Profile

From the runway to class

By Todd Balazovic (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-05 11:40

There is something 22-year-old Ana Ropot's classmates don't know about her.

The Moldavian-born student at Beijing International Studies University has spent her last four years in Beijing living a second life as a beauty queen. Despite her self-imposed policy that it's all just for fun, she's found success as a pageant princess and runway bombshell.

So far her achievements include the Mini Miss Moldova contest, Ms Tianjin and now she is in the draw for the Ms Laowai contest in August.

Ropot has been competing since she was 14. Despite her electric personality, she says she was initially unsure whether being a beauty contestant suited her temperament. The turning point came when a broken leg from a horse riding accident forced her to stay indoors for almost two months.

"During this time only one friend visited," Ropot said. "I was very depressed because I thought that no one cared. I became very internal. I was very close to myself. I didn't like people."

Spotting a dangerous trend, her parents sent Ropot off to a girl's school where she was taught not only the modeling craft, but also how to be a lady. Her experience at the school transformed her, she said.

"When I returned to school the following autumn, no one recognized who I was," she said.

That year, she entered into the Mini Miss Moldova competition and, much to her surprise, won.

Her victory boosted her confidence and led to a revelation in how she viewed others.

But despite Ropot's success on the runway, she says that modeling is only a temporary job.

"Let's put it in my father's words - if I only had looks then I could use them, but because I have brains, I should use them as well," she said. "I am trying to use both as much as possible."

Her intellect landed her in Beijing to begin with.

After applying for several scholarships across the globe, Ropot was accepted to three universities. The first, she says, was an American university, but her father would not let her attend because he feared she would become spoiled.

The second school was in Italy, but her mother objected, saying that she did not want her daughter surrounded by Italian men, Ropot said, laughing.

When Ropot was finally accepted at Beijing International Studies University, both parents agreed.

"My parents both agreed to China, thinking that it would teach me a lot," she said, "and I think it has."

Ropot has not only become fluent in Chinese, but also she has managed to learn several other languages.

She attributes her ability to quickly pick up a new language to her parents and a talkative personality.

"I'm a talker," she said. "I love to chatter. I think my parents tried to teach me as many languages as possible in order to keep my voice occupied."

Ropot has managed to keep more than just her voice occupied during her stay in Beijing. In addition to her college studies and practicing Chinese, along with the beauty pageants, Ropot dedicates much of her free time as the spokeswoman for Fuerdi, a Beijing-based wine importer.

"I think it's a very fascinating job behind the scenes and it's a great opportunity for me to do networking with people not only in Beijing, but also throughout China," she said.

Despite being cast in the limelight, she said she sets lofty goals: to either own a company or hold a major position in a large international company.

"It may seem like I have large ambitions, but since I was young I've always set my standards high," she said.

"I've done things I never thought I'd be able to and will continue setting my goals high. It's just as the saying goes - 'Aim for the moon because even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.'"