Zelenska's jewelry speaks volumes: Hidden symbolism behind her brooches
Olena Zelenska’s jewelry carries deep meaning (photo: president.gov.ua)
Ukraine's First Lady, Olena Zelenska, often appears at international events or public meetings wearing unique brooches. These are more than just accessories—they are powerful symbols. Here's what her jewelry means and why it speaks louder than words.
Wormwood, Yevshan-Zillya
This is a unique piece by the brand Ruslan Baginskiy. Zelenska wore it during a reception with King Charles III, a meeting with the Macron family, and other high-profile events.
More than a stylish touch, it's a reference to Ukrainian roots and love for the homeland.
Additionally, wormwood is a symbolic plant for both Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar cultures.
@rbcua Що означають прикраси першої леді Олени Зеленської?
оригинальный звук - РБК-Україна
Forget-me-not
In the summer of 2023, Zelenska appeared in an interview with RBC-Ukraine wearing a blue suit paired with a brooch shaped like dark blue flowers.
The piece was made by jeweler Stanislav Drokin from fragments of a Russian missile launched at Kharkiv.
The brooch symbolizes the revival of life amid destruction and serves as a reminder of Russia's atrocities, the loss of cultural and historical heritage, and innocent lives.
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The brooches Zelenska wears (photo: First Lady's press service)
Map of Ukraine
Another significant piece is a gold brooch in the shape of Ukraine by the Ukrainian brand Gasanova. A small diamond marks the Donetsk region.
This piece symbolizes the country's unity and the pain of the temporarily occupied territories.
What Zelenska's brooches mean (photo: twitter.com/ZelenskaUA)
Jewelry with a message: Expert explains
Jewelry designer Dariia Chernikova told RBC-Ukraine that such accessories have long served as a form of communication for women in politics, diplomacy, and public life. It is a way to express their stance.
"Back in the 1990s, Madeleine Albright, the first female US Secretary of State, turned brooches into an element of state rhetoric," she noted.
"For example, when Iraq called her a 'snake,' she appeared the next day wearing a snake brooch. Or the time she wore a bug-shaped brooch to 'bug' the Russians (how delightful!) after it was discovered they planted listening devices in a meeting room," she added.
Later, this practice was adopted by other female leaders. US Vice President Kamala Harris, for instance, consistently wears a strand of pearls, a symbol of her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first African American women's organization.
During her October 2024 visit to Australia, Queen Camilla wore the Australian Wattle Brooch—originally a gift to Queen Elizabeth II—symbolizing unity and Commonwealth affiliation.
Chernikova also highlighted how jewelry helped shape female agency back in the 19th century. For example, mourning jewelry during Queen Victoria's era took on new meaning.
"Mourning accessories were made from ebony, jet, vulcanite, and often adorned with pearls, garnets, or amethysts. They followed a strict protocol and became tools of visual communication, a language of loss, resilience, and royal tradition during times of national grief," she explained.
In the 21st century, visual diplomacy has become even more powerful and personal.
"My clients choose jewelry not to complete a look but to capture a feeling, a symbol, a moment. It's not about making a statement, but about being. Not about loudness, but precision. This is the real language of the body, a new diplomacy of gesture that speaks through every curve and line of metal," she concluded.
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