Tatar Kyzy 2016: public speaking, ‘ugly roses’ and mink coat
The final of Tatar Kyzy (Tatar Girl) 2016 beauty contest held last week on Saturday at Nur theatre in Ufa attracted a capacity crowd. The contest has been organized for the 14th time in the republic. Earlier it was called Nowruz Guzyale (Beauty of Nowruz). Tatar Kyzy has been chosen in Bashkiria in the last three years, and there is no reference to her beauty. A correspondent of Realnoe Vremya, who visited the event, saw that the topic of spring was present in the contest.
Students from Ufa
The selection of girls consisted of three stages, and the casting ended only on 5 March. Organizers especially visited regions looking for girls: Sterlitamak, Durtyuli, Tuymazy, Verkniye Kigi. All girls had to tell about their dreams, demonstrate their talents in singing or dance on the stage on 6 March. As a result, twelve unmarried girls aged 17-21 being above 165 cm in height reached the final. The finalists are studying mainly in Ufa universities.
'Tatar Kyzy changes the idea of the classic beauty contests: no shows in bikini, only real woman's beauty accompanied by a rich inner self and knowledge of the history, culture and traditions of their nation,' Zaliya Akhunova, the author of the project of the contest 2016, tells. 'Our winners participate in the contests at federal level. For instance, Alina Gizzatullina became a winner of Tatar Kyzy beauty contest, which took place on 7 December 2014 in Moscow. Elvira Rakipova was the owner of Grand Prix of Awyl Kyzy (Girl of Village) the 2nd all-Russian contest on 22 March 2015 in Kazan. Albina Khamatova was a finalist and defended the honour of Bashkiria in Tatar Kyzy all-Russian beauty contest in Chelyabinsk on 15 October 2015.
Some characters looked like in Office Romance film, 'in ugly roses'
The finalists were given classes of choreography and singing with the national accent, public speaking and makeup. The girls should speak Tatar by default, know and respect traditions of their nation and pay 5,000 rubles for the right to be a candidate for the title of the Tatar Girl in Bashkiria.
Many young people came to the contest. There were supporters of the contestants among the spectators. Someone even had banners and yelled supporting chants. But it happens in all beauty contests. The most surprising thing was that practically all guests and spectators had accessories with the national ornaments or elements of national costumes: women had kalfaks and men tyubeteikas.
The girls appeared on the stage several times. They were dressed in national costumes, they danced and sang in a common performance. There was a spring performance too. The finalists put on designer dresses of Flower Symphony collection made of transparent organza. The author of the collection was trying to make up a flower for each girl. As a result, some looks were like in Sluzhebny Roman (Office Romance) film – 'in ugly roses'. Later the girls presented Nelyufar Abulvalieva's collection called Silk Road (Uzbekistan). It was an intellectual turn when they appeared again wearing expensive homespun clothes of a designer; some dresses cost hundreds of dollars. One more show was presented in outerwear: coats and hats.
Grand Prix – mink coat and ticket to final of federal contest
A contest of public speaking was a traditional culmination. This competition demonstrates not only a girl's intellect but also her ability to think and express her thoughts in her mother tongue, beauty of the turn of phrase and speech in general. If last year girls spoke about great Tatar women, this year they were given a task to tell about crafts. So, the girls talked about a new breath of patchwork using pieces of leather, secrets of preparation and history of chak-chak and pottery.
'We had 12 nominations plus special nominations from the media, all girls were presented cosmetics and cushions for dowry. Grand Prix was given to Edelveys Ikhsanova. She was presented a mink coat and a ticket to the final of the federal contest,' Akhunova tells. 'To tell the truth, we had heated arguments concerning her name. Will other Tatars understand our choice? Moreover, she called herself Edelya.'
The very winner comes from Fedorosky District of Bashkiria, from Yurmaty village. She is studying in Salavat Medical College. She is 18. Edelya is dreaming of becoming a plastic surgeon. 'If a person has exterior defects, they always can be corrected. It is great if a person wants to be beautiful! As for the contests, I think the girls who have a natural beauty should participate there,' the girl explained her dream.
'The contest was organized in a Tatar atmosphere. It was understandable that all girls perfectly spoke Tatar. I agreed with the winner but was sure that the girl from Neftekamsk was going to win because she performed confidently and was very nice,' the head of Miss Bashkortostan modelling agency Luiza Zakiryanova shared. Their pupil was the best Tatar Kyzy in Bashkiria and Russia in general.
It should be noted that Tatar Public Cultural and Educational Organization called Berlek (Unity) was the founder of the contest in the Republic of Bashkortostan. The event was organized aided by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan, World Congress of the Tatars, Regional Public Organization called Congress of the Tatars of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Nur Ufa State Tatar Theatre, Sakhibzhamal and Ak Kalfak Regional Public Organizations of Tatar Women.
