By: Alva Ree
Iryna arrived in America with a suitcase, a child, and a heart full of fear—and she turned that fear into fuel. Today, Iryna Kovalova is a transformational coach, breathwork guide, and motivational force for women going through life’s hardest transitions. In this candid and inspiring interview, Iryna shares her journey from uncertainty to empowerment—and why she’s stepping onto the Ms World America stage to prove that it’s never too late to rise.
Q: Iryna, tell us about that first moment of change—when everything familiar disappeared.
Iryna Kovalova: I still remember the smell of the airport—coffee foam, strangers’ perfume… and freedom. But not the kind of freedom that’s light and joyful. It was the kind that shakes you to your core. When I landed in the U.S., I didn’t know what would happen next. I just knew one thing: there was no going back.
And that’s terrifying. People think starting over is glamorous. It’s not. It’s the silent nights when you can’t sleep because you’re not sure how you’ll survive tomorrow. It’s standing in a store and realizing you don’t even know how to ask where the bread is. That kind of vulnerability forces you to meet yourself in a way you never have before.
Q: How did that breakdown become a breakthrough?
Iryna: When everything fell away—career, language, identity—I had only one place to look: within. I wasn’t trying to save anyone else. I was trying to save myself.
I used to work in beauty—permanent makeup. I knew how important it is for a woman to see a reflection she likes. But I realized something deeper: no external change matters if you’re disconnected from your inner self.
That’s when I began my transformation, not from a textbook, but from life itself. Breathwork became my anchor. Coaching became my calling. I learned how to rebuild from the inside out—and then I started guiding other women to do the same.
Q: You’ve become a strong voice for women going through transitions. What do you think they need to hear most right now?
Iryna: That fear is not the enemy. Waiting to “feel ready” is the real danger. You can be shaking, unsure, exhausted, and still move forward.
There’s so much pressure on women to “have it all together.” But real transformation starts in the mess. That’s where your power lives. I want every woman to know: you are allowed to begin again. You are allowed to not know. Just take the next step. That’s all.
Q: You’re also a mother. How has that shaped your journey?
Iryna: Being a mom while rebuilding your life from scratch—it’s the hardest, most beautiful chaos. There were moments I felt like I was failing in every role. But then I’d look at my daughter and remember why I was doing this. I wanted to show her, not tell her, that women can do anything. That strength doesn’t mean perfection—it means showing up, again and again.
Motherhood grounded me. It kept me real. And it gave me a purpose bigger than myself.
Q: You recently decided to participate in Ms World America. Why now? Why this?
Iryna: Because I’m not afraid anymore.
I’m doing this not for a crown, but for every woman who thinks she’s “too late” or “not enough.” I want to walk that stage to say: You can be a mom. You can start over. You can feel broken—and still rise.
For me, this is a symbol. A declaration. I want to show women that it’s okay to stand tall, even if your knees are shaking. That beauty isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. Strength. Vulnerability.
Ms. World America is not my final destination. It’s just one more step in my mission to empower. I want to be the proof that your past does not define your future.
Q: What would you say to a woman who’s just beginning her journey and feels lost?
Iryna: I’d say: I see you. And you’re not alone.
It’s okay to be scared. But don’t let fear be the reason you don’t try. You don’t need to know the whole path. Just take one step. Then another. One day, you’ll look back and realize—you didn’t just survive. You transformed. You blossomed.
And you’ll be proud—not because it was easy—but because you were brave enough to begin.
Q: Final message to the women reading this?
Iryna: Do it scared. Do it tired. Do it messy. But do it. The future you’re dreaming of? It’s already waiting. All you have to do is walk toward it—one brave breath at a time.
— Iryna Kovalova
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