Contestant of the new season of the Ukrainian romantic reality show "Bachelor," model Liya Yangolenko, explained in an open message on her Instagram page what prompted her to participate in the project and what kind of relationship she intends to build with the main hero of the season, basketball player Vyacheslav Kravtsov (Slava). According to her, over the past year she has repeatedly spoken about wanting to get married, but for her, it is neither a formality nor a "tick in a box against another life goal."
Finding a kindred spirit, not an engagement ring
"But for me, 'getting married' is not about a wedding, an engagement ring, or checking a box against another life goal. I want to find my person. A kindred spirit with whom you can dream, act silly, travel, make shared plans, share interests, support each other, and sometimes just be silent, but still feel happy," wrote Yangolenko. The model emphasized that she is looking for a relationship where it is comfortable even to be silent together without losing the feeling of closeness and happiness.
Why Slava: experience and responsibility
Among the key reasons why Liya agreed to participate in the project, she named the lead character himself. The young woman was interested in the fact that Vyacheslav Kravtsov has experience in long-term relationships and is a father. For Yangolenko, this became an important criterion: she wanted to meet an understanding man for whom relationships are not just about romantic dates, but also about responsibility, joint decisions, and the ability to be present in everyday life.
Model vs. camera: when you can no longer be silent
Despite the fact that Liya works professionally as a model and has long been used to lenses, the reality show format forced her to step outside her comfort zone. As she admitted, before she mostly had to be silent and demonstrate an image in front of the camera, whereas on "Bachelor" she has to talk openly about her own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. A separate challenge was the fact that several girls are simultaneously competing for the attention of one man — an experience that brought new acquaintances, emotions, and situations that the model had not faced before.
The first party of the season: from a notarized contract to rumba
The first party of "Bachelor-15" became a real test of attentiveness for Vyacheslav Kravtsov: the contestants prepared unusual gifts, creative performances, and inventive ways to make a statement. The ex-wife of TV presenter Volodymyr Ostapchuk, Khrystyna Hirniak, brought a humorous notarized contract regarding sympathy and intentions, which Slava agreed to sign. Dancer Daria Kharytonova surprised everyone with a rumba, first bringing out a dance partner and then joining in herself. Kateryna Melnyk rolled out a red carpet before Kravtsov and explained that she came not for athletic victories, but for love. Valeriia Polianska bet on Odesa charm and offered a dinner with new potatoes and sprats. Former basketball player Kateryna Petrenko invited Slava to play the game "33".
Original presents and unexpected twists
Among the original gifts were a heart-shaped nightlight made by drone engineer Anna Myshak, a basketball decorated with stones, and a painting created by actress Maryna Kolesnyk using her own body. Auto-blogger Daria Zainchukovska arrived for the meeting in a sports car, which Kravtsov tried to get into, facing difficulties due to his height. Kateryna Doicheva appeared at the party with an unusual companion, which added another intrigue to the evening. In the end, Liya Yangolenko, despite all the difficulties, does not regret the decision to participate in the show: "This was a completely unusual experience for me. New people, emotions, situations in which I have never found myself before. A chance to see myself from a completely different angle. And, despite everything, I am very glad that I decided to do it."
