Miss Belarus 2021 in Stockholm
The Miss Belarus contest is a longstanding entertainment event in Belarus, institutionalized through the National School of Beauty and various governmental mechanisms responsible for selecting representatives from different regions and universities. This ideologically driven framework also includes contests such as Miss Breasts of Belarus. Notably, in 2022, political allegiance became an explicit criterion in the Miss Belarus selection process for Miss Universe candidates, allowing only women who openly supported the Lukashenko regime to participate.
Ludmila Christeseva, an artist originally from Belarus, has engaged her Swedish colleagues and acquaintances in a critical dialogue surrounding these developments.
Press Release. Artten Gallery 27 November 2021
Miss Belarus – Artist Research on Femininity and Gender Equality in Belarus and Sweden
Artist Ludmila Christeseva has extensively explored femininity across cultures, with a particular focus on the patriarchal structures that shaped her upbringing in Belarus. In her homeland, state-sponsored beauty pageants—such as the Miss Belarus competition, overseen by President Lukashenko—function as tools of ideological control. Contestants are judged not only on appearance but also on political loyalty and conformity, with final decisions ultimately made by men.
This control extends into academic environments, where female students are encouraged by professors to participate in contests like “Miss Breasts of Belarus,” typically involving performances in bikinis and high heels.
Christeseva’s critical project, Miss Belarus, explores femininity, beauty, and the critical need to raise gender equality awareness among these students, highlighting issues of power and representation. The artist employs diverse artistic expressions—dance, music, visual art, and performance—and facilitates discussions led by a feminist panel composed of curators, artists, researchers, and social media entrepreneurs.
The project aims to culminate in MISS Universe – A Feminist Conference, providing a platform for visibility, empowerment, and the promotion of gender equality.
