Transformation mentor, international Kundalini Yoga and Tantra teacher, author of The Metaphysics of Wish Fulfillment, beauty queen, mountaineer, and founder of spiritual expeditions, Milania Gaia is building a life where physical endurance, inner discipline and conscious leadership intersect.
By Luc Durant
After winning Grand Queen Ukraine 2021, Milania embarked on another kind of journey one measured not by titles, but by altitude. Over the past year, together with her brother, she has climbed two of the world’s iconic summits, Mount Elbrus (5,642 m) and Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), both part of the legendary Seven Summits challenge. For her, mountaineering is far more than an athletic pursuit; it is a profound practice of self-transformation.
Alongside her professional path, one of the most defining decisions of her life was adopting her young niece after a family tragedy—an experience that reshaped her understanding of love, responsibility and inner strength.
In this exclusive conversation with L’Officiel Monaco, Milania Gaia reflects on mountains, meditation, motherhood and the true nature of fulfilling one’s destiny.
You recently conquered both Mount Elbrus and Kilimanjaro. What do mountains represent to you today?
Among mountaineers, we don’t use the expression «to conquer a mountain». You don’t conquer a summit—you are allowed onto it. The mountain either accepts you or it doesn’t.
I have immense respect for mountains because they carry extraordinary power. They strip away everything except the present moment. There are no unnecessary thoughts only your next step, and then the one after that. In many ways, it becomes a form of meditation.
For me, mountains are also a metaphor for achieving meaningful goals. Every ascent changes something inside me. Once you’ve reached a summit physically, life’s other challenges begin to feel clearer. Each climb has opened new opportunities and revealed a stronger version of myself.
Many believe the hardest climb happens within ourselves. Has that been true in your experience?
My relationship with mountains began while studying Kundalini Yoga in my teacher’s ashram in the French Alps. Our training included mountain hikes, and I remember questioning every life decision during a 4 a.m. ascent.
Then we reached the summit just as the sun was rising. Looking down at the sleeping city, I experienced something impossible to describe—a deep sense of perspective. That moment stayed with me.
Later, I decided to pursue the Seven Summits challenge. Fewer than 250 women in history have completed it. My goal isn’t simply to join that number. I hope to demonstrate that women are capable of extraordinary achievements far beyond society’s traditional expectations. We create life, but we also break records, lead expeditions and redefine what is possible.
How do you prepare for such demanding expeditions?
Preparation begins months before departure. For Elbrus, I trained between three and five hours every day for almost three months, walked instead of driving whenever possible, eliminated alcohol and caffeine, and focused on endurance.
Mental preparation is equally important. Before every expedition, I visualize the summit and emotionally experience reaching it long before I arrive. The body follows where the mind has already been.
Was there one moment in the mountains that permanently changed your perspective?
On Kilimanjaro, my brother became seriously ill near the summit. Our dream had been to complete the Seven Summits together and potentially become the first brother and sister to achieve that milestone as a team.
Watching his condition deteriorate reminded me that mountains are never about records or ego. They demand humility. Nature always has the final word, and every expedition deserves complete respect.
How has mountaineering influenced your work as a spiritual teacher?
I don’t consciously bring mountain experiences into my teachings. However, I believe people naturally trust someone who consistently steps beyond their own limits.
Discipline, resilience and the willingness to face discomfort are universal principles. Whether on a mountain or in meditation, transformation begins where comfort ends.
Your retreats combine travel, ancient traditions and inner work. What are people searching for today?
People are searching for reconnection—with themselves.
The modern world overwhelms us with constant information, making it difficult to hear our own inner voice. My retreats are designed as immersive transformational journeys. In Egypt, for example, participants meditate inside ancient pyramids at sunrise and explore sacred sites connected to one of civilization’s oldest spiritual traditions.
These experiences are not simply about travel. They create space for silence, reflection and genuine personal transformation.
Your book, The Metaphysics of Wish Fulfillment, has recently been published. What inspired you to write it?
I’ve been fascinated by consciousness, the subconscious mind and the nature of reality since childhood. I’ve always believed reality is more flexible than we imagine.
The book brings together years of personal observations, spiritual practice and lived experience. It is written for anyone who genuinely wants to transform their life—not through fantasy, but through understanding the principles that shape human potential.
What does wish fulfillment actually mean to you?
Wish fulfillment is never about positive thinking alone.
It is the combination of mindset, emotional state and intentional action. A wish remains passive. Intention creates movement, and movement generates energy. That energy begins to shape reality.
If readers remember only one idea from my book, I hope it is this:
Life doesn’t give you what you want. It gives you what you become.
One of the most personal chapters of your life was adopting your young niece after a family tragedy. How did that experience change you?
It was never something I had imagined for myself.
When she lost her mother, she was only four years old. In that moment, I understood that love is not simply a feeling—it is responsibility. We’ve been together for two years now, and she has transformed my understanding of family more profoundly than I could ever have expected.
What keeps you grounded despite such an intense lifestyle?
Meditation.
Silence.
Nature.
After public events, red carpets and busy schedules, I need time alone. Walking in nature restores me. I’ve learned that real strength comes from simplicity, not performance. Balance is what makes life sustainable.
What has been your greatest realization over the past few years?
I believe we are witnessing a remarkable rise in feminine leadership.
Women are becoming more confident, more united and more willing to create meaningful change. But true strength should never come from opposition or anger. My philosophy is simple: lead with love.
Love remains my only religion.
What is the next summit on your horizon?
If conditions allow, I hope to climb Mont Blanc later this year, followed by Aconcagua—the highest peak in South America and the third mountain in my Seven Summits journey.
But every mountain reminds me that reaching the top is never the ultimate goal. The person you become along the way is.
Finally, what thought would you like to leave with our readers?
Every morning we are given a choice.We can choose gratitude or resentment. Hope or fear.
Love or indifference.
The life we repeatedly choose becomes the life we eventually live.And whatever we choose not to change, we ultimately choose to accept.
Credits:
Talent: Milania Gaia @milaniagaia
Creative director/Fashion stylist: Marina Dobrova @marina.dobrova.stylist
Photographer: Alevtina Kozhevnikova @alevtina.como
Makeup/hair: Khrystyna Rozhanska @khrystyna_rozhanska
Retoucher: Yulia Serova @retouch_nefertiti
Dresses: Avaro Figlio @avarofiglio
Jewellery: Vualle jewels @vualle
The boat: @comolakechauffeur.boat