Celebrating women: Get to know Women of Hong Kong’s Katya Virshilas

"I believe women are the driving force of change in the world," explains Sarah Vee, the founder of Women of Hong Kong (WOHK) to TMS. "It's important we celebrate women's achievements and raise awareness about gender inequities. As more and more women feel empowered, the multiplier effect kicks in – when you empower one woman, you empower many…"

In case you've never come across the group before, WOHK is a celebration of the connection and community of women across the city, with the goal of creating a supportive and inclusive space for women to connect and unlock opportunities.

For many, though, it's more than a community. It's a movement.

Introducing TMS x WOHK's latest editorial campaign featuring exceptional women who are positively impacting our communities through uplifting others within the network. Among the many nominations submitted earlier this year, today, we are thrilled to present Katya Virshilas as our first featured woman in this campaign.

Virshilas is a true champion of the ballroom dance world. As a former pro-dancer on BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing," Virshilas brought her passion for dance to Hong Kong with the creation of Ballroombees. Her dance concept was developed to provide young boys and girls with accessible and fun dance classes in a supportive environment. Virshilas' mission is to shatter the barriers and stereotypes surrounding dance, particularly for boys who can face ridicule when pursuing this field.

But her influence doesn't end with her dance program.

She has been nominated by the founder of Wish Beauty Bar, Iana Zinovieva, who credits Virshilas as the driving force behind her own success, offering encouragement and guidance that has helped her push through difficult times and blossom both personally and professionally.

Beyond professional support, Virshilas has been an emotional support pillar for Zinovieva during her postpartum depression, sharing parenting tips and helping her with balancing work and motherhood.

"Katya has always been there for me," explains Zinovieva. "She has seen it all: from supporting my business since day one to helping me deal with postpartum depression, to giving tips on parenting and surviving the 'heat' of being a momtrepreneur or moving mountains to bring Alyssa’s favorite dancing teacher as Elsa for my daughter’s birthday.

She is an incredible woman, an inspiration and a role model, her energy, drive and genuine kindness makes her an ideal candidate for this editorial feature."

Together, both these women represent the essence of our campaign: to recognize and celebrate the incredible people in our communities who are making a difference in the world around them by uplifting others.

Over the next few weeks, we will feature their inspiring stories, along with those of other remarkable women, as we continue to highlight the impact of empowerment, connection and community.