Alena Kucheruk
This year marks Belarus’ second participation in the Miss Universe pageant, an event that will feature representatives from 134 countries. The nation will be represented by the beautiful Alena Kucheruk, winner of the Miss Belarus 2025 title. Since winning the coveted crown, she has had not a single free minute, focusing all her energy on preparing for the international competition. BelTA correspondents spoke with the professionals assisting the Belarusian beauty, learning their inspiration for creating looks meant to amaze the world.
“We are currently in the final stages of preparation for Alena Kucheruk’s flight to Bangkok, Thailand. The competition finals will take place on 21 November, but our beauty will fly there on 1 November. A great deal of work has been done this month to ensure she feels confident,” said Bozhena Yeremich, director of the National Beauty School.
Preparations have focused on the runway walk, rehearsing the competition segments and performances for the finals. This includes the national costume show, a swimsuit competition, an evening gown competition and several other segments. Alena has also received training in makeup, hair styling, acting, and English language.
A professional team has crafted Alena’s looks. Designers Tatiana Yefremova and Irina Rombalskaya combined flowing silks and metallic fabrics with gilded leather and chromed corsets. They used these same materials to create an evening look for the Miss Universe pageant, where a silk bottom seamlessly blends with a chromed plastic top adorned with real silver accents.
“I sincerely believe that in Belarus, our greatest treasures are our women,” explained Irina Rombalskaya. “This look was inspired, as cliché as it may sound, by Belarusian wheat, but we tried to use this symbol in an unusual way. Through chrome, metal, and gold, we showed that a true Belarusian beauty is not only delicate and fragile, but also strong. In fact, she is the armor of our country, ready to defend the homeland and uphold the honor of Belarus on the international stage.”
“This is entirely handmade; every single stalk is sculpted by hand,” added Tatiana Yefremova. “Through this handcrafted work, we tried to convey to Alena a piece of our strength, love, and kindness. Our latest collections, which we present internationally, are an ode to the Belarusian woman. This evening gown is also a song about the Belarusian girl, only interpreted in a new way.”
They developed the idea for the dress together with representatives of the National Beauty School, working around the clock for three weeks. During their work, they reviewed numerous outfits from representatives of African and Asian countries, known for their riot of color. But, deciding that it was “not our DNA,” Tatiana Yefremova and Irina Rombalskaya chose to forge their own path and showcase what truly symbolizes Belarus.
“The dress is very comfortable. Most importantly, I can breathe freely in it. I love that it gives me strength, and I feel much more confident,” noted Alena Kucheruk.
The national costume, created by Belarusian designer Dmitry Titushkin in the style of the national coat of arms and flag, showcases Belarusian national identity. It incorporates 30,000 gems, weighs 11 kg, and took two months to complete. Alena Kucheruk admitted that the costume initially seemed too heavy, but after numerous rehearsals, she grew accustomed to it and now feels comfortable.
Bozhena Yeremich noted that the pageant will also feature a charity evening, where each country will present a charitable item. Alena Kucheruk will showcase the new perfume “Belarus”, created by perfumer Nikolai Yarets. The scent combines the aroma of mown grass with lemon, as well as the perfumer’s personal favorite – the scent of peonies from his mother’s garden. The character of the perfume is enhanced by notes of patchouli, oakmoss, and vanilla, creating a rugged woody fragrance with a subtle feminine touch. The “Belarus” perfume is part of a collection that also features fragrances associated with Minsk, outer space, the beauty of Belarusian girls, and the nation’s blue lakes.
“I worked long and hard on this fragrance,” said Nikolai Yarets. “The stars aligned, and it was needed for the competition while I was still working on it. We associate different moments in life with scents that linger in our memories, so I tried to create a fragrance that would introduce the international community to our country.”
Alena Kucheruk is prepared for the great responsibility of representing Belarus at this prestigious international competition. She will do everything possible to ensure that those who believe in her are not disappointed and continue to be proud of her. She is not afraid of challenges.
The jury will evaluate not only runway skills but also each contestant’s involvement in charity. The Belarusian beauty will present her project dedicated to helping homeless animals – pets who have lost their homes, or those who never had one. Despite her busy schedule, Alena Kucheruk always finds time for charity.
One of her greatest talents is singing. She is a fourth-year student at Novopolotsk State Music College, majoring in conducting (academic choir), and is ready to showcase her vocal talent.
“I’m a little nervous, as I’ve never flown on a plane. I’ll be without my team in Thailand, but they will always be in touch. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who worked with me, because I couldn’t have done it without them,” Alena Kucheruk shared.
In her opinion, kindness, compassion, and sincerity are the main qualities of a Belarusian woman – qualities capable of winning over the world.
Photos by Tatiana MATUSEVICH
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