A student from the Republic of Chuvashia has taken top prize in this year’s Miss Russia beauty contest. Valentina Alekseeva will go on to represent the country at the global pageant in Mexico. Alekseeva, who is currently enrolled at the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, which is ranked among the top medical high schools in the country, received the gem-encrusted crown from Margarita Golubeva, who won last year’s Miss Russia pageant.
The winner also received a cash prize of one million rubles ($10,000). The 18-year-old medical student, who enjoys ballet, sports, and a healthy lifestyle, gained entry to the national event by winning a regional beauty contest. The newly crowned Miss Russia was followed by Irina Mironova from the city of Tolyatti and Ulyana Evdokimova from St.
Petersburg, who took second and third place, respectively. The pageant was held in the Barvikha Luxury Village concert hall. Oksana Fedorova, the winner of Miss Russia in 2001 and Miss Universe in 2002, designer Igor Chapurin, and composer Vladimir Matetsky were among the judges at the contest.
This year, over 85,000 young women applied to participate in the pageant, which has been held since 1993. According to the rules, only unmarried and childless Russian women between the ages of 18 to 23 are eligible to compete..