Elvira Khomich, a second–year student at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, tells about her point of view on the main theme of the Miss BNTU - 2026 contest.
The expression "Take a step towards yourself" means for a girl a continuous path to understanding her desires. Along the way, according to the finalist, you can find clues that help you navigate life. This principle allows her to gather her thoughts at the right moment and not be afraid to try something new.
– The path to self-confidence for me began with the realization of a simple truth: fear is just a barrier that we build ourselves. I used to be hesitant to declare myself, even though my family and friends had been pushing me to the stage since my freshman year. I helped other guys prepare their performances, but I didn't want to advertise myself. But now I realize that I wasted my time on doubts. I feel like I belong and I know for sure that you shouldn't be afraid, you just have to go and try.
Thanks to the principle mentioned earlier, the finalist has already managed to figure out the areas of her hobbies. Now Elvira is studying the Belarusian language and culture, writing poetry, learning how to sew clothes and even mastering acrobatics.
– I have a great love for my native language. It appeared in my school years, when I was writing a research paper on the Belarusian language, studying the origin of the surnames of my classmates and residents of my native places. So far, I'm just studying it and I don't want to ostentatiously brag about its ownership, but in the future I plan to blog in Belarusian. Last summer, I bought a sewing machine and went to college to thoroughly create my own brand of underwear and corsets. I'm also interested in acrobatics. I have good physical fitness and I've already learned how to do a couple of tricks. And another hobby is poetry. I used to be very shy about my work, but lately I've decided it's time to open up to the world and post my work online.
– Have you demonstrated your skills to the general public?
– I participated in small contests like "Miss Camp". I come from a small agro-town, so I didn't announce myself at large-scale events. From 1st to 11th grade, I was a prefect, and there I showed my responsibility and leadership. In her first year at university, she won an essay contest on military subjects. But still, I decided to show myself to the fullest at the "Miss BNTU".
Talking about a beauty contest inevitably boils down to finding a balance between the external and internal state. The question of what is more important did not take the girl by surprise. Elvira immediately replied that inner harmony was more important to her.
– I think that inner beauty has more weight. For me, it manifests itself in the ability to enjoy life itself and feel happiness in small things. There is a mood when everything coincides: both the inner mood and the weather outside the window. I wake up feeling like, "Wow, how happy I am just to be able to live this moment!" I consider the ability to notice such details to be one of the best traits of my character.
The contestant considers her ability to defend her personal boundaries and not be guided by stereotypes existing in society to be another of her strengths.
– Recently, the topic of choosing a partner has been very vivid in me. Now many people want to see someone very successful and rich around them in their twenties. But few people say that material assets are not the most important thing. I had a situation where I was comparing two paths: a man who, in his twenties, was already striving to buy an apartment at all costs, and a man whose thoughts were focused on self-development, creativity and poetry. I realized that it is much more important for me that a person is an interesting conversationalist. I just imagine a situation where I come to this house with my thousands of hobbies in the evening, and I have nothing to talk about with the person who is in it. The inner world definitely comes first for me.
– If you could change one thing in the world to make it happen?
– I would like people not to respond with evil to evil, because in this case it will only multiply. I want people to become a little kinder, more responsive, and more empathetic. So that we can at least sometimes put our ego on the back burner. In any situation, it is important not only to stand your ground, but also to try to understand the other person's truth.
The girl was able to find her like-minded people at the Miss BNTU casting, for which she had been thoroughly preparing for a long time.
– I went to the casting with the idea that my creative act had been preparing for six months. I didn't even have an option not to go through, I already saw in advance how I would look and what I would show on the big stage. But the most interesting thing started after that. Despite my initial confidence, after the casting itself, I fell into a very strange state for two days, which made me sad and anxious. It seemed to me that I performed terribly during the selection process and did not reach my potential at all. Usually people's confidence grows with time, but for me it turned out the opposite: the closer I was to the competition, the more I doubted myself. However, this challenge made me move on.
When Elvira saw her name on the list of finalists, she felt more confident and realized that this was a chance to cut off all ties with fears and prejudices. While rehearsing the final performance, the girl does not forget to develop in herself those qualities that, in her opinion, are necessary for this competition.
– Optimism, in my opinion, is the foundation in such projects. You can't be a pessimist because your thoughts shape your outcome more than anything else. Also, love for your loved ones, your hometown, and your country determines your mood on stage, and success depends on your mood. I would also highlight the ability to work in a multitasking environment, because here you can experience considerable stress due to a very busy schedule that needs to accommodate a million cases. It is critically important to be able to control yourself. All these qualities are present in me to one degree or another, and I continue to improve them during my training.
– What would you like to get from participating in the contest in the first place?
– If you do not take into account the victory, then this is the experience of public speaking. And when the finale is over and the names are announced, this story will end for the project. But for me it will only be the beginning of a new stage of life.
Thank you to Elvira for a fascinating conversation. We wish you to overcome your fears and perform brilliantly on stage.
