On August 23, the Miss America competition will take place in Miami, where the state of Illinois will be represented by Tetiana Tarasenko — a Ukrainian-born physician, real estate entrepreneur, and mother who successfully combines her professional career with an important social mission.
Tetiana was born in Ukraine, where she earned her medical degree and worked as a general practitioner. Following the outbreak of the full-scale war, she moved to the United States and began a new chapter in her life. Today, she works in the real estate industry while raising her daughter with a disability, dedicating special attention to her child’s development and well-being.
For Tetiana, participation in the competition is primarily an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges faced by families raising children with disabilities. She is committed to advocating for inclusion, parental support, and the creation of a society where every child and every family feels accepted, valued, and heard.
At the same time, she hopes to inspire others through her own example, demonstrating that women can achieve success in multiple areas of life regardless of circumstances. She firmly believes that motherhood, professional growth, and personal aspirations can coexist in harmony.
Tetiana is preparing for the competition together with Victoria Gorshkova, founder of an academy specializing in international beauty pageant training, an expert in contestant preparation, and her personal mentor. Under Victoria’s guidance, Tetiana is developing her stage presence, competition strategy, and the presentation of her personal story.
By representing Illinois on the Miss America stage, Tetiana Tarasenko aims not only to achieve success in the competition but also to use this platform to draw attention to the realities of special-needs parenting, support for children with disabilities, and the opportunities available to women who are building a new life and pursuing their dreams.
