SOFIA KACHUK

Hi Sofiya, congratulations on becoming the new Miss Universe Ukraine 2025! But if we could travel back in time, Can you tell us a bit about what little Sofiya was like as a child, and did you ever imagine becoming the woman you are today?

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I had so many childhood photos of myself giving speeches to adults and dancing on tables. I always wanted to be a strong, self-aware, independent woman.

I remember very clearly that when I was five, I looked up at the sky and saw a plane. And I told myself: God, I don’t want to be a flight attendant, but I do want to fly in the sky all the time. I truly believe that all our dreams can come true.

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How do you remember your childhood with your parents, and what did you learn from them?

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I do remember from my childhood that my parents always worked very hard. That showed me what discipline and respect look like, and how respect is earned, especially in different cultural settings.

I believe that kindness can open any door. No matter where we went, even when cultural differences existed, people always respected us because of my parents’ ethics and kindness. 

They never gave up. We went through many difficult times, but nothing ever stopped them from continuing to dream and work toward their goals. When it came to education or personal progress, they always pushed further and never settled.

I was very proud of them, and I still am. To me, they were a true example of love and partnership. I remember how young they were, but they remained loyal and supportive of each other. Even during the hardest moments, they always took care of one another. No matter how they felt, they fulfilled their responsibilities, as a couple and as parents.

That, to me, was something remarkable. I didn’t see that kind of bond in many other families. That’s why I’ve always felt so proud of them. And that foundation, their example, their values, and their resilience, is what shaped me the most during childhood and made me who I am today.

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We believe you came to Barcelona from a small town to pursue your studies, are we right? What does that place mean to you, and what was it like moving to Barcelona, Spain? What emotions did you experience during that transition?

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I moved to Barcelona to continue my studies. Before that, I lived in several small villages. When my parents first arrived in Spain, we had modest living conditions, and it took time to improve our situation. We moved often, constantly adapting to new places and people. It wasn’t easy, but we did what was necessary to move forward and never gave up on building a better life.

Relocating to Barcelona marked a turning point for me. I was beginning my own journey and never expected financial support from my family, I wanted to build my path independently.

While many of my friends felt homesick and missed their families deeply, I saw this move as a chance for growth. I’ve always had a strong connection with my family and culture, but I also knew that a big city meant bigger opportunities.

This city taught me how to prioritize, helped me grow up, and constantly challenged me.

What are your thoughts on the importance of roots, and how do you think they shape us as individuals?

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For me, my roots have given me the most important values I carry today.

I remember spending a lot of time with my grandparents back in Ukraine, they were the ones who taught me how to read and introduced me to so many things.

Our culture and traditions were deeply embedded in our family life at home. So when I moved to a big city and started struggling to define my identity, I soon realized that although I absorbed different cultural influences throughout my life, my foundation was unmistakably Ukrainian. I naturally connected with people who shared even a hint of that background, it always stayed in my heart.

In every city I’ve lived in, I would always find a shop that carried something from Ukraine ,buckwheat, frozen varenyky for when I didn’t have time to cook, or anything else that brought me back home.

For me, embracing my Ukrainian heritage means honoring the strength and cultural richness passed down through generations, and carrying that legacy forward in everything I do. It’s my foundation. It’s something I can always rely on.

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Could you tell us a bit about your background after moving to Spain? What did you study, and what path did you follow afterward?

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My parents taught me to be independent from a very young age. Since I was five, I would take the bus alone to another village to attend school. I was always cooperative, proactive, and full of initiative. I had many friends from different nationalities, which shaped my worldview early on.

When I moved to Barcelona, I started studying law and finance. But because I was working and focused on building my financial independence since the age of 17, I chose to complete my degree in finance. By the time most of my peers were just entering the workforce, I already had several years of experience. I’ve always been proud of that, because it wasn’t easy. I had to seek out opportunities on my own, push for projects, have a vision, believe in myself when no one else did, and step far outside my comfort zone.

I had a very diverse group of friends, between the ones who lived with their families who had connections in the city , while others, who where working and studying at the same time in a survival mode. I know I was diferent.

A funny fact: my hands used to shake a lot, so I couldn’t work as a bartender or a manicurist. Every coffee would spill from my hands, but that never stopped me. I even tried to bake, making bread from 4 to 7 a.m. I went to dozens of job interviews. I also remember walking to university every day, instead of using subway, doing everything I could to save money. I cooked simple meals, but I always looked for ways to network, meet people I could learn from, and find mentors or companies I could admire.

