How was the fate of the first "Miss USSR": the American dream of the Soviet beauty queen
How was the fate of the first "Miss USSR": the American dream of the Soviet beauty queen

Video: How was the fate of the first "Miss USSR": the American dream of the Soviet beauty queen

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Today, beauty contests are held all over the world, and their participants are building successful careers as models. But even 35 years ago, such events were considered an absolute innovation in our country, and even on a national scale. In 1989, the first Miss USSR contest was held, and this event caused a huge resonance: many viewers were indignant when they saw dozens of girls parading in swimsuits on TV screens. Then they wrote about the winner Yulia Sukhanova in all the newspapers, but then the girl suddenly disappeared. How her fate developed after that, and what she is doing now - further in the review.

Participants of the beauty contest Miss USSR-1989
Participants of the beauty contest Miss USSR-1989

Before that, beauty contests in the USSR were held only on a regional scale. A year before, the Moscow Beauty-1988 competition had taken place, and after that it was decided to hold an all-Union event, inviting the winners of city and regional competitions as participants. In total, there were 35 girls, among whom there were even schoolgirls 16-17 years old. The organizer was producer Yuri Kushnerev, who at that time had already worked with foreign studios and was admitted to the American Guild of Film Producers.

Participants of the beauty contest Miss USSR-1989
Participants of the beauty contest Miss USSR-1989

Among the participants were several girls who had already passed the Moscow Beauty-1988 competition, with the exception of the winner Masha Kalinina. Among them was the 17-year-old tenth grader Yulia Sukhanova. She got to her first beauty pageant thanks to her older sister - it was she who convinced her to go to Gorky Park when there was a show of applicants. Julia did not become a "Moscow beauty" - she did not even reach the final then, but she was allowed to participate in the all-Union competition.

Yulia Sukhanova, Miss USSR-1989 beauty pageant winner
Yulia Sukhanova, Miss USSR-1989 beauty pageant winner
Participants of the beauty contest Miss USSR-1989
Participants of the beauty contest Miss USSR-1989

She did not consider herself a beauty - she did not know how to use makeup, do hair and walk in heels. The girl was very shy and modest, and one of the stages of the competition was a fashion show in swimsuits, which was then called "a demonstration of beach ensembles." The participants brought their dresses, and the organizers of the event offered them swimwear. For schoolgirl Sukhanova, it was a real shock - some of the "beach ensembles" were very frank, and they were to be demonstrated in front of a large audience. Julia recalled: "".

Yulia Sukhanova, Miss USSR-1989 beauty pageant winner
Yulia Sukhanova, Miss USSR-1989 beauty pageant winner
First Miss USSR Yulia Sukhanova, 1989
First Miss USSR Yulia Sukhanova, 1989

The relationship between the participants, probably, did not differ much from the mores that reign today in beauty contests: no one complained about the winner, many said that she did not deserve the crown, no one spoke to her on the bus after the end of the event. Even the organizer of "Miss USSR-1989" Yuri Kushnerev said that Yulia did not make a big impression on him: "".

Interview with Miss USSR-1989
Interview with Miss USSR-1989
Yulia Sukhanova, Miss USSR-1989 beauty pageant winner
Yulia Sukhanova, Miss USSR-1989 beauty pageant winner

But the jury members, including actress Irina Skobtseva, TV presenter Leonid Yakubovich, singer Muslim Magomayev, artist Ilya Glazunov and ballerina Ekaterina Maksimova, appreciated the discreet beauty of Yulia Sukhanova and gave her the main prize. Irina Skobtseva explained her choice as follows: "".

First Miss USSR Yulia Sukhanova, 1989
First Miss USSR Yulia Sukhanova, 1989

Today, winning a beauty contest is associated with big cash prizes and expensive gifts, but then Julia got only the crown, and even then, taking advantage of the turmoil, someone pulled out the largest stone - aquamarine. Some of the participants received more valuable awards - fur coats and trips, and Julia had to be content with a title and a crown.

Yulia Sukhanova
Yulia Sukhanova

According to the terms of the competition, the winner was supposed to represent the USSR at Miss World, but Sukhanova never got there. For 3 months she was not allowed out of the country - she was offered a contract in the United States, but she signed it as a minor, and it turned out to be invalid. In addition, there was a condition that she should give 90% of the income to the organizers of the competition, which did not suit her. As a result, the girl became restricted to travel abroad, and in the United States she was released only after she told about the incident in an interview with one publication, where she said: "".

Yulia Sukhanova, Miss USSR-1989 beauty pageant winner
Yulia Sukhanova, Miss USSR-1989 beauty pageant winner

She flew to America for a month, and stayed for the rest of her life. Abroad, Yulia Sukhanova made a splash - Soviet beauties were presented there as puffy, rosy-cheeked and unkempt, and Miss USSR turned out to be a fragile girl who met all Western beauty standards. She was invited to dozens of TV shows, press conferences and events, the interest in her person was so great that she even had to hire a bodyguard.

Yulia Sukhanova in 2015
Yulia Sukhanova in 2015

The girl did not plan to stay in the USA forever, but she was afraid to return to the USSR after 2 years after her move, her mother died under mysterious circumstances - they said that the death was violent. Therefore, for 8 years, Julia has not been to her homeland, although during this period she received offers from filmmakers to act in films.

At one of the parties in the USA, Yulia Sukhanova met Sting
At one of the parties in the USA, Yulia Sukhanova met Sting

Abroad, Julia continued her career as a model. She signed contracts with American and French agencies, starred in commercials and appeared on the catwalk in the shows of Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren. In her business, she managed to achieve success, soon she was able to purchase her own apartment and a country house. Of course, among the offers she received were not only business ones. Sukhanova said: "". She does not name names and does not explain the reasons, but "Miss USSR" never got a family and children.

Julia Sukhanova in 2006
Julia Sukhanova in 2006

Today Yulia Sukhanova leads a non-public lifestyle and is engaged in another business. "" - she admits.

Julia Sukhanova in New York, 2006
Julia Sukhanova in New York, 2006

Abroad, she was looking for her happiness and "Moscow Beauty-1988": How was the fate of Maria Kalinina.

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