The second day of acquaintance with the finalists of the most tender spring competition begins with the story of Ekaterina Gruzdova, a first-year student at the Faculty of Management Technology and Humanitarianism. For the girl, the project became not just a competition, but an opportunity to showcase her talents. She understands the theme of "Take a step towards yourself" as an opportunity to look inside yourself and open up to others.
– The path to self-worth begins with honesty and courage. For me it means "discover yourself", "show yourself". This is a transition to a new stage, when you decide to take the very step that you were afraid to take before. You need to show your talents and your real self.
– Has there been any experience in your life that has helped you get to know your abilities better?
– On the "Freshman Day", when the band and I performed, I tried my hand at acting for the first time. Before that, I was just singing and dancing on stage, but here it was necessary to act. I discovered this facet in myself and realized that I can do it.
Revealing her talents enriches her inner world, which, according to the girl, is much more important than external data. At the same time, Ekaterina believes that it is important to find a balance between these two components.
– I believe that harmony is possible only through the acceptance of one's personality. Everything comes from understanding yourself. If you truly love yourself, then both your inner and outer state will be fine. I do not deny the stereotypes that external beauty is important for a person, but still the inner content is more important. No matter how a person looks, if you don't like them as a person or if you have completely different views on the world, you won't be able to find a common language.
Speaking about herself, the girl noted that her inner beauty is manifested in her attitude towards others. She will always come to the aid of her loved ones and help out in a difficult situation. Even if it doesn't work out well, Ekaterina will lend a shoulder and be able to listen to the interlocutor.
– Do you think your sides have opened up even more with admission to the university? How?
– Thanks to the appearance of new friends who support me in everything, I have become more active. Now I am engaged in scientific activity, I show myself at the events of the faculty and the university. For now, I'm trying myself in different fields and looking for something that's really close to me.
Ekaterina considers university admission to be one of her main achievements. It wasn't easy, but overcoming the milestone helped her feel more confident.
– Besides, I am proud of my achievements in singing. I've performed both solo and as part of bands, and we've won prizes. It's an important part of my life. I started singing at the age of five thanks to my older sister. It was a long-standing hobby of hers, and I also reached out to her: I went to classes with her and stood next to her. The teacher then looked at me and said: "When he grows up, bring him." That's how I went down this path. I really like singing.
Through singing, a girl expresses her emotions. When she goes on stage and performs compositions, there is an exchange of energy. As the finalist noted, this is an indescribable feeling. Despite her great love for the stage, the girl retains a pragmatic view of the future.
– I plan to sing, as they say, for myself. I really don't want to give up on this, I have a desire to continue improving my vocals in order to feel inner growth. After all, there is always something to strive for.
The decision to take the stage in the framework of the Miss BNTU - 2026 contest is often born out of simple curiosity and the support of loved ones. For Ekaterina, this path began with an inner question, "Why not?"
– To be honest, I just saw the casting announcement and thought: why not try your hand? My friends also supported me, saying, "What's stopping you?"
– In your opinion, what qualities and values should a finalist have?
– I would single out good-naturedness, self-confidence and team spirit. Despite the fact that the contest involves individual participation, I see other contestants as allies. We all came here together. Yes, everyone represents themselves, but we support and help each other. Cohesion is very important to me, you can't just be an individual, it's important to feel those around you.
When it came to the main goal of participation, the contestant immediately outlined her priorities. According to her, in such projects, it is not the competitive aspect that comes to the fore, but the possibility of internal growth.
– First of all, I would like to gain experience in projects of this scale and in the field of beauty. New acquaintances also play an important role for me. Communicating with interesting people provides valuable experience and is incredibly inspiring.
Some perceive the final of the competition as the finish line, on which a point is made. However, the girl believes that the final performance on stage as a contender for the title of "Miss BNTU" is just the beginning of something new.
– The final is not the ultimate goal. I think it will start a new chapter in my life, full of exciting events and useful meetings. It is important for me to go through this whole process so that I can then apply the knowledge I have gained somewhere on a larger scale.
We thank Ekaterina for the lively dialogue. We wish you a brilliant performance and victory!
