Posted:
20.12.2023 17:41:00
She took the crown to Minsk
A Belavia flight attendant won 2023 edition of Top Stewardesses international contest
The finale of the large-scale event brought together 30 flight attendants from 22 cities on stage in Moscow. To compete for the main title, the girls went through several qualifying rounds and eight months of preparation. Professional skills, appearance, ability to behave in unusual situations, charisma — all this was crucial. The only entrant from Belarus was head and shoulders above the rest. Anna Titovets returned home with the crown and told us how she surprised the jury.
Time to make your dreams come true!
The bright, cheerful and sociable brunette’s phone is bursting with messages and calls. The girl still receives hundreds of congratulations a day not only from relatives and colleagues, but also from her passengers! And some even personally supported Anna, “After being presented with the crown, a man approached me and introduced himself as the husband of the girl who had flown with us on board the day before. And what do you think, they decided to come to the finals for my sake! Was I surprised? I should think so! And when the passenger Yulia herself came up to me with flowers, I immediately recognised her. It’s so cool that complete strangers took the time to share my important day.”Anna admits that participation in the competition gave her a whole bag of pleasant moments and new acquaintances. And all this might not have happened if it weren’t for chance.
“I have been following the competition on social networks since 2014, watching every final.
Many people ask why they didn’t apply earlier. But, as for me, there is a time for everything. Perhaps these couple of years were needed for me to become stronger. This is the only way I can explain the surge of confidence when one day before going to bed I saw a notification about a new casting and realised that I needed to try and not observe,” the girl says.One message changed the girl’s life. But it was not difficult for a flight attendant with 10 years of experience to shine in the qualifying rounds with her knowledge of passenger service, emergency equipment, English, and first aid. She passed her first casting for the profession with the same success, “I still remember how surprised the commission was when, when asked about my main shortcoming, I mentioned punctuality. Why? It’s simple — I always come on time and wait for the others. Besides, I was fluent in English after MSLU, I was in perfect health, so I passed without any problems.”
“Would you change your decision now?” I wonder.
“Never in my life! I love my job, it has instilled in me a taste for life and travel. I think I was destined to go into this area. When I told my parents about the contract, my mother smiled and silently went to turn on the tape. On the recording, in kindergarten, I talk about what I will become when I grow up. Then I said that I wanted to work on an airplane and be a flight attendant.”
Drums for good luck
The girl began preparing for the finals much earlier than she found out that she had passed. She focused on a creative performance and was right. Anna brought the whole hall to life by playing the drums — she performed live one of her favourite compositions by the British band Depeche Mode. And she learned this in just six months and proved: if you really want it, nothing is impossible! “The idea arose completely by accident: friends suggested trying it, and I fell in love with this instrument. Now I even listen to music with drums in the car. It was not easy to learn, but it helped that I studied ballroom dancing for five years. There is a sense of rhythm and tact, and then it’s a matter of technique.”The girl performed number 1, she had only two minutes to change her image, set up her equipment and make a splash. A support group helped with this — friends and colleagues who also came to Moscow.
“We worked like at a Formula 1 pit stop.
Taking the stage first is already a big responsibility, and in my case it increased significantly. But the guys helped with everything: while I was changing clothes backstage, a friend was installing the drums, the makeup artist changed the ‘stewardess hairstyle’ into airy curls. A couple of seconds later I was already standing on stage. I was inspired from the first notes! At that moment I didn’t think about anything, I just enjoyed the atmosphere. I looked at the audience and felt a wave of high because I saw how much they liked it. My moment of glory was a success!” Anna laughs.
Another part of the competition is walking in uniform. The standard for Belavia flight attendants is a skirt no higher than the knee, a scarf tied in a knot on the right side and black smooth leather shoes with a six-centimetre heel. In the final, Anna allowed herself a little prank — she walked out in 12-centimeter stilettos, “But this is only on stage, and in the sky there must be discipline in everything, without it there is no way in aviation. Early flights and night flights, impeccable appearance have become a way of life for me.”
– Were you worried before the announcement of the results?
“I still can’t describe my state at that moment. When many nominations had already been distributed and only six girls remained, my heart jumped out of my chest. They called my last name, and I was speechless, goosebumps ran all over my body. And there is only one thought in my head: ‘This is a victory, mine!’ And for this I am grateful to my profession — it turned out to be a very interesting story with a happy ending. I am glad to be part of this event and would like to wish all future finalists to experience the same emotions,” the winner admitted.
In addition to the main title and crown, the competition also gave a trip to Dubai for two. We are interested in who Anna will share her vacation with, “Honestly, I haven’t decided yet. I really want to take my mother, but you will be surprised — she has never flown and is terrified of it. The vacancy is still open.”
Quiz
— Who is the best passenger?— A sleeping passenger (laughs).
— Which flights are your favourite?
— Moscow and St. Petersburg.
— A common phrase in work?
—‘Thank you’ is the most popular thing I say, this word hypnotises passengers.
— Top 3 qualities of a flight attendant?
— Impeccable appearance, communication skills and responsibility.
— A city you always want to return to?
— Of course, Motherland! For me, it is Zhodino and Minsk.
— Favourite part of the job?
— Smiles of passengers and their good mood at the end of the flight.
By Irina Lukashik
