She competed in the national finals of the second "Chinese Charm, Global Voice" University Student Competition on "Telling China's Story Well" on December 5 at the Shanghai Theatre Academy's Changlin Campus. Her entry, "My Shanghai Story: From the Aegean Sea to the Huangpu River," earned her the award for Outstanding International Narrative. The competition was guided by the Shanghai Theatre Academy and the Youth Education Professional Committee of the China Television Artists Association, hosted by the Academy’s School of Film, and organized by the Russian and Central Asian Studies Center of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, the Shanghai School Culture Research Center of Shanghai University, and the Department of Broadcasting and Hosting Arts under the Academy's School of Film.

“My Shanghai Story: From the Aegean Sea to the Huangpu River”

For her, Shanghai is not only where her dreams took flight, but also a “home” where she found a sense of belonging. From the ancient theatres by the Aegean Sea to the modern stages along the Huangpu River, drama has bridged two civilizations, telling a warm story of art and encounter.

Before coming to Shanghai, Diana lived on a tranquil, slow-paced island in Greece. Yet, her heart always yearned for distant skylines and boundless artistic possibilities. A chance opportunity brought her to Shanghai. While strolling along the Bund, gazing at the blend of classical and modern scenery on both sides of the Huangpu River, she felt a strong intuition arise within her: this was the place where she belonged.

Beyond her language studies, Diana actively engaged in a wide range of artistic and cultural exchange activities. In 2025, she participated in a Shanghai Daily urban exploration event and was featured in a promotional video for the Shanghai Theatre Academy's 80th anniversary. During the anniversary gala, Our Stage, she performed a passage from "The Merchant of Venice" in elegant Greek, allowing Shakespeare's themes of justice and mercy to shine with a unique brilliance, infused with the rhythm of Mediterranean civilization. Under the guidance of her instructors, her narrative work, "My Shanghai Story: From the Aegean Sea to the Huangpu River," was later recognized with the Outstanding International Narrative Award at the second "Chinese Charm, Global Voice" University Student Competition on Telling China's Story Well.

Caption: Cao Kefan, Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Television Artists Association and a renowned TV host, commented: “Diana’s genuine emotion was truly moving.”

In her story, there is no grand narrative, only genuine personal reflections: nostalgia for her homeland, a love for Shanghai's cuisine, and her comparative insights into the two theatrical traditions. She believes that "telling China's story well" is not about deliberate promotion, but about sharing how a real person lives, feels, and grows in this land.

"To be honest, standing on that stage felt like a dream."

I was very nervous at first—it was my first time performing on stage in Chinese. But when I finally stepped out, when the stage lights hit my eyes and I felt the audience's gaze gather on me, a small voice inside me said:

This is your moment.

I took a deep breath and began.

As I performed, I grew more and more emotional, and by the end, I couldn't hold back my tears. Maybe it was because every word I spoke came from the deepest part of my heart. Because I truly love this city—Shanghai. And in that very moment, I suddenly understood how beautiful it is to truly express yourself to the world.

On stage, my emotions quietly connected with the audience’s through the performance. Together, we felt that rare sense of softness and love. In the rush of everyday life, people often forget this feeling—but the stage brought it back to my heart. It was just a small performance, and I know I can do even better, but I am proud of myself. Because I finally stepped out of my comfort zone. I seized this chance—to compete, to represent my country, to meet so many new friends, and to learn more about Chinese culture. I will keep working hard to improve my Chinese, and I will keep exploring my potential on stage. I am so grateful to all my teachers at the Shanghai Theatre Academy for their genuine support, and to my family and my partner.

Looking ahead, I hope to become a better version of myself, and through art, build a bridge between China and my two home countries — Greece and Russia.

— Diana Puzikova

Shanghai has witnessed her transformation, and in turn, she is becoming a vivid and beautiful footnote in the city’s own international narrative. Looking forward, she hopes to continue living in the city she calls “home,” and—through more moving performances and sincere storytelling—become an envoy of cultural dialogue. Her aim is both to convey the vibrant spirit of contemporary China to the world, and to share the timeless allure of the ancient Mediterranean with people here. And this, perhaps, is the most compelling form of “telling China’s story well”: not a one-way broadcast, but a two-way illumination, where both sides are enriched by the encounter and grow together through the dialogue.

Source: Shanghai Theatre Academy