Valeria Drobyshevskaya, aged 10, from Gomel, becomes ‘Little Princess of the World’

By Yekaterina Panteleeva

Valeria Drobyshevskaya, aged 10, from Gomel, becomes ‘Little Princess of the World’

The contest, hosted by Turkey, attracted 30 girls from 15 countries. Valeria’s win is her second bright victory, having been named ‘Small Gomel Resident-2013’ last autumn. The fourth year pupil at gymnasium #71 remains relaxed at such competitions, explains her mother, Natalia Bolotkina. “During the artistic contest — when Lera was singing — her microphone stopped working. However, she continued as if nothing had happened. After her performance, those present stood up to applaud. I must admit that I felt like crying, as I had no idea that my daughter was such a ‘fighter’.”

The girls appeared in national costume, ball dresses and fairy-tale costume: the latter sewn by Lera and her mother, using several hundred flowers. Lera is now back with her peers in Gomel, attending classes at musical school and at a modelling studio.