THE FIRST ‘MISS SOVIET
UNION' BEAUTY PAGEANT
G'day folks,
Ever wondered how the Soviet Union became involved in world beauty pageants? I certainly hadn't but here is some background.
The year was 1988, the
iron curtain was falling and the final leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail
Gorbachev, was patching up foreign relations with America after a
schmoozy dinner with Ronald and Nancy Reagan in Washington. The
country was ushering in a new era of social freedom and a flood of
information about the lives of people abroad had triggered a
catch-up period of imitation for the USSR.
The Puritan ways of the Soviet Union had previously
repressed the frivolity of show business, celebration of beauty and the
female form or sexy fashion. So when the 30 year ban on beauty pageants was
lifted and the first ever official government-approved beauty contest in
the Soviet Union was announced, it was a pretty huge deal.
Not to throw all their communist values out the window at
once, women of all ages, status, size and shape were invited to enter the
contest. “Every ordinary person, every beautiful woman or one that feels beautiful,
come and show themselves”.
Tryouts were held at Gorky park and queues stretched to a
couple kilometers long. It was an event compared by the press to Garagin’s
flight to space.
After many months of monokini mishaps and hairspray
overdoses, a sixteen year-old Maria Kalinina was crowned Miss USSR. She was
sent to travel around the world, and reportedly won the hearts of
presidents, ministers, and a no doubt a few inappropriate propositions from
wealthy suitors. She later moved to Hollywood where she pursued a career as an
actress, changing her name to Maria Kalin.
She now teaches Kundalini yoga
in her studio in Los Angeles.
Clancy's comment: I'm sure you were dying to know this. Mm ... The beauty pageant business would involve millions of dollars today.
I'm ...
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