A Vegan's Odyssey: UN Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Usanova on traveling, activism and sustainable living

A global advocate for environmental awareness, Usanova has captivated audiences around the world with her multifaceted talents. As a UN Goodwill Ambassador, Miss Eco International 2024, and Miss Universe Ukraine 2023, she has used her platform to champion sustainable living and social justice. Beyond her pageant titles, Usanova is a talented singer-songwriter and a dedicated yoga master, embodying versatility and a passion for personal growth.

In this exclusive interview, Usanova takes us on a personal journey, sharing insights into her experiences as a vegan traveler, her deep appreciation for architectural marvels like the Schminke House, and her inspiring vision for her Mirror Retreat.

Travel has been a part of my life since childhood, but my first major international trip to Europe at the age of 11 was truly extraordinary. It was for a music festival, and it was the first time I had ever experienced European countries. The very first city I visited was Prague. It left a lasting impression on me as one of the first cities I experienced as a child. After that, I took part in exchange programs in Sweden, where I had the chance to stay as a teenager. Since then, my love for travel has only grown.

At 17, when the military situation in Ukraine became more serious and unsafe, my partner at the time and I made the decision to leave the country. That’s when my decade-long journey of travel began. Looking at my passport, I’ve counted at least 60 countries, and that number would be even higher if I included my travels in Africa. And of course, living in hotels and without a permanent home—not traditional hotels or B&Bs—was a very different experience.

I didn't feel like I had a home for almost 10 years, of which I spent 5 years in hotels. Until last year, when I finally settled on a place to live—a place I had long been searching for. For me, the Schminke House is a unique place, a gem of 20-century architecture and design. It inspired me to build a home for myself that will stand the test of time—for generations or even centuries. A home that can inspire others and perhaps, one day, even become a museum.

Maybe, but it depends on the people you’re traveling with. If you feel at home and comfortable with them, sharing memories and moments, then the whole world can feel like home. You’re not tied to any particular place. But nothing will ever fully replace the feeling of a true home—that sense of comfort.

Traveling comes with many challenges, but the biggest one for me is food. Back then, I wasn’t vegan, and I ate everything—sandwiches, fast food, sweets, and all sorts of calorie-dense meals. I was 17, and naturally, I gained 10 kilograms (which I lost after two months of intense, self-directed gym workouts). I stopped eating hotel food, which can be terrible for your figure—chips, club sandwiches, and the like. Given that I lived in hotels for years on a near-permanent basis, I didn’t even realize what healthy eating could be. This ultimately led me, years later, to study nutrition intensively, qualify as a nutritionist, and become vegan. Now, I no longer allow myself to eat those kinds of foods.

Living in hotels and traveling constantly is like a drug. It hooks you on new experiences—new interiors, new people, new countries—and you can’t stop. The world is so vast, so unexplored, and so beautiful that travel becomes a kind of addiction. It can fill you up, inspire you, and change your life. You meet people who may become key figures in your life—people you might never have met if you’d remained in your small town.

But at what cost? The cost of losing a home. You lose the sense of home, of comfort, of having your own things and a close-knit community. Your community begins to spread across the globe, and although it may seem obvious, you begin to lose your roots in the place where you had originally planned to settle down.

No matter how much you travel, you eventually come to a turning point where you realize that you want to spend more time at home. You begin to understand that people everywhere are very similar—kind, beautiful, and cultured. We are all connected as one humanity. And at some point, you don’t just want to be part of society—you want to have a home. A place like the Schminke House—somewhere you never want to leave. In places like that, you want to stay and explore, build deeper connections with family, friends, and the community around you.

Traveling, especially by plane, is incredibly unsustainable due to the massive volume of CO2 emissions and pollutants released into the atmosphere. The environmental impact of travel is a major concern, and it’s one of the reasons we should opt for more eco-friendly modes of transportation, like trains (especially in Europe) or buses, which are an even better option. Any form of transportation that allows many people to travel together is more eco-friendly than traveling alone.

In today’s world, it’s essential to travel wisely. It’s important to try to travel in an eco-friendly way, to avoid overpacking, and plan thoughtfully. Travel with purpose and enjoy the experience. Now, after 10 years of travel, I’ve come to realize that over time, you stop feeling the same excitement about new places because they start to feel similar. That’s why, when you travel only a few times a year, you need to make the most of it and bring back souvenirs and memorable photos to your home—a place of comfort like the Schminke House.

When it comes to unique destinations, India definitely stands out. It transforms you in every way. I highly recommend it, especially if you’re interested in spiritual practices or detox practices, like Panchakarma or a silent retreat. My yoga teacher training in the Himalayas  completely transformed me.

