By Cary Shuman
Anna Svetchnikov
Anna Svetchnikov, a 2003 graduate of Lynn English, was crowned Mrs. Massachusetts Universal in September and will compete for the title of Mrs. United States Universal in Reno, Nevada in 2017.
Svetchnikov, a 31-year-old mother of two children and a Swampscott resident, has enjoyed prior successes on the runway. The 5-foot-6-inch model is a former Miss Teen Massachusetts and former Miss Teen Ukraine.
“I was second runner-up for best state costume in a national pageant,” said Svetchnikov. “I was a Salem witch. It’s kind of funny but I love costumes.”
The daughter of Vladimir and Vera Kondratev, Anna arrived in Lynn from Kharkov, Ukraine when she was 14 years old.
“I went to Lynn English as my first school in the United States,” she said. “I was in the drama club, a literature club, and the French Club. I received a very well-round education from Lynn English with numerous opportunities. I am thankful to the Lynn administration and teachers for all their love and support and always challenging me to do better.”
During her academic career at English, she attended the Summit of Young Technology Leaders in Austin, Texas.
“In 2001 I represented Massachusetts at the summit and I was invited back to represent the United States at an international summit in 2002 and I met Michael Dell,” she recalled.
Svethchnikov received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UMass/Boston and earned her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from UMass/Boston in 2014.
This month she announced the launch of Positive Parenting Initiative through her Boston-are non-profit, Longwood Care. The organization is dedicated to enriching the lives of children by education parents with a toolset of applied therapeutic techniques that support the formation and preservation of strong families.
“I’ve seen many approaches to parenting that are either too general or too narrow, and many focus on helping parents cope, but not enough focus on helping parents become creative problem solvers as they’re raising their children,” said Svetchnikov, a family therapist who wants to share her own parenting strategies with others.
Svetchnikov, who participates in numerous community service projects such as the Jimmy Fund Walk, will be making a personal appearance at an upcoming gala in Lynn.