On September 15, the first casting for Miss Irkutsk 2012 will take place in Irkutsk, held for the first time under the patronage of the city administration. The organizers promise a revamped final with special effects, choreography, and the participation of the well known Moscow director Lina Arifulina, and stress that not a kopeck from the budget will be spent.

On September 15, the casting for the Miss Irkutsk – 2012 contest will take place. For the first time, this contest is being held under the patronage of the Irkutsk city administration. This was announced at a press conference by Igor Borisov, Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the Committee on Social Policy and Culture of the Irkutsk city administration. Also present at the press conference were renowned Moscow director Lina Arifulina, director of the company Modnoe Vremya Dmitry Didenov, and Miss Irkutsk-2011 Ekaterina Plisko.
“We currently have two priority directions in positioning the city,” Igor Borisov noted. “First: Irkutsk is a historic city with a rich past. We proved this during the celebrations of the 350th anniversary, and we continue this work now by holding exhibitions such as ‘Irkutsk and Irkutsk Residents in the Patriotic War of 1812.’ Second: Irkutsk is a city of youth. The administration supports KVN teams. Soon our Raisy will go to compete for victory in the semifinals of the Major League of the Club of the Funny and Inventive, and in 2014 Irkutsk will welcome participants and fans of the Bandy World Championship. Miss Irkutsk is also an important project for the city. We want to give it a new lease on life, which is why we invited such a serious team. At the same time, not a single kopeck from the city budget will be spent on the event — everything will be covered by the contest’s partners and sponsors.”
The contest will be organized by the municipal autonomous institution Prazdnik and the company Modnoe Vremya. Lina Arifulina, the author and co-author of such well-known television programs as Star Factory, ProjectorParisHilton, and Dancing with the Stars, has agreed to serve as stage director.
“The final of the contest will be a single dramatic storyline with special effects staged by stunt performers from Timur Bekmambetov’s team,” Lina Arifulina said. “The famous Olga and Igor Zatyolkin will prepare the girls for the runway and work with them on choreography.”
On September 15 at 11:00 a.m., the first casting will take place at the Panorama nightclub. Twenty-five beauties need to be selected for the contest. If necessary, an additional selection of participants will be held. The main requirements for contestants are: height from 173 cm, age 17–25, marital status — unmarried.
“There is no need to be afraid of such contests,” Lina Arifulina noted. “A miracle is something that needs to be prepared. That is why we set ourselves the task of finding and preparing a girl who can win not only the city contest, but the national one as well.”
Lina said that Irkutsk is almost a hometown for her, since she often comes here for work: “I absolutely love Irkutsk. It is special, and the people of Irkutsk are very interesting,” she emphasized.
As Dmitry Didenov explained, this year all fees for participants are being completely canceled. Absolutely everything — from makeup to shoes — will be provided to the girls by the event organizers. This contest also promises to be the most objective. Of the nine jury members, only two are from Irkutsk.
The final of Miss Irkutsk – 2012 will take place on November 30 at the Zagursky Musical Theatre.
Based on materials from the press service of the Irkutsk city administration