Nepal is also unforgettable. It’s the birthplace of Buddha and home to one of the world’s most incredible hiking routes—the trek to Everest with its stunning views of the Himalayas. It’s an absolute must!

Then there’s Bali—another transformative and impressive destination for those who love  healthy food, yoga, and culture. Bali is high on the list, too.

Lastly, Iceland—the most beautiful and geologically young country in the world. I think everyone should visit Iceland, especially since it’s so close to Europe. Once, I decided to celebrate my birthday alone in Iceland. I rented a car and did a ring tour from the west, through the north and east, and then down to the south. I can honestly say I’ve never seen anything more beautiful than Iceland in my life.

The purpose of traveling varies. Some people travel to experience beauty, nature, or cultural transformations, like in India or Bali. Others may travel to trek, for example, in Nepal. There is also travel for volunteer work, which I strongly encourage, both as Miss Eco International and UN Goodwill Ambassador who values social responsibility. It would be wonderful if we all looked for volunteer opportunities wherever we stay. If you’re by the sea, you could help clean the beach and contribute to the cleanliness of the local environment. Or, if you’re in Costa Rica, you could work with animals, or in Africa, help children by donating food or gifts. Volunteer work enriches us, creates amazing friendships, and builds connections all over the world. I encourage everyone to open themselves up to these opportunities.

Most of my travels have been to retreat centers for self-discovery, and I initially aspired to become a yoga teacher. Ultimately, I became a yoga master, and the experience changed me profoundly. This inspired me to build my own retreat center and test its qualities on myself to see how it affects health, the psyche, and more. Given the difficult times in our country, the issue of recovery is very important. Recovery, psychological recovery, is crucial because the body is a reflection of the mind. Nothing in the world heals the mind better than nature, exercise, healthy diet and supporting people around you. Our retreat hotel, “Mirror Retreat,” will be entirely vegetarian and vegan, and will focus on yoga, physical activity, hiking (as we are near Mount Hoverla), and other activities. We plan to invite various masters, hold lectures, gatherings, and much more—all with the aim of helping people to recover from the traumatic experiences our country has faced.

In addition, we’re also committed to meeting all ecological standards to ensure that the retreat is a sustainable eco-hotel with minimal impact on the environment.

The main concept of Mirror Retreat is that the world is our mirror. Located in the heart of the Carpathians, surrounded by untouched nature where bears still roam, the retreat offers people the opportunity to align their inner selves with the natural world, far from chaos, destruction, wars, and megacities. Our goal is for visitors to rediscover the primordial harmony, balance, purity and unity between human beings and the world around them. By cleansing their inner mirror, they’ll be able to reflect the beauty, harmony and health of nature itself. This is how the Mirror concept was born.

In 2024, there are plenty of vegan options around the world, but some countries stand out as particularly vegan-friendly. In my experience, these are Switzerland—home to the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world; surprisingly, Ireland, especially in County Kerry, where you can find vegan cakes, pastries, and ice cream; Germany, which has a large vegan community; and California in the U.S. These are the places where I’ve discovered a wealth of vegan options, and I highly recommend exploring them.

Even when I’m away from home and staying in hotels, there’s always the option of avocado toast or chia pudding made with plant-based milk and fruit. Or you can always get a plate of berries and fruit, and my favorite—matcha latte with almond milk. Lunch could be vegetable soup and grains with vegetables, lasagne, or spaghetti. The same goes for dinner, unless you’re in a specialized vegan restaurant where there’s plenty to choose from. I always recommend taking fresh vegetables, fruit and nuts with you when you travel to make sure you’re getting the nutrients you need.

As an eco-activist, I’m very concerned about my travel habits. I would love to reduce my travel, primarily because air travel is unsustainable. I know that many companies are investing in new types of fuel and developing planes with new engines, so hopefully, in the next 10 years, travel will be much more environmentally friendly. When I have to travel, I try to offset my carbon footprint and avoid using unnecessary items on flights or during trips. Still, it’s something that deeply worries me, particularly when I have to take long transatlantic flights.

The Schminke House is a place of incredible architectural vision and inspiration. My first impression was simply "wow"—what a bold and forward-thinking architect! Even more impressive is the fact that the owner of the house dared to build something like this 100 years ago. Even today, few people would have the courage to create something so daring. It’s truly a harmonious work of architecture, where every corner of the house sparks wild inspiration. I feel incredibly honored to have been able to visit, and it has inspired me to build my own home—something that, like the Schminke House, can become an enduring symbol of beauty and vision.