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Alena OhshukWinner of the “Beauty Without Limits 2013” competition
Country:
 Ukraine |
Content:
- Alena Onishchuk: A Biography
- A Life-Changing Accident
- Beauty and Talent
- A Growing Competition
- Supporting Inspiring Women
- A New Beginning
Alena Onishchuk: A Biography
Alena Onishchuk is the winner of the "Beauty without Limitations-2013" competition, which took place in Donetsk on October 9, 2013. Born in the village of Barsuki, Odessa region, the 26-year-old Alena is a member of the Baltic District Public Organization of Disabled People.
A Life-Changing Accident
Two years ago, Alena suffered a spinal injury as a result of a domestic accident. Since then, she has been living in a room at the Baltic Catholic Church with her six-year-old daughter. Unfortunately, she does not have her own home or any relatives to rely on. Alena's hope rests on sponsors and authorities for support.
Beauty and Talent
To win the beauty pageant, participants must not only possess attractive looks but also showcase their talents through beautiful catwalks and self-presentation. However, the contestants of the "Beauty without Limitations-2013" competition needed tremendous courage and strength to appear on stage in wheelchairs. They sang, danced, and radiated inner beauty that came straight from their hearts.
A Growing Competition
Every year, around 100-150 beautiful women, who have proven their ability to overcome any challenges in life, apply to participate in the "Beauty without Limitations" competition. Contestants in wheelchairs from Russia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and other countries compete for the crown. This type of competition has been held for the fifth time. The final ceremony in 2013 was attended by Lyudmila Yanukovych, the wife of the President of Ukraine.
Supporting Inspiring Women
Natalia Palamarchuk, the main organizer of "Beauty without Limitations," admitted that at the beginning, it seemed that the girls would not be able to control their emotions and could not withstand the challenges, both mentally and physically. However, the very first competition held in 2009 showed the opposite. Palamarchuk, the chairman of the Donetsk organization "Union of Organizations of Disabled People of Ukraine," witnessed the growing number of participants from year to year. Each contestant has her own difficult fate, coming from small towns and settlements. Some of them grew up without parents. Palamarchuk and her team strive to maintain connections with all the girls and feel proud of their wards who have found their place in life.
A New Beginning
The organizers awarded all the participants of "Beauty without Limitations-2013" with household appliances and sanatorium vouchers. But the most important thing is that the competition helped these wheelchair-bound girls to feel beautiful and in demand.
After her coronation, the previous winner, Maria Solovienko from Poltava, said that the competition became her first proof that happiness can be found even in a wheelchair. The current Miss "Beauty without Limitations," Alena Onishchuk from Odessa, felt that the victory awakened new creative powers within her. She stated that she would dedicate her next poem to this competition. The winner of the audience's sympathy prize in 2013 was Oksana Chuprine. As the main prize, Onishchuk received a certificate from Ukrainian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov to purchase a new wheelchair.
