2013 SU Update: Pearl of Universiade named in Kazan

KAZAN – Elmira Faizullina from Kazakhstan won the Pearl of the Universiade Contest. The winner was announced by Marat Kalimullin, member of the 2^nd Pearl of the Universiade International Student Pageant panel of judges and Director of the Department of Accommodation and Services of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate.

«The girl was best remembered for her bright and colorful performance that touched every member of the panel», Marat Kalimullin admitted.

The pageant that was held on May 28th at the Ministry of the Interior’s Cultural Centre was initiated by the International Students and Graduate Students Association under the auspices of Kazan’s Youth and Children Committee and Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate. The event brought together 13 claimants for the Pearl of the Universiade crown from Angola, Benin, Vietnam, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, USA, Tajikistan and South Korea.

As Yangwei Wan, student of Kazan State Technological University and previous holder of the 2009 Pearl of the World crown, confessed, such events helped to develop an intercultural dialogue between various peoples and cultures.

Echoing the words of Yangwei Wan, Syuzanna Tadzhibaeva from Kyrgyzstan, one of the contestants of the 2011 edition, added that it was a great honor and responsibility to represent a home nation.

There were three stages to the pageant. The first stage was a self-presentation when girls were to tell about themselves, their hobbies and talents and their life in Kazan. In the second stage the contestants impressed the panel and audience with their creative talent. Self-presentations featured various performing arts: traditional African dance, salsa, piano piece, poem about the homeland. The final stage was a defilé in evening dresses.

Apart from contestants’ performances, the audience and panel enjoyed music and dance numbers delivered by creative teams and solo performers, including the winners of the 2011 Galaxy-Yoldyzlyk Festival and UNI-RESERVE nominees Marina Kokina and Roman Gimadiev.

The winners of the pageant were announced based on the results of the contest: Le Thanh Tam from Vietnam was named the Pearl of the Universiade, Shigi from Indonesia was crowned Vice-Miss and Bernis Klatoe from Benin earned the third place.

At the award ceremony International Students Association President Gabriel Aniset Kochofa thanked the organizers, admitting that he admired the way the pageant was staged. «The pageant was a success because there were people who helped us to organize it. I think that Kazan is the city of tolerance and cultural diversity, it became a true home for each international student», he said.

The contestants were granted souvenirs from the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)