You're reading: ‘Viva! The Most Beautiful People of Ukraine 2009’

Viva! magazine continues its tradition of annually picking the most beautiful people in Ukraine, elected by readers’ votes.

As usual there are 50 contenders – 25 women and 25 men. This year’s nominees include singers Nastya Kamenskikh, Vera Brezhneva, Jamala, Dasha Astafieva, Anastasiya Prikhodko, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk and Vitaliy Kozlovskiy, football player Andriy Shevhchenko, comedian Serhiy Prytula, dance and TV host Vlad Yama, film director Alan Badoyev, TV presenter Olha Freymut, dancer and choreographer Olena Shoptenko and many others. Celebrity guests will walk the red carpet to the Ukraine Palace concert hall to find out which two of them will be called the “Most Beautiful” this year. Naturally, most of the pop stars competing for the title, will take part in the gala concert. In truth, the celebrity contenders for Viva! Awards, differ little from year to year. And the winners are picked not so much on the basis of physical beauty but rather on the amount of publicity that a certain star has enjoyed throughout the year. Since the Ukrainian Viva! Awards were introduced in 2006, the winners included singer Nataliya Mohilevska, football player Vitaly Shovkovsky, TV host Savik Shuster and showman Volodymyr Zelensky. Pop star Tina Karol claimed the “Most Beautiful” title twice – in 2007 and 2008.

Palats Ukraina (103 Chervonoarmiyska, 247-2599). Feb. 28, 5:30 p.m. (red carpet arrivals), show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets Hr 30 to Hr 450.