Olesya Stefanko


Olesia Stefanko is a Ukrainian lawyer and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Ukraine Universe 2011 and represented her country in the 2011 Miss Universe pageant, where she was 1st runner up.

Early life

Born in Kolomyia in the Carpathian region of Ukraine, Stefanko was named Miss Odesa National Law Academy in 2008 as a student at the Institute of Prosecution and Investigation. She graduated with degree in Law from National University Odesa Law Academy in 2012 and planning to start her career in Kiev prosecutor's office.

Pageantry

Miss Ukraine Universe 2011

Stefanko, who stands tall, competed as one of 15 finalists in her country's national beauty pageant, Miss Ukraine Universe, held in Kiev on 11 December 2010, where she became the eventual winner of the title, gaining the right to represent Ukraine in Miss Universe 2011.

Miss Universe 2011

In September 2011, she finished as a first runner-up at Miss Universe 2011, the highest placement for Ukraine at Miss Universe pageant or any Big Four Beauty Pageant.
During the final question and answer portion of the competition Stefanko was asked a question and read by judge Miss Universe 2003 Amelia Vega of Dominican Republic: "If you could trade lives with anyone in history, who would it be and why?", Stefanko replied:

I simply live my life and I’m very satisfied with it. But if I did have the chance to trade positions with someone I think I would choose Cleopatra. I think she is a very powerful and strong woman who is very much worthy of respect. And I think a woman could also be a leader like Cleopatra.

To note, Stefanko finished as first runner-up to Angola's Leila Lopes at Miss Universe 2011, which is so far the highest placement for Ukraine at Miss Universe pageant.