Veronika Walker: Beginnings do not define endings

Can you take us back to when you first arrived in the UK at 18 with just £500 and no English — what was going through your mind at that moment?

I remember being both terrified and excited. I had no language, no home, and no real plan — but I had determination. Even in fear, I believed that if I kept moving forward, step by step, I could build a new life.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in those early years, and how did you overcome them?

Over the early years, I faced a series of profound challenges that tested everything I had. I had to learn to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings, embrace a new culture, and master a new language. I began my young adult life from scratch, starting as a cleaner who wasn’t given much respect, and I endured domestic abuse. Those experiences were brutal, but they shaped me in essential ways.

Today, I am grateful for those life obstacles. They anchored me in honesty and self-awareness, teaching me the importance of self-care and authenticity. Through them, I learned to be resilient and humble, and I discovered a deep well of determination to build a brighter future through hard work.

At what point did you begin to realise that your story could inspire others, not just yourself?

When I began sharing openly about my struggles—moving countries, starting over, and leaving an unsafe relationship—women reached out, telling me my story made them feel less alone; that moment showed me my experiences could offer hope and courage, and now my mission is to ensure no woman walks alone, whether she’s recovering from abuse, navigating the complexities of motherhood, or fighting for her own or her child’s health.

What first sparked your passion for philanthropy and giving back?

It was when my twins were born prematurely, and the neonatal team at Simpson’s Special Care Babies cared for us through our most fragile days; after discharge I found a woman who had knitted 1,000 hats to donate to that unit so every newborn would be warm and cozy, and in 2019, instead of wedding gifts, we asked our guests to donate to the neonatal unit, raising £10,000—gratefulness that became the spark for everything that followed.

You’ve raised over £245,000 in just two years — what has that journey taught you about resilience, generosity, and leadership?

That leadership is about service. To raise at this level, you need persistence and the courage to keep going after hearing “no” again and again. It’s not easy, but generosity inspires generosity. When people see you working tirelessly, they want to join you.

How do you choose the causes you support, and which have impacted you most personally?

I focus on causes that connect with my own journey — newborn care, women in crisis, rare diseases, cancer. On the surface, they look different, but they are all about protecting lives and giving people hope. The neonatal cause will always be closest to my heart, because it began with my children.

Pageantry often focuses on glamour — how have you managed to bring substance and purpose into that world?

For me, glamour is a doorway. People notice the crown, the gown, the photograph — and once I have their attention, I use it to talk about what really matters. Glamour alone fades. Glamour with purpose lasts.

How do motherhood and your personal experiences shape the way you carry your crown and your mission?

Motherhood makes everything real. I know what it is to fight for your children’s survival and to want to create a safer world. When I wear the crown, I carry not just myself, but the voices of mothers and women who fight their own battles every day.

As Mrs Lithuania World 2025 and a finalist for Mrs World 2026, what does standing on that global stage represent to you?

Standing on the global stage represents more than crowns and applause. It embodies resilience, vision, hard work, and authenticity. I stand as proof that beginnings do not define endings; you don’t arrive by luck—you arrive by choice, persistence, and a willingness to grow beyond what you’ve known.

For Lithuania, it is a celebration of national pride and our brightest, most hopeful stories, reflected in service, culture, and community. For me, it is a personal triumph—a journey from uncertainty to impact, from silence to a platform where I can spark real change in the charity world. It’s about becoming the kind of example I once needed: a beacon that shows that with dedication, we can transform empathy into action, and action into lasting impact.

If I can lift others as I rise, if I can turn intention into programs that touch lives, and if I can inspire young women to believe that they, too, can shape a better world from whatever starting point they’ve had, then this moment—the global stage—will have fulfilled its true purpose: to amplify compassion, to empower communities, and to remind us all that greatness is earned through service, courage, and staying true to oneself.

For women watching your journey who may feel stuck in their own struggles, what message would you want to give them?

Don’t let today’s struggle convince you that tomorrow isn’t possible. I was once voiceless, scared, and doubting myself. But small steps can become giant leaps. It’s never too late to rise. Don’t be scared to be vulnerable, because in your lowest moments, you can still find your brightest light.

When people look back on your story years from now, what do you hope they will remember most about you?

When people look back on my story years from now, I hope they remember that I used visibility to create meaningful change. I cared deeply for my platform, The Moments That Matter by Veronika Walker, not for the attention itself, but for the opportunity it gave to uplift others and bring communities together. I aimed to turn any crown I wore into a positive impact, not personal prestige. I want to be remembered for making a difference that lasts—the kind of difference that raises funds for causes that matter, connects people across divides, and leaves behind more than a moment of impression, but a lasting ripple of good.

Finally, how do you envision the crown as a platform for change in the future, and what is the legacy you want to leave behind?

The crown is a tool — it can open doors and amplify voices. My legacy, I hope, will show that beauty is most powerful when lived with purpose. Not for standing on a stage, but for standing with women and communities who need someone to fight for them.

Model: Mrs Veronica Walker @mrs_veronika_walker

Photographer: Dreams Factory Photography @dreamsfactoryphotography