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Maria Bakalova at the Cannes Film Festival in a dress painted by a Bulgarian woman

Photo: Madman Films/ x.com

Actress Maria Bakalova caused a stir when she appeared at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The Bulgarian actress attended the premiere of her latest film, The Apprentice, which was hailed by the Western media as one of the most anticipated events of the festival and included in the competition programme of the festival. 

Bakalova walked the red carpet in a dazzling painted gown from the collection of Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, but few know that the impressive painting on the skirt of her dress is the work of a Bulgarian - Mihaela Etova.

Mihaela Etova
Mihaela Etova has been living and working in Italy for over 20 years and has been part of D&G's team of artists for the last 12 years. Mihaela graduated in mural painting from the National Academy of Arts in Sofia and in graphic design from the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, Italy. Due to the nature of her work and the policy of the fashion house she works for, she is not allowed to speak to the media, but Etova told Radio Bulgaria that she was very excited to see her work adorning another successful Bulgarian woman. And the "painting" on Maria Bakalova's lavish tulle gown was inspired by a particular artistic space that she keeps secret.

The film "The Apprentice" tells the story of Donald Trump's journey as a budding real estate entrepreneur in New York City and his relationship with his confidant and mentor, lawyer Roy Cohn, who is linked to the New York mafia. Bulgarian actress Maria Bakalova stars as the tycoon's first wife and mother of his three older children, Ivana Trump, who was born and raised in the former Czechoslovakia. 


The film marks the Hollywood debut of director Ali Abbasi. His film “Border” won the top prize in the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard competition in 2018. Romanian-American Sebastian Stan stars as the 45th president of the United States and current candidat



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