Miss Almaty-2015 participants presented

14 finalists of Miss Almaty-2015 beauty pageant have been named, Tengrinews reports.

The girls were selected through the two castings held in June.

Well-know fashion photographer from Kazakhstan Danil Oleinik has already taken photos of the contest’s participants.

Here are the finalists:

Fariza Kulekenova, 20, student of Kazakh Academy of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Gulzhan Davletova, 18, student of ALMA University

Tamila Sarsenova, 18, student of Almaty State College of Service and Technologies

Bayan Torebek, 22, student of Kazakh National Technical University

Assel Nurmakhan, 20, an economist

Maryam Kusainova, 22, an actress

Kseniya Oleinikova, 19, student of National Variety Show and Circus College named after Zhusupbek Yelebekov

Venera Zhikenova, 19, student of Almaty Technological University

Regina Valter, 20, student of Tyumen State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering in Russia

Maria Zhilenko, 24, manager

Saltanat Karibayeva, 19, student of Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory

Assel Makasheva, 22, student of Kazakh Leading Academy of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Karolina Livitskaya, 18, translator

Valeriya Tatarkova, 21, student of Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts

The competition is expected to be tough this year, since the girls are going to compete not only for the title itself, but also, probably more important, for their chance to represent Kazakhstan at the Miss Universe-2015. In June, organizers of Miss Kazakhstan pageant announced changes in the rules of the competition, according to which, starting this year winner of Miss Almaty is entitled to represent Kazakhstan at Miss Universe, while Miss Kazakhstan will travel to represent her home country at Miss World.

The organizers explained their decision by saying that Almaty beauties largely tend to win Miss Kazakhstan, therefore they decided to send Miss Almaty winner to the world's top beauty pageant.

Furthermore, the winner of Miss Almaty pageant will also qualify for the Miss Kazakhstan title, thereby having a chance to represent Kazakhstan at both beauty pageants provided that there is no conflict in time. 

Meanwhile, Miss Kazakhstan-2014 Regina Vandysheva, who is also Miss Almaty-2014, is working hard to prepare for the Miss World-2015 scheduled for December 19 of this year in Sanya, China.

Reporting by Aizhan Tugelbayeva, writing by Assel Satubaldina