Pop picks: Ukraine picks a new beauty for 2006.

A 19-year-old student from Kharkiv Agricultural University, Olga Shylovanova, was chosen Miss Ukraine 2006 at Ukraine Palace on February 28. The contest jury, including Olympic champion Lilia Popkopayeva, Facty Editor-In-Chief Oleksandr Shvets, TV presenter Oleksandr Kolody, opera star Volodymyr Gryshko and chairwoman of the “Miss Ukraine” committee Liliya Kuznetsova, selected Shylovanova out of 26 girls from 23 cities across the country.

The happy winner, who will now represent Ukraine at the Miss Universe 2006 pageant, received a number of presents from the sponsors – but her main prize certainly was the golden crown adorned with jewels, which is estimated to cost around Hr 180,000 ($36,000).

The show was attended by French actor Gerard Depardieu and eccentric Russian performer Boris Moiseyev who played a few of his hits and expressed his admiration for Ukrainian women. In the meantime the pretty brunette will have to work even harder to equally impress the jury at Miss Universe 2006. Let’s wish our home-grown beauty some luck.

Anarchy in Ukraine

British band The Ukrainians presented their new album “Respublika” in Ukraine on March 3. While already their fourth CD, “Respublika” is the first studio album by the band to be released in the country that inspired their name.

Founded in the late ‘80s by a guitarist of Ukrainian descent, Peter Solowka, and vocalist Len Liggins, The Ukrainians became famous after their first radio session was aired on BBC by legendary DJ John Peel. Their self-titled first album was released in 1991 – a catchy combination of Ukrainian folk and Western punk rock – and was warmly received by British fans of ethno-punk. They finally reached Ukraine in 1993 and performed at Maidan Nezalezhnosti to celebrate Independence Day.

The new album consists of Ukrainian folk songs remastered by the band, as well as some lively covers of Sex Pistols tracks. Buy it now at www.umka.com.ua or at other stores around town.by Alexandra Matoshko, Kyiv Post Staff Writer