Susan has committed her life to being the light that others follow – to live life with heart, body and soul, and to be the change that she wants to see in the world.

Susan was born and raised in Sacramento, California into a family of brave and courageous parents that fled the USSR as refugees. Leaving behind relatives, friends, and a successful business to take a leap of faith in order to pursue the American dream and the opportunities that it has to offer. The drive and determination that her parents displayed and modeled is the reason for Susan’s passion and drive in all that she does.

Susan graduated high school at 15 as the youngest graduate in Woodcreek High School history. In addition to high school, Susan also attended 6 years of Ukrainian School and is fluent in three languages. Susan is currently earning a bachelor degree in International Business at California State University of Sacramento. She has also completed a series of leadership courses and continues to use what she has learned to empower and influence those around her.

Since the age of twelve, Susan has been exposed to the real estate industry. Susan would go with her sister in the summer months while off from school to teach others how to fill out loan applications. She has since continued her career in real estate by helping families going through foreclosure and keeping them from being thrown to the streets.

In November 2009, Susan won Miss Russian California 2010. This experience made her quickly realize the influence she has on young girls. It gives her great joy and passion to empower, influence and bring out the best potential in young girls. With her ambition and drive, she is determined to win Miss Universe.

Susan’s passion for empowering teenagers and helping families, and her drive for success stems from the positive environment fostered by her family and community. Her parents have always stressed the importance of the family structure, education, interpersonal relationships, strong values and morals, and promoting positive change in all those around. To achieve those positive changes, her parents even sent her to Ukraine to help underprivileged kids with their educational development.

Her trip to Ukraine made her realize how thankful we as Americans should be for the rights we enjoy such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion, as well as for opportunities that are available in the US, rights and opportunities that should never be taken for granted.

Susan has reached out to the community and continues to do so with every opportunity. Her first experience was volunteering at a food bank called “Loaves and Fishes.” The experience opened her eyes to the less fortune here in Sacramento. She recalls that “There were those who gave back frozen food if they had no place to cook, and it made me realize how fortunate I am to have food, water, and a roof over my head.”
Susan also volunteers for the Slavic-American Chamber of Commerce by Chairing the Business & Educational Advisory Board for Future Leaders. She performs an invaluable job in promoting education among young people in the community. Her dedication to education and business is a bright example to many young men and women who, because of her efforts, realize that it is entirely possible to pursue a degree and a career.
Susan has also been involved in Multi-Chamber Mixers, Sacramento District Attorney Community Recognition Breakfast, the FBI Agents Association Memorial College Education Fund: to provide college scholarships for the children of fallen agents, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Natomas School Foundation fundraiser: raising money for the after-school program to keep teenagers off the streets. Susan recently volunteered at a children’s camp and was appreciative of the opportunity to attempt to positively influence the lives of these kids.

Susan’s ultimate goal as to why she is so driven to succeed is because she sees a huge need for helping women and children escape human trafficking not only in third world countries, but right here in our own backyard. She wants to create an organization & rehab center for helping girls get off of addictions and rebuild their lives to be purposeful.

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’.”