Silvia Lakatošová became Miss (former) Czechoslovakia in 1993 and took home fourth place a year later at Miss Universe. Today, she is the national director of Miss Universe, and she’s brought back a whole slew of amazing experiences from New Orleans, this year’s host for the event.
What are your memories of the year 1993, when you won the title of Miss?
It was an incredible experience. To this day, I remember dancing in my folk costume with my partner from Lúčnice. The amazing applause! The finals took place in Grandhotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary, and hearing my name announced as the winner is a moment I’ll never forget. I thanked God and my parents for giving me life.
It must have changed your life in so many ways. What were some of the pros and cons of winning?
My life changed completely. Fate had a hand in that. What followed was the international finals of Miss Universe in the Philippines. I spent a month there alongside delegates from all over the world. After the results of the semifinals, the TOP 10, were announced, I could barely breathe. And I didn’t even know then that I would go on to take part in an interview with the judges and claim fourth place in the finals. I was so proud of representing and bringing attention to Slovakia. I believe around 1.5 billion people all over the world watched the live broadcast of the finals. An amazing experience I revisit to this day and share with others. And that was also where my whole life tilted on its axis and started heading in this direction. I became a national director for the Miss Universe brand, and I’ve been organizing the national finals of Miss Universe Slovakia since 1999. And as for the cons? None!
You’re a beautiful woman to this day. How do you take care of yourself? Do you try to lead a healthy lifestyle?
Thank you. You know, I have this responsibility – to other women, and to myself. I both want to and have to look nice, and so I work hard to maintain that. You can’t really skip that. My whole life, I’ve been used to being active. So exercising, and sports in general, are a part of me. A forty-minute walk three times a week is enough. I love spinning, it’s a great cardio workout, as well as a fantastic way to build up your endurance and clear your head.
What would you recommend to women over forty, or even fifty? What types of cosmetic adjustments are safe?
The most important thing is going to sleep with clean skin! It’s one of the simplest and most important rules. Of course, I use all sorts of creams and serums that fit my skin type. What’s also very important is some type of massage, we’re talking your face, but also the body as a whole, at least once a week. I personally don’t mind cosmetic adjustments, on the contrary, they exist to improve a woman’s confidence, so why not. After that, it’s only a question of how much, how far to take it. And most importantly of all, growing old with grace actually isn’t all that bad.
You and your husband Pavol Chovanec are a stable couple, which isn’t always a given in show business...
We’ve been together for almost thirty years. Pali is a man who knows me to my core. He’s known me since I was twenty years old. He knows exactly how I feel at any given point in time, what troubles me, and most importantly of all, he’s always by my side. He deserves a Nobel prize for living with me. I love his laugh, and his ability to make me laugh.
You’re also a mother to two children.
Simply put, my children are a part of me. They’ve always been with me. Ever since they were little, I’d take them everywhere, to every business trip, every international competition, everywhere. Valentínka will be turning nine soon. She’s the beating heart of the family, she doesn’t hesitate to remind me that she loves me, that she picked me as a mom, and that she’s so happy she was born into our family. Christian is about to turn seventeen. He’s a wonderful brother and son. Oftentimes he sends me out of the kitchen to prepare dinner himself. He’s an excellent cook! His biggest passion, and it’s been that way since early childhood, are animals, though. He has guinea pigs, canaries, parakeets, and chickens, too. He’s a young caretaker. He absolutely adores fishing. The last time we were in Croatia, he reached his personal record while fishing for carp. I thank God every day that I’m a mother to these wonderful human beings.
How did you enjoy this year’s competition in New Orleans?
The finals were simply magnificent. Great music – I mean we were in the mecca of the world’s music, the birthplace of Louis Armstrong. The selection of the girls advancing into the TOP 16 took me by surprise, though. I expected a higher number of delegates from Europe.
Over all this time you’ve worked for Miss Universe, have the requirements and expectations placed on these girls changed in any way?
A beautiful woman is a beautiful woman, whether the year is 1993, or 2023. Young women these days are very confident, they know exactly what they want. In my opinion, a truly beautiful woman radiates that beauty from within.
CV BOX
Silvia Lakatošová (born May 7, 1973, in Bratislava) became the very last Miss Czechoslovakia thirty years ago, in April 1993. A year later, she took home fourth place in the international Miss Universe competition in Manila. She’s been the director of Miss Universe Slovakia since 1999.
Her position as national director for Miss Universe put her on Donald Trump’s payroll – he owned the franchise from the year 1996 until he was elected President of the United States. She also met him several times, and, in the year 2003, accepted his invitation to his penthouse on 5th Avenue. That same year, she also became the face of the Brazilian national football team.
She owns an event planning agency called In Agency, which organizes fashion shows and events for the most prestigious local as well as international companies, produces movies, television shows, documentaries, and live broadcasts.
She’s married, and together with her husband Pavol Chovanec – a show host, producer, and director – they have a son, Christian (16), and daughter, Valentina (8).
Silvia with her family
reklama
