During the 71st annual Miss Universe competition, Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy presented Miss Universe Ukraine Viktoriia Apanasenko with the “Spirit of Carnival” award for embodying the company’s values of fun, friendship, diversity, and inclusion.
The “Spirit of Carnival” award presentation was featured during the Miss Universe competition that was held in New Orleans and broadcast internationally on Saturday, January 14th.
Viktoriia Apanasenko has made it her mission to remind us that the war is ongoing and people across Ukraine are working to support their military, as well as their neighbors affected by the war – especially those displaced from their homes,” said Duffy. “I’m impressed by Viktoriia’s strength and her kind and giving character which truly embodies the ‘Spirit of Carnival.’ And through this recognition, we are also letting the people of Ukraine and especially our Ukrainian crew members know that we continue to support and admire their spirit as well.”
MORE: Norwegian Cruise Line Lays Off Onboard Entertainment Staff Members
Apanasenko serves as a Peace Ambassador of the UN Global Compact Ukraine. She graduated from the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv with a master’s degree in social work and has focused on domestic violence.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, she has worked to provide food, medicine, and hygiene products to Ukrainian families. She also intends to bring awareness to the importance of gender equality in the military through her work with The Female Quotient, an organization founded to advance gender equality in the workplace.
This is the third time a Miss Universe delegate received the “Spirit of Carnival” award. Last year, Miss Universe Bahamas Chantel O’Brian was selected. In 2021, Miss Universe Dominican Republic Kimberly Jiménez received the award and was also named godmother of Mardi Gras.
Watch:
READ NEXT: Royal Caribbean Ship Rescues Refugees After Skipping Bahamian Cruise Port