I remember feeling like there were never enough hours in the day, but I made every one of them count.

What do you truly believe becoming Miss Universe could bring to you personally, and to others? We know you’ve been involved in humanitarian work and altruistic initiatives across different countries, but we’d love for you to share more about that background with our readers in your own words.

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It’s a highly valued, admired, and respected platform. Throughout my life, I’ve met women who held the title of Miss Universe, they were true ladies. I quickly realized that I wanted to accept this challenge too, even though it meant changing my mindset. I made a promise to myself to permanently delete any thoughts that told me I wasn’t worthy.

People sometimes think that hate can affect me, but in reality, I’m often my own harshest critic. So, stepping into this role became a journey of growth — a challenge, an honor, and a push beyond my comfort zone. I truly believe that beauty, kindness, and love can save the world.

Yes, absolutely. I’ve always tried to live a life with purpose. For personal reasons, especially those connected to the women and female figures in my family, I’ve always known I wanted to live my life guided by feminine energy. I didn’t wait until I had financial freedom; I started investing my free time into philanthropy whenever I could.

It all began in high school when I spent an entire year working on social projects in the evenings. When I began my studies, I focused fully on personal growth, because I believe you must love yourself first in order to love others. And that’s what I did. When I began to feel stronger, I couldn’t help but direct my energy toward causes like working with refugees through UNHCR and supporting other projects in different countries.

Having a job with intention, working for meaningful causes, felt like the perfect combination for me.

At the moment, I’m particularly focused on supporting children affected by war, especially through two organizations: Children of Heroes and Voices of Children.

Children of Heroes supports kids who have lost one or both parents due to the war. Their approach is comprehensive and long-term: from immediate financial and psychological assistance to education, mentorship, and professional development. 

Voices of Children is the largest Ukrainian organisation providing long-term, systemic support to children with war-related trauma, not just one-off assistance, but sustained care. The organisation is currently building a unique Childhood Centre, a safe space for healing, recovery, and growth. 

For me, it’s important to be a voice for Ukrainian children, teenagers, and young women, so that their experiences are acknowledged and understood globally. This is why I support these organisations and their mission.

At the same time, I believe that the role of Miss Universe goes far beyond national borders. I want to be a voice for the younger generation around the world who are struggling, whether due to war, poverty, inequality, or lack of access to education and basic support. Too many are overlooked or unheard, and I see the Miss Universe platform as a way to advocate for them, to help bring visibility to their realities, and to contribute to solutions, even in small but consistent ways.

I believe that a title like Miss Universe can open doors, but more importantly, it can open conversations that matter. And I hope to use that voice with purpose.

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We see a deeply sensitive and thoughtful person behind your beauty. What experiences or values have shaped your maturity? And looking ahead, what is Sofiya’s dream for the future?

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It has been a combination of values passed down to me by my grandmothers and the experience of having to learn independence. Since I was a baby, I’ve always been kind, and I genuinely love seeing others happy. I’m a giver. I know I can’t make everyone happy, that’s impossible, but I feel like a queen when I know I’ve done my best to help or uplift someone.

I believe all my core values were formed early on through the time I spent with my family. My grandparents played a huge role in this. I was the first grandchild, and since my parents couldn’t spend much time with me during the earliest stage of my life, I was raised mostly by the rest of the family. I remember and treasure those years with deep emotion and vivid memories, the smells, the books, the games. I remember every little piece of advice they gave me. They always treated me as an adult.

I began memorizing poems at the age of three; we used to pretend I was reading them aloud to impress people. It was so much fun.

Moving away from Ukraine was heartbreaking. I had to start over in a foreign country while my parents were working 15 hours a day. It was a life test, one I passed together with my parents, through strength and the deep family values that carried us.

Looking ahead, my dream is quite simple, and it is to be genuinely happy. For me, that means having inner peace, clarity in my decisions, and sincere people by my side. Sometimes the most ordinary things turn out to be the most meaningful. And that, truly, is my dream

We thank you for this intimate moment, thank you for sharing your thoughts, your emotions, and for allowing us to glimpse into your unique world. It’s been a privilege to get to know the real you.

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I do believe I’ve been very privileged in the way I think throughout my life, because even when everyone told me negative things, I never gave up. Life has never been easy, but it has always been a blessing. Thank you for the opportunity to share a part of my journey with you. It means a lot to be seen and heard.