You may not know it, but hot Russian and Ukrainian women frequently appeared in tabloid magazines and celebrity gossip blogs this past year. From engagements to weddings, PETA campaigns and more, these lovely ladies made headlines. Here's a quick recap.
Bianna Golodryga, Peter Orszag Announce Engagement ABC news correspondent Bianna Golodryga announced her engagment to Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag on Good Morning America in late December. Golodryga is of Russian descent and speaks Russian fluently. The pair met at a White House Correspondent's Dinner and were engaged in New York City.
Ukrainian Model Named 55th Anniversary Playmate Ukrainian model Dasha Astafieva (Miss January 2009, 55th Anniversary Playmate) is rumored to have caused quite a stir at the Playboy mansion last year. Hugh’s girlfriends at the time, The Girls Next Door’s Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt, and Kendra Wilkinson were less than thrilled at the attention Hugh lavished upon Dasha. Some even speculate that the Ukrainian beauty was the reason for the foursome’s eventual breakup.
Milla Jovovich Marries Paul W. S. Anderson On August 22nd, Ukrainian born actress Milla Jovovich married director and long-time boyfriend Paul W. Anderson at the couple’s Beverly Hills home. The two currently have one child, a daughter, though Milla has indicated that she wants many more. The pair met at the filming of Resident Evil, a movie Paul directed.
Annie: Dances like Pavaliver, that child.
George Grainger: Dances like who?
Annie: Pavaliver—the russian dancer. Don’t be so ignorant.
—Reginald Berkeley (1890–1935)
Karina Smirnoff Poses Nude for PETA Ukrainian born dancer Karina Smirnoff appeared in a racy PETA ad decrying the use of fur for fashion. The successful dancer and star of Dancing With the Stars admitted to wearing fur in the past, but reported changing her mind after learning about the heartbreaking cruelty inflicted upon foxes, minks, raccoons, chinchillas, rabbits, and other animals.
Oksana Grigorieva Has Baby Girl Mel Gibson and Russian singer/pianist Oksana Grigorieva welcomed their first child on October 30th. The child, a daughter named Lucia, is Oksana’s first and Mel’s eighth (a birth that lead to a plethora of Octodad jokes). The couple is currently engaged, but there are no definite wedding plans at this time.
Irina Shabayeva Wins Project Runway Irina Shabayeva, a former resident of the republic of Georgia, won the sixth season of Project Runway this November. Irina currently lives in New York City where she attended Parsons the New School for Design.
Mickey Rourke and Elena Kuletskaya Get Engaged (Or Do They?) Engaged or not engaged? Earlier this month, celebrity gossip bloggers begin posting reports of Mickey Rourke’s engagement to Russian model Elena Kuletskaya. The two were said to be planning an April wedding in Moscow. However, the actor denied such claims and has named Ana Makarenko as his girlfriend, not Elena. Interesting.
A medium Vodka dry Martini—with a slice of lemon peel. Shaken and not stirred, please. I would prefer russian or Polish vodka.
—Ian Fleming (1908–1964)
Will Russian and Ukrainian women (or women with roots in those countries) continue to make headlines in 2010? Let's hope so!
I write about Russian and Ukrainian women.