A Lawyer Who Conquered the Paris Runway
There are women who succeed within the rules — and women who redefine them entirely. Yuliya Kyrpa belongs firmly to the second category.
For years, she has stood on the international stage as a respected lawyer defending Ukraine’s interests in some of the world’s most demanding professional arenas. Precision, resilience, and intellectual strength became the language of her career. Yet in 2026, Yuliya stepped into a completely different world — one she had quietly dreamed about since childhood. She walked the runway in Paris.
As a participant of the international women’s development project BRANDFACE, Yuliya became part of a story that celebrates transformation beyond stereotypes. At Paris Fashion Days, she presented the bridal collection by Marmelatta, embodying elegance with a presence that captivated the audience far beyond fashion itself.
Against the romantic backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, Yuliya’s editorial photoshoot captured more than beauty. Wrapped in a wedding gown beneath the soft light of springtime Paris, she represented a woman fully aware of her strength, her femininity, and her identity. The images soon appeared across the pages of ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, and Marie Claire — a surreal moment, perhaps, but one Yuliya considers deeply earned.
“What do you feel the moment you step onto the runway?” she was asked.
For me, it was storytelling without words,” Yuliya shared. “Every step, every glance — it was about the strength and dignity of Ukrainian women who continue to create beauty in the midst of war. I felt a unique blend of strength, vulnerability, and responsibility.
Preparing for the runway required discipline unfamiliar even to someone accustomed to high-level legal negotiations. Under the guidance of runway coach Anita Stemkovska, Yuliya refined every movement and detail of her presentation. After the show, Anita’s words stayed with her: “10 out of 10.” For Yuliya, that recognition carried immense meaning precisely because it came from a world so different from her own.
The experience also transformed the way she viewed herself.
I realized that femininity is not something superficial,” she explained. “It is confidence, presence, emotional intelligence. A woman doesn’t have to choose between being strong and being elegant, ambitious and graceful. These qualities coexist beautifully.
For Yuliya, BRANDFACE became more than a fashion opportunity. It became a rediscovery of parts of herself long overshadowed by professional pressure and the harsh realities of wartime life.
It is the discovery of another dimension of myself — softer, more feminine, creative,” she said. “A reminder that a woman’s strength also lives in her ability to create beauty, inspire others, and hold onto elegance even in the hardest of times.
Today, BRANDFACE continues to open international platforms for women whose stories deserve to be seen and heard. Its participants have already appeared on the runways of Paris, Dubai, and Ukrainian Fashion Week, proving that fashion can become far more than aesthetics — it can become a statement of resilience, identity, and personal evolution.
And for Yuliya Kyrpa, the Paris runway was not simply a childhood dream fulfilled. It was a declaration that no matter how established a woman may already be, she is always allowed to become something new.
