Bride of the Year Contest Selects Winner in Kiev, Ukraine

Beauty pageant contestants competed for the title "Bride of the Year” in Kiev. And one out of seven finalists will be chosen as the winner for the year 2010. 

[Svetlana Matvienko, Director, Bride of the Year Competition]: 

"In this case, it is an interesting bride. This is someone who has a great inner world, a rich inner world. "

200 contestants were chosen to compete through online and SMS voting. All of them are already married but now they feel like brides all over again.

[Lily Prokhor, Contestant]: 

"I participated in this contest because of my husband. He sent in my photograph and when I made it to the finals, he told me I had to go to Kiev to compete.”  

Some brides had to persuade their husbands to come along.

[Svetlana Litvinenko, Contestant]:  

"The first challenge was to persuade my husband. And then everything was so easy."

To take part in the contest, the participants had to write an essay and prepare a dance performance.

[Natalia Rokitsky, Contestant]: 

"We decided to perform the dance we did at our wedding because it was touching and beautiful. But we had to modify it because I’m pregnant. So the three of us danced together.” 

While the judges are making their decision, audience members are talking about what a real bride should be like.

[Taras Kopyl, Audience Member]:

"The bride should be a happy person, and her looks shouldn’t be the main factor in winning.” 

[Oleg Chernov, Audience Member]: 

"She should be wise and honest." 

[Ivan Berezovsky, Audience Member]: 

"The bride must be a princess. There should be a special shine in her eyes and she should be in love." 

Finally the winner was announced and she shared a few words about her husband.

[Natalia Rokitsky, Winner of Bride of the Year Contest]: 

"I can not say anything. I am very happy and grateful to my husband who supported me. I dedicate the victory to our baby. "

The winner was presented a romantic trip to Jamaica.

This year’s pageant will soon begin. 

NTD News, Kiev, Ukraine