Lyubov Katkalo and Ivan Fedayev, two pastry decorators from Irkutsk, Russia, have emerged victorious at the World Championship in Confectionery and Decorative Arts “Become a Legend.” Out of over 800 participants from 37 countries, the Siberian duo secured two first-place wins.

The “Become a Legend” championship, organized by Cake Artist World Corporation, aims to foster the art of cake decoration and features renowned pastry chefs worldwide. This year’s theme centered on fairy tales from different cultures, with entries evaluated by prominent figures in the confectionery industry.

Katkalo, who leads a division in a confectionery company, entered the cake industry after working as a speech therapist and deputy head at a school. She emphasizes the self-taught nature of her team, which includes individuals from diverse backgrounds like translators and teachers.

Katkalo, a member of the Cake Artist World Corporation for two years, expressed that winning the championship holds special significance for her, proving that Irkutsk masters can achieve remarkable results.

For the “Tiered Cake” category, Katkalo chose the theme of miracle birds—Sirin, Gamayun, and Alkonost—inspired by the works of artist Viktor Vasnetsov and traditional Russian art. She aimed to capture the essence of Russian and Slavic art through these images, integrating them into the cake’s geometry with intricate details, carvings, ornaments, and a specific color scheme.

The creation process took approximately 20 days, with six hours spent each day on the cake. The cake featured false tiers since the competition focused solely on external decoration. Katkalo explained that all decorations are made from edible materials like fondant, icing, edible moss, edible floristry, and chocolate, presenting technical challenges due to their sensitivity to temperature and humidity.

Katkalo sees such championships as opportunities to unleash her imagination, which is not always possible in everyday orders that often involve conventional requests. She recognizes the high quality of entries in this year’s competition, making her victory all the more meaningful.

Katkalo views her win as a representation of her company and its skilled specialists. She acknowledges the importance of their cakes in customers’ significant life events and aims to enhance those moments. She intends to continue showcasing the expertise of specialists from her hometown.