Hello everyone, my name is Vazira and I’m 30 years old. Originally, my roots come all the way from Uzbekistan, and that is the country I’m happy to represent, but most of my life I have lived in Dubai, UAE.
– What does it mean to you to represent a nation rich in history like Uzbekistan on an international stage?
Honestly saying, it means a lot. Around 5 years ago, people didn’t know anything about my country, but now we are progressing so fast that I can’t find a place that didn’t hear about Uzbekistan. I’m proud to be representing my country, we are rich in history, we have one of the best cousins, my people enjoy four seasons through out the year, our fruits and vegetables are being exported around the world, fashion industry is booming, tourism is at its peak and me being part of this global competition gives an opportunity to promote my country to a larger scale and show the beauty of our nation.
– How do your roots influence the way you are as a woman, a model, and a person?
In our country woman remind me of 4 seasons. I can say that I can be very feminine, caring and soft like spring. I’m also positive, active and loving like summer. Autumn added the emotional part in me, ambition to grow, and also being family oriented. Whereas winter shows me as strong, resilient, and witty.
– What aspect of Uzbek culture do you always carry with you, even while living in Dubai?
I think the first and the most important aspect of my culture is respect – shown to your family, friends and people you know, tostrangers, to elders and to youngsters- no matter the nationality, sex, age, skin color or position they hold.
-How has this city contributed to your personal and professional growth?
First of all, living in Dubai or even visiting the city is a dream to many, so you can consider me as a lucky one to be able to grow up in a place like this one. Dubai tries to offer the best of everything, so I had enough experience in every field. The education that I have got here allows me to work in any part of the world. Later in life, I entered the workforce and experienced a lot of new things due to a multicultural environment and an open minded ideas to grow further. Work didn’t just allow you to get the experience related to your position but also helped to know more about different cultures, procedures, different rules and regulations that each country has when you are working in a global company. Today, I have friends around d the world, colleagues whom I can contact in different locations, and opportunities that I have yet to explore.
– What is the greatest lesson you have learned living away from your country?
The biggest lesson that I have learned would probably be that the world is big and has a lot to offer, friends are the ones who share the same values like you even if they are not from the same country as you are, and that we all share something similar to each other when it comes to culture.
– How would you define your personal style? Is it more influenced by Uzbek culture, Arab style, or is it a unique fusion?
I never really ran after fashion, but I definitely tried to be in trend with new styles. I would say I dress according to the occasion, and I like to be different. One day you can mistake me for a local woman because I’m dressed like one, the other you can see me in a bright red cocktail dress having a beautiful dinner in a restaurant. My Uzbek culture did have an influence on me as well in a way that your dress always has to stay modest. There is a rule that I follow where a woman has three points that can never be open all at once, one should always be covered, which are – the knees, the stomach and the shoulders. As long as one of the areas are covered you will always end up looking stunning.
– What does femininity mean to you today?
Femininity is not just about the way you are dressed, it’s a whole package. It’s the energy you have, it’s your look, it’s the way you behave, it’s the way you talk, it’s the way you express yourself, it’s your body language, it’s your way of thinking and finally it’s the way you feel. That’s what femininity is all about to me.
– What is your personal mission in participating in Miss Europe Continental?
My personal mission in this competition is to challenge myself to become a better version, inspire others regarding their dreams, to become a voice of many women and make a difference for a better future.
– If you could send a message to all young women around the world, what would it be?
That’s a good one – I would have told them dare to dream big, never doubt yourself, everything is possible as long as you believe in it, you are beautiful from in and out and you deserve to be happy.
– How would you like to use your voice and visibility after the competition?
To some it may sound childish but I truly would want to achieve that. Just like I work on myself everyday and I see the progress I want to help others to challenge themselves for a better future and a better version of themselves, I want to inspire both man and woman to see happiness even in small things, I want to be the reason why many people put a smile on their face, I want to be the one whom they can rely on and trust, I want to make a difference not just in my life but also in lives of others.
– Do you have a dream that seems big… but you know you can achieve it?
I always dreamt big, and I believe that I can achieve them all in the right time and in the right place. One of them is me standing on the stage and giving a speech in front of thousands of people, feeling proud of myself that I’m doing the right thing, changing
people’s life and can feel the gratitude in their eyes
FOLLOW HER ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/vazira_888
