Valentyna Zhytnyk

Valentyna Zhytnyk
Валентина Житник
Born
Kharkiv, Ukraine
EducationGemological Institute of America
OccupationsJewelry designer, Gemologist, Top model
Known forWork with Harry Winston, Inc. and Tiffany & Co.
Miss Earth 2010 (semi-finalist)
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
TitleMiss Ukraine Earth 2010[2]
AwardsOrder of Saint Sophia (2025 Ukraine)

Valentyna Zhytnyk (Ukrainian: Валентина Житник; born October 1, 1992) is a Ukrainian jewelry designer, gemologist and former top model based in New York. She is a beauty pageant titleholder,[3] having been crowned Miss Ukraine Earth 2010, and represented Ukraine at Miss Earth 2010 in Hanoi, Vietnam. She is known in the fashion industry for her work with Victoria’s Secret in the United States.In the jewelry industry, she is known for her work at the American jewelry house Harry Winston,[4] previously at Tiffany & Co.. Zhytnyk was awarded the Order of Saint Sophia for her contributions to jewelry art, the development of Ukraine’s cultural diplomacy, and the promotion of Ukrainian culture worldwide.[5][6]

Early life and education

Valentyna Zhytnyk studied at the Kharkiv Lyceum of Arts, where she received her early education..[7][8]

Valentyna pursued higher education in Ukraine, earning degrees in journalism and international law at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University. She also received certification as a precious gemstones and diamonds expert from the State Gemological Center of Ukraine(SGCU), which operates under the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine.[9]

Valentyna Zhytnyk is an alumna of the Gemological Institute of America, having studied at both the New York City and Carlsbad, California campuses. She holds multiple certifications, including Diamond Grading, Colored Stone Grading, Gemology, Jewelry CAD Design, Jewelry Manufacturing Arts, and the Graduate Jeweler diploma.

Career

Jewelry and Gemology

Zhytnyk received US government scholarship to study technologies in jewelry production & manufacturing at GIA, course graduate Jeweler.[10][11] In 2023, she joined Tiffany & Co. as a gemologist in New York.[12] Her jewelry piece Zgarda has recently been added to the permanent collection of the House of Ukraine Museum in San Diego, becoming the first Ukrainian jewelry artwork to receive this recognition.[13] n 2025 joined American jewelry house Harry Winston.

Modeling

Valentyna Zhytnyk began her modeling career in 2000, winning the Mini-Miss Kharkiv title at a young age.[14] In 2010 she signed her first international modeling contract with ESEE Models in Asia and worked in China.[6] In 2014, she signed a contract with the international modeling agency Major Models and relocated to the United States.[7][15] While attending university, she was crowned Miss Student Ukraine 2010 and later that year won the title of Queen of Slobozhanshchyna.[16] She went on to represent Ukraine at the Miss Earth 2010 pageant, where she reached the semi-finals among 84 international contestants.[17][18] Zhytnyk gained further recognition in fashion industry for work with Victoria’s Secret in New York.[9]

She is recognized as one of the first Ukrainian models to secure major international modeling contracts. Zhytnyk signed with agencies including Model Management, ESEE Models, Donna Models, and Flash Models, and worked extensively across fashion capitals such as New York, Milan, Germany, Shanghai, and Turkey.[9]

Philanthropy

From 2010 to 2011, Zhytnyk served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She participated in international charitable and environmental initiatives connected with the Miss Earth program. In this context, she took part in visits to Vietnam, Kenya, and Djibouti. In 2023 and 2025, she took part in events at the United Nations in New York. She represented the Ukrainian artistic community at these events.[9][19]

References

  1. ↑ "MISS UKRAINE EARTH 2010 - Valentyna Zhytnyk". Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  2. ↑ "Міс Україна Земля — Валентина Житник: українка серед 14 красунь світу на конкурсі «Міс Земля 2010»". viva.ua (in Ukrainian). 2010-12-19. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  3. ↑ "Tiffany & Co. invites Valentyna Zhytnyk to join its prestigious Gemology Department | MarkMeets Media". 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
  4. ↑ "Ювелірний дім Harry Winston вітає українську ювелірну дизайнерку та гемологиню Валентину Житник". ВСВІТІ (in Ukrainian). 2026-01-29. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  5. ↑ "Валентина Житник: від обличчя моди — до імені в ювелірному світі". Elle – модний жіночий журнал (in Ukrainian). 2025-03-05. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  6. ↑ "Житник Валентина". www.leaders-21.com (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  7. 1 2 Бордовський, Сергій (2015-09-21). "The international modeling business is increasingly turning its attention to Ukrainian beauties | Ukraine Top News". glavnoe.in.ua. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
  8. ↑ "Валентина Житник: «Кожна освіта – важлива грань моєї особистості»" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-04-12.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Валентина Житник: «Кожна освіта – важлива грань моєї особистості»" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  10. ↑ "Tiffany & Co. invites Valentyna Zhytnyk to join its prestigious Gemology Department | MarkMeets Media". 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
  11. ↑ Блакита, Аня (2024-12-10). "Jewelry Secrets: Валентина Житник — від зйомок для Victoria's Secret до ювелірної справи та першої власної виставки в GIA у Каліфорнії". Marie Claire - жіночий журнал - все про моду, зірки та красу (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  12. ↑ "Tiffany & Co. invites Valentyna Zhytnyk to join its prestigious Gemology Department | MarkMeets Media". 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  13. ↑ ""Zgarda" as a Cultural Code: Interview with Valentyna Zhytnyk about Her Jewelry Piece in the House of Ukraine Museum, the Role of Education, and Ukraine's Cultural Diplomacy in the World | УНН". unn.ua. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  14. ↑ "Спецпроект ВСПЫШКА СВЕРХНОВОЙ ЗВЕЗДЫ. ВАЛЕНСИЯ ЖИТНИК: "... со стрессом справилась, царапины загримировала, и оставалось только идти вперед!.."". GEOMETRIA (in Russian). Retrieved 2025-04-25.
  15. ↑ "Ukrainian Model From Kharkiv Has Signed A Contract". 2014-12-26. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  16. ↑ "Фотоновости, фото последних новостей, купить скачать фото - Фотобанк УНИАН". photo.unian.net (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-04-25.
  17. ↑ АТН, Автор (2010-12-09). "Харьковчанка заняла 6-е место конкурсе на "Мисс Земля 2010" | Новини Харкова та України - АТН" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-04-25.
  18. ↑ "Украинка впервые вошла в ТОП-14 красавиц "Мисс Земля".ФОТО". OBOZREVATEL (in Russian). 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
  19. ↑ Artdaily. "How did a Ukrainian model become a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador?". artdaily.com. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
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