ELLE: FLOWERS AND BEAUTY BY MIRA TSYBUKOVSKA
by Laure Vandendaele
Published on: 20/03/2026
read an original article at ELLE
It all once started with a single paper pompom. Today, paper artist Mira Tsybukovska (39), with Mio Gallery, creates floral installations for fashion brands, luxury hotels, and interiors around the world. Last year, one of her giant red flowers appeared alongside model Gia Bab on the cover of the fashion issue of ELLE Belgium. Her studio is always in bloom, and in her bathroom, scents and textures change with the seasons.
Five years ago, Mira Tsybukovska moved from Ukraine to Antwerp with her husband to expand her flower business and be closer to international clients. In her studio in the city center, she works by hand—with the precision of a couturier—on large and small flowers that never wilt. Flowers are a common thread throughout her career, but they also inspire her on a personal level:
“From flowers I learned that beauty is not fleeting.”
Fun fact: In Belgium, you’re far from a pioneer when it comes to paper flowers. Along the coast, many profitable little businesses can be found during the summer months.
Before I moved to Belgium, I had no idea that children make paper flowers to sell them at the seaside. I didn’t know the tradition at all, but I see it as a sign that I moved to the right place.
You’ve been living in Antwerp for five years now. Do you notice a difference between the Ukrainian beauty ideal and how Flemish women view beauty?
Yes, definitely. In Ukraine, there is a different perception of beauty, partly influenced by the country’s location between Europe and Asia. In Asian cultures, the man is often still the breadwinner, while the woman takes care of the children and is expected to look beautiful above all. Many Ukrainian women spend a lot of time and money on their appearance. They always want to look good, wear elaborate makeup, and are fond of fillers and cosmetic injections. They do this for themselves, but also to please their partners. Another group of women aligns more with Western European mentality and prefers, like me, a natural look. That’s why it was so easy for me to feel at home in Belgium.
Do your Ukrainian roots have no influence on your beauty routine?
Like most Ukrainian women, I used to regularly go to a beauty salon for a manicure and pedicure, but I stopped doing that after moving to Antwerp. One thing I did keep is paying attention to the phase of the moon when cutting my hair. According to tradition, you should only cut your hair during the waxing crescent, as it would grow faster afterward. Going to the hairdresser when the moon is waning is considered a bad idea. Luckily, I found a good hairdresser who can handle my extremely frizzy hair, regardless of the moon phase.
You wear striking earrings and a nice pair of glasses. Are you very focused on your style?
I absolutely love vintage jewelry and have always had a soft spot for earrings. In Ukraine, vintage clothing and accessories are hard to find, but here I have access to so many great shops. I regularly go to Paris to look for new pieces for my collection. The nice thing about statement jewelry is that you can take it off at the end of the day and look normal again. That’s not possible with lip fillers.
Do you have a skincare routine?
Yes, but I keep it simple. In the morning, I wash my face with a foaming cleanser and use a toner. Then I apply an eye cream, a serum with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, and a day cream. The products I use depend on how my skin feels that day. If I have a busy day ahead, I skip makeup and at most put on a bit of lipstick.
Your creations are very colorful. Do you also like colorful makeup?
When I go out, I wear red lipstick and apply black mascara to my lashes. The rest of my eye makeup stays very light—only my lips get a bold color. I also add a bit of blush on my cheeks, and that’s about it. I paint my nails with a pinkish transparent nail polish from Dior. I enjoy dressing up and wearing makeup, but most of the time I don’t wear any and tie my hair in a bun.
As a flower girl, do you also like floral perfumes?
Yes, but the floral notes shouldn’t be too overpowering. I do like perfumes with a sweet touch, such as Scarlet Poppy by Jo Malone. When a bottle is finished, I look for a new scent. My husband once gave me a wonderful custom-made perfume from niche brand Stephanie de Bruijn. I also love the perfumes by Diana Vreeland.
To stay on the subject of flowers: their beauty is fleeting. Is that something that occupies your mind?
A flower is not only beautiful when it blooms. There is beauty in all stages of its development—from a closed bud to when it has fully withered. I even see beauty in a wilted bouquet and try to approach aging in a philosophical way. Of course, I don’t like seeing wrinkles appear, but I look for ways to deal with it. You can switch anti-wrinkle creams as much as you want, but I realized I needed to change my mindset about aging. I am getting older, and I accept that.
Which women do you look up to?
Monica Bellucci—she is now 61 years old, and I still find her attractive and sexy. Still, I think it’s important not to compare myself to her or to others. I want to take good care of myself and look good, but beyond that, I don’t attach too much importance to appearances. I derive my self-worth mainly from my work and am satisfied with who I am today.
Mira’s favorites
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