A Bulgarian is the most beautiful married woman in the world

Sometimes one’s life turns suddenly, in a few minutes. Having piled knowledge for years on end in the field of biology and dentistry, the beautiful Bulgarian had not seen herself as a top model even in her dreams. Although her appearance makes her stand out from afar.

Tall, slender, with ideal proportions between breast measurement, waist and hips, the 28-years-old mother of a girl of three and wife of a beloved husband almost in the way of a joke decided to participate in the contest Missis Bulgaria 2003. In the Mirrors program on BTV she saw that good-looking, intelligent married women between the age of 18 and 35 were invited to send their photo and a presentation letter as candidates of this comparatively new beauty contest in Bulgaria. “Why not try?” the young woman thought, did what was required and almost forgot about it.

Last August, while she and her family were on vacation at the seaside, she got a message to appear for casting. In the preliminary selection among 600 participants she had the honour to be among the first 15 semifinalists. She nearly missed the event because she had not planned to return to Sofia so soon. But one cannot escape one’s destiny. Rumyana had been destined to be runner-up to Magdalena Zhelyazkova, who won the title Missis Bulgaria 2003. It would have taken a wonder for Rumyana to go to the world contest instead of her. But the wonder happened. Personal problems prevented the favourite to continue the competition and before she knew it Mrs. Marinova found herself at Missis Globe in Palm Springs, California this July. Only to take away the crown of the most beautiful woman in the world!

On a world scale Missis Globe exists since 1992. Bulgaria participated for the first time in 2001 thanks to the enterprise of Mr. Sava Tzekov (Mister Bulgaria 2000), who succeeded in obtaining the exclusive rights over this prestigious contest for our country. The first Bulgarian Missis is Yuliana Doncheva, now MP, who came sixth in the global beauty contest (2001). Owing to financial difficulties, in 2002 there was no Missis Bulgaria. Diana Andreeva was the next to win this title and at the global contest she won the title Mother Globe 2003. The third Bulgarian participant Rumyana Marinova outdid 29 married women in the competition and decorated her head with the most precious crown of the winner (2004). Another great success for Bulgaria is that the exclusive right over the wardrobe of the finalists was won again by Bulgarians – the designer Virginia Zdravkova and the bathing suits company City Fashion.

Mrs. Marinova, without having dreamt of it, you suddenly found yourself starring in a beautiful fairytale in the part of the princess, whom the whole world adores. How did Missis Globe contest in Palm Springs, California, go?
The ten-day program was busy. Our working day started at 8.30 a.m. and finished late after midnight. We had rehearsals three times a day, plus lectures on the problems of women in disadvantaged position and victims of violence. Every night there was some event. We didn’t have a single free minute.

In the first round all participants marched in procession in national costumes, holding their national flag. I was dressed in an old, authentic costume from my native Burgas region. My uncle, who is director of a folk song and dance ensemble, found it especially for me. In the second round we marched in bathing suits. The third one was in evening dresses. After the first selection the jury chose 15 semifinalists. They appeared in the splendid dresses of the designer Virginia Zdravkova, which won universal approval and admiration. There followed an interview in English and announcement of the final five.