow.
The final level of Mister and Miss University 2018 was held at the RSCU Palace of Culture in Moscow on April 22. The event took as its theme Alice in Wonderland, the famous children’s book written by Lewis Carroll.
The process of selecting Mister and Miss University began on December 17, 2017. The qualifying tour was held in two stages. The final participants were:
1) Dmitry Kalinin, Russian State University of Tourism and Services Studies
2) Elizar Lukyanov, Russian State Social University
3) Moufazal Hosain Rumont, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia
4) Anna Titarenko, Moscow State Art and Cultural University
5) Natalia Lopatyuk, Moscow State Art and Cultural University
6) Louise Opaleva, Moscow Institute of Economics and Law
7) Anastasia Titova, Russian State University of Tourism and Services Studies
8) Hasmik Mkrtchyan, Moscow Institute of Economics and Law
9) Alisa Zaichenko, Moscow State Pedagogical University
10) Arina Kirichek, Lomonosov Moscow State University
The final level of the contest had three stages. In the first stage, “Personal Card,” the participants talked about their main values, beliefs and dreams. Since they are all different, their “personal cards” also were different: each with its own shade and edge, with its own special feeling and unique shape.
The next stage was answering questions of the jury. The participants spoke of their values and dreams and which historical personalities they would like to resemble.
The third stage was a talent competition. The participants offered heartfelt songs, exciting dances, theatrical sketches, poems of their own composition. They poured their soul into their performances, touching the hearts of both the jury and the audience.
The chairman of the jury, Grigory A. Kamalyan (president of the Spiritual Heritage Foundation of the Planet), noted that when he looked at the participants, he saw socially active and purposeful youth.
The other jury members were Antonina V. Frolova, head of the NGO Resource Center in SEAD of the Moscow Public Relations Committee; and Vladimir V. Pugachev, president of the Moscow Universities Alumni Association, leader of the movement The Future of Russia, co-chair of the Club of Candidates for Presidency, and head of the Creating Goodness Center.
The jury had a hard time. However, they finally decided on the winners.
Mister University 2018: Elizar Lukyanov
Miss University 2018: Arina Kirichek
Runner-Up, Mister University 2018: Dmitry Kalinin
Runners-Up, Miss University 2018: Anastasia Titova and Anna Titarenko
Mr. Talent: Dmitry Kalinin
Miss Talent: Alisa Zaichenko
Mr. "Audience Favorite": Dmitry Kalinin
Miss "Audience Favorite": Alisa Zaichenko
Mr. "Internet Favorite": Dmitry Kalinin
Miss "Internet Favorite": Arina Kirichek
Miss "Good Heart": Hasmik Mkrtchyan
Miss "Style": Louise Opaleva
Mr. "Public Activity": Mufazal Hosain Rumont
Miss "Public Activity": Anastasia Titova
Miss "Purposefulness": Arina Kirichek
Miss "Beautiful Smile": Alisa Zaichenko
Miss "Inspiration": Anna Titarenko
Miss "Artistry": Natalia Lopatyuk
But the main result was that people from completely different backgrounds were united by their desire for goodness, sincerity, creativity, and self-improvement. It is especially important to note that all the time the participants were actively supported by the participants of the past years, inspired and surprised with their irrepressible energy.
The contest allowed the participants not only to realize their creative potential but also to participate in volunteer projects to improve the world. They prepared a New Year's holiday celebration for special children in the city of Kolomna, took part in a volunteer project in Moscow’s Marfo-Mariinsky Convent, several times with a professional artist gave drawing lessons in a children's home, and much more. Not without reason the motto of the contest is “Kind people create a wonderful world.”
We realized that one can find a common language with foreigners, representatives of a different culture, through discussion and smiles.
In conclusion, I want to thank the people without whom nothing would have happened. They created this team, worked hard with it in the rain and snow: director of the contest Elena Knyazeva and art directors Alexander Kononov and Alexei Kirichenko.
Excerpts from reflections written by Anastasia Titova, the runner-up for Miss University 2018
“Six months passed so quickly … and it is still hard to believe that it’s finished and we are no longer participants in the contest. But the end is just a new beginning. In the future, we will work in the team of contest organizers. And most importantly, we all found a second family. Many of the people whom I came to know during the contest, I will now be in contact with for life.
“No one ‘competed’ for the title. There was no competition, despite the fact that this was a contest. On the contrary, we were each other’s fans. We all became friends, always found each other’s support, care, help, and understanding. We are connected by a huge number of joint stories and memories, and how many more will there be!
“I learned to look at the world with different eyes. Through the eyes of people who are important to me, whom I respect and love. I began to understand things that I could not understand before. I have changed my character very much. I have to be in motion all the time, self-develop, improve the world around me and inside myself, fill my life with people and projects, see and feel. I will have something to remember, and there is something over which to rejoice.”