An event titled “A Cypriot Island Icon: Bülent Günkut” was organized by the European University of Lefke (EUL). During the talk, moderated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Çağda Kıvanç Çağanağa, Head of EUL’s Department of Primary Education, Bülent Günkut answered questions about his life and career.

In the interactive talk, Günkut first spoke about his memories of being an industrial engineer, working as a teacher and radio programmer, and, most importantly, founding the first modelling agency on the island, as well as the impact of his professional life on his personal journey. Günkut went on to emphasize that the Miss Northern Cyprus Beauty Pageant, which has continued since 1984 with a “meaningful and purposeful beauty mission” to select the beauty queen of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, has taken major steps for social awareness under the patronage of leading foundations and organizations such as the TRNC Prime Ministry Anti-Drug Commission, the Cyprus Turkish Women’s Union, the Cyprus Turkish Women’s Council, Varlık Club, the Association for Helping Cancer Patients, and the Cyprus Turkish Philanthropic Foundation. He stated that these efforts fundamentally aim to serve social good and stressed that every journey should begin with love.

Günkut drew attention to the idea that beauty is not limited to physical measurements, emphasizing that beauty becomes meaningful when combined with kindness and that this understanding should be instilled in society. He also highlighted another important mission: increasing international representation in order to promote and gain recognition for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus despite the embargoes. For this purpose, Günkut stated that since the Asia-Pacific Beauty Pageant held in the Far East in 1987, they have taken part in organizations in many countries around the world and achieved successful results. He emphasized that the secret of his success is his love for his country, that he has acted throughout his life with the slogan “Live and Keep Beauties Alive,” and that teacher candidates should always begin their journey with love. At the end of the talk, Bülent Günkut signed and shared his book titled Bülent Günkut 70 with the students.