Beauty from Tyumen Reaches Semifinals in Flight Attendant Contest

Marina Pahniy from Tyumen has reached the semifinals of the beauty and professional skills contest «Top Stewardesses 12». The young flight attendant for UTair calls the airplane her second home and admits that participating in the contest is a step towards new professional heights.

The 20-year-old Marina Pahniy is originally from Chelyabinsk but now lives and works in Tyumen. She hasn«t been in aviation for long but is sure it»s exactly what she dreamed of since childhood. According to her, it all started with family flights, and the final decision came after a skydiving jump on her 18th birthday.

In 2025, she started working as a flight attendant for UTair and admits she has never regretted it. Every flight is a source of inspiration for her, and the profession brings genuine pride. In the contest, Marina sees an opportunity for professional growth and doesn«t hide that she enjoys healthy competition.

The contest consists of four stages. First, participants submit applications and go through casting — online or in person (the nearest in-person casting will take place on February 12 in Moscow). After selection, the path to the semifinal begins: contestants are featured in media publications, interviews are conducted with them, and they participate in photo shoots, events, and charity projects. The semifinal is scheduled for mid-September 2026 — 30 contestants will advance to it. The final will be held in November 2026.

Another Tyumen resident, 32-year-old Yekaterina Lyakhova, is also participating in the contest. Before entering aviation, she worked in tourism, lived in America, Turkey, and Korea. And now, she doesn«t limit herself only to caring for passengers on board airliners.