Did you have a presentiment that you would be the winner?
I did have a big desire. But every day I saw what worthy competition I had. During these ten days the members of the jury were among us all the time, they examined us all-round, not only our appearance but also our intellect, personality, charm, communication skills, etc., etc. Good looks were far from being all. True, among the many participants several incredibly charming women stood out. But the winner is one. When I learned it was me, I felt agitation and feelings that cannot be described in words.

In your opinion, the ladies from which nationalities were among the top claimants of the Missis Globe title?
I personally liked very much the Greek lady, the Croatian, the Finn, the Georgian lady, she was extremely convivial, the Indian lady, from whom radiated kindness and humanity.

One of the things that strongly impressed the jury was your stand on the Bulgarian medics in Libya. What exactly did you appeal for, as a Bulgarian, as one of the most beautiful women in the world, and perhaps as a doctor, too?
Even in the first days Sava Tzekov and I saught the support of the other participants for the cause of the Bulgarian medics, accused of the heavy crime of intentional infection of Libyan children with HIV. We did not mean to “accumulate credit” or make sensations. But I, being a doctor feel it my duty to try to help in some way, be it only with support for a fair and objective trial. An international support is some help or at least popularization of the problem.

Obviously your beauty and model proportions are not from yesterday, yet you never stepped on the fashion stage. Evidently your aspirations and ambitions were directed elsewhere. What future did you want for yourself?
My studies have always been number one in my life. I finished the natural sciences and mathematics high school in Burgas, major biology, and quite naturally continued in that line. I was instinctively attracted to medicine since childhood. My father is a military, so my brother and I were brought up in strict discipline; my mother is an accountant. I was admitted to study medicine in Varna and dentistry in Sofia. This double success made me hesitate at first. I liked Varna very much and I enrolled there, but in a week’s time I realized my bent for dentistry was more important and I moved to Sofia. I graduated four years ago and now I am specializing in orthodontia. I work a lot with children and this gives me great pleasure.

How do you keep up your perfect shape?
I try to engage in sports regularly – fitness, exercises, aerobics, skiing in winter. Since some time I have taken up yoga – it helps me relax, shake off the tension. I don’t like diets, I don’t know how to apply them nor am I convinced that this is the best way to keep your figure.

How did you choose the man of your life?
I would say he chose me. He picked me out, courted me, he was the active side. And he managed to attract my attention and win me for himself.

Isn’t he jealous now? His own wife – the most beautiful woman in the world!
The curious thing is I don’t feel any jealousy on his part beyond the normal. I consider jealousy a normal feeling if it has certain limits. My husband is a very balanced man and takes things quite naturally.

Where to now? Is there a danger that your new career would take the place of your professional ambition of dentist?
The joy and triumph is still with me. For one year I will be doing the program of the World Headquarters of Missis Globe, involving various initiatives, charities, etc. At the same time I don’t want to give up the postgraduate course in orthodontia. I hope I’ll be able to combine the two. In a longer perspective, I still see my future as a good professional – dentist.

Neli Kostadinova