Marina Voyevodina is a woman who combines the roles of a successful entrepreneur, nutritionist, and caring mother. Her participation in the Mrs. Kazakhstan Globe 2024 pageant helped her discover new facets of herself and reach a new level both professionally and personally. In this exclusive interview, Marina shares her views on balancing career and personal life, discusses socially important projects, and offers advice to women who are just beginning their journey toward creating the life of their dreams.

How did participating in the Mrs. Kazakhstan Globe 2024 pageant impact you as a person and a professional, and what motivated you to participate?

The Mrs. Globe Kazakhstan pageant is an incredible transformational project for women. I can say this because I went through it myself, and while I may not have come out a completely different person, I became a wiser and more confident woman. I overcame my fear of speaking on stage, and it seems I did it successfully — a month has passed since the competition, and I still haven’t had a chance to rest. A stream of events, meetings, speeches, and projects began.

At the moment, I’m preparing for the Be Woman Forum, which will become the first women’s forum in Central Asia and will feature speakers such as Maye Musk, Ksenia Sobchak, Gabor Maté, Tatyana Bakalchuk, and many other outstanding figures. And guess what? I’m one of the speakers. It feels like a strong, mature level.

I had long wanted to participate in the Mrs. Universe pageant, but my mind resisted: “What nonsense — you’re a serious person with an engineering background in the oil and gas industry, aren’t you?” But apparently, this path was meant for me, and I’m grateful to the Universe for not giving up and sending me signs. The final push was Marina Kamaeva’s victory at Mrs. Globe 2024. I followed her because we share a passion for dance, and we even met once at a dance tournament.

I sincerely rejoiced in her victory, as if for a close person (at least spiritually), and decided to participate. The first stage was the national Mrs. Kazakhstan Globe competition, where I placed second and received the title Mrs. Eurasia, which gives me the right to represent Kazakhstan at Mrs. Universe Globe 2025, whose final will take place in April next year in Shenzhen, China. This story is far from over — in fact, it’s just beginning.

As a family nutritionist, what key principles do you apply in your methods, and what challenges do you most often face?

First, I’d like to clarify that being a family nutritionist doesn’t mean I work only with families. I have diplomas in both pediatric and adult nutrition, so I work with both adults and children.

I follow a holistic approach: the human body is a single ecosystem, and for it to function smoothly, stay optimized, and maintain youth, it’s important not only what we eat, but also how many times a day we eat, how we eat, when we sleep, how much water we drink, whether we exercise and how actively, how often we take tests and check-ups, whether we replenish deficiencies, and which supplements we take.

When it comes to nutrition, I follow the “Balanced Plate” principle — every meal should include all macronutrients: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. I’m not a supporter of calorie restriction; instead, I aim to teach my clients to eat balanced meals so they receive maximum nutritional value from each dish. A mindful approach to nutrition helps avoid consuming “empty calories.” Many people even start enjoying broccoli and arugula — which our grandfather calls “roadside grass.”

The main challenge is working with children whose parents are not ready to change their own eating habits. Children copy their parents’ behavior, including eating habits. In such cases, I explain to the entire family that healthy eating should be followed by everyone, not just the child.

Cases involving girls who have reached sarcopenia — a condition where body mass index is extremely low and the body lacks protein even to produce hormones and immune cells — are particularly challenging.

You actively promote the idea of balance between career and personal life. What advice would you give to women striving for harmony in these areas?

My top priority is always — no, not family, but me. Just kidding! But my loved ones understand that my work is also very important to me, and they support me. It’s also crucial to have enough energy for everything you do.

My first piece of advice: do what you are willing to do for free, and over time, this “free work” will begin to generate income.
My second piece of advice: take care of your health in a timely manner and don’t let it deteriorate. For example, low iron levels lead to apathy, which is incompatible with feminine nature — after all, women radiate energy.

Which social projects are close to your heart, and which topics would you like to highlight through your professional and personal achievements?

Everything related to children is close to my heart because I’m a mother myself and empathize deeply with children. That’s why I gladly respond to invitations from charitable organizations to conduct lectures or workshops. For example, I held a meeting for mentors of the Dara Foundation, where I spoke about sports nutrition for young pilots.

As a woman and Mrs. Eurasia, I pay great attention to women’s rights, women’s health, and support. In the near future, I plan to meet with women in a crisis center to share knowledge about health and beauty and inspire them to embark on a new life path.

What goals and plans do you have for the future as a nutritionist and public figure, and how do you plan to develop your work?

I’ve already begun implementing an idea to teach schoolchildren the basics of healthy nutrition. This is a long-term project called “Nutrition Basics for Kids.” I’m collaborating with a school in Almaty whose principal supported the initiative, and I hope everything works out.

I also have my own marathon program called “Eat and Lose Weight,” and in November, I’m launching a new intake in an updated format. Based on this marathon, I want to create a women’s community where I can share not only healthy lifestyle principles but also my energy. I know how to maintain energy on both physical and biochemical levels, and I feel that I can offer even more.