“Behind the Crown”: Yuliia Tkachenko on Mrs Globe 2026 and Breaking Stereotypes

This year, Ukrainian lawyer and founder of her own legal company Yuliia Tkachenko will represent Ukraine at the international Mrs Globe 2026 competition in the United States. After winning the title of Mrs Central Europe Globe 2026 at the national “Krasa Krainy” contest, she stepped into a completely new world — one where beauty is no longer measured only by appearance, but by influence, resilience, and personal mission.

In an exclusive conversation, Yuliia speaks about the hidden side of international pageants, the stereotypes she faced while building a career in law, why women are still forced to “choose” between femininity and ambition, and what truly stands behind the crown.

— Yuliia, many people still associate beauty pageants only with glamour and competition. What does Mrs Globe represent for you personally?

“For me, this story has never been about the crown itself. It’s about visibility, opportunities, and having a voice that can inspire other women.

Mrs Globe 2026 is not a typical beauty contest in the stereotypical sense. Women here are evaluated not only for how they look, but for their achievements, social impact, charity initiatives, and the message they bring into the world.”

— Was there a moment when you realized you actually wanted to step into this industry?

“It happened unexpectedly. Everything started with the ‘Krasa Krainy’ competition, where I received the title Mrs Central Europe Globe 2026. That victory opened the door to representing Ukraine internationally.

Honestly, I never imagined myself participating in beauty pageants before.”

— Yet modeling was once part of your life, right?

“Yes, briefly. As a child I attended a modeling agency, but my father eventually took me out of it because at the time there was a very strong belief that serious professions and the modeling world simply couldn’t coexist.

If a girl wanted to become a lawyer, she was expected to stay far away from beauty or fashion. Ironically, today I feel like I’m breaking exactly that stereotype.”

— Did people really make you feel like you had to choose between appearance and professionalism?

“Constantly. I heard it for years — either you focus on beauty, or you build a serious career.

But I never agreed with that mindset. I truly believe a woman can be intelligent, ambitious, feminine, beautiful, and professionally successful all at once. One does not cancel out the other.”

— What was the hardest part of building yourself in the legal world?

“My age. When I was 26, many people simply didn’t take me seriously. I constantly had to prove that a young woman could be competent, strong, and professional.

It required enormous internal resilience. But in many ways, those experiences made me stronger.”

— Was there a point where you stopped worrying about public opinion?

“Yes. Probably the moment I understood that constantly trying to earn approval from everyone is exhausting.

At some point, I allowed myself to stop apologizing for being a woman who enjoys beauty, aesthetics, femininity — while also running a serious business.”

— Beauty pageants are often described as highly competitive environments. Did you experience that?

“Personally, I don’t live in that mindset. I genuinely enjoy communication and meeting new people.

Although I constantly hear: ‘Remember, these women are your competitors.’ But I don’t want to exist in constant rivalry.

That said, I do notice that for some contestants the competition becomes extremely intense. Sometimes girls barely speak to each other.”

— What qualities actually matter most at Mrs Globe today?

“Of course appearance matters too — presentation, confidence, self-care. But the organizers also pay huge attention to your mission, your projects, your social influence, and your personality.

Who you are beyond the внешность is what truly matters.”

— Why is women’s support such an important topic for you?

“Because I know how easy it is for women to start doubting themselves.

At the same time, I’ve seen how dramatically a woman changes when she feels supported instead of judged. That’s why I organize brunches, networking events, and women’s communities. I want to create spaces where women grow instead of competing.

Because the truth is simple: every strong woman once needed support from another woman.”

— Did you ever think about giving up?

“Of course. There were extremely difficult periods — pressure, responsibility, fear, distrust from clients because of my age.

But I always told myself: if you’ve started something, you have to keep moving forward.”

— If not law, what would your life look like?

“I adore flowers,” Yuliia smiles. “Sometimes I joke that if I ever leave law, I’ll become a florist.”

— And finally — what does female strength mean to you today?

“For me, female strength is not about hardness or aggression. It’s about inner confidence. About allowing yourself to be authentic without fear of judgment.

And about never feeling forced to choose between femininity and self-realization.”