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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

Under Mikhail Gorbachev, many things began to change in the country. It could be called an imitation period. In addition to removing the ban on beauty pageants, his appointment heralded a new era of social freedom in the USSR. The first beauty contest in the USSR was a sensation.

The Soviet Union banned beauty pageants in 1959, so there were no scantily clad ladies or cheeky fashions. The Soviet Union’s first official beauty contest, ‘Moscow Beauty 1988’, was held at the Luzhniki Palace of Sports in Soviet Moscow and created a sensation for the whole world. German Fashion, Burda Modern sponsored the contest, and Mrs Burda was an honorable jury member. Organizers of the event refused to abide by all the standards and allowed girls of all shapes and sizes to compete. Russian girls found immediate admirers among film producers, fashion photographers, foreign investors, and fashion designers. It was not uncommon at that time to see millions of TV viewers watching girls in swimsuits marching on stage, girls whose moral values were well below public standards; girls more associated with prostitution than beauty queens taking part in beauty contests.

A teenage schoolgirl Masha Kalinina won the competition. After the competition ended, Kalinina was offered a job as a model by Burdamoden, the competition’s sponsor. The girl later moved to America and enrolled in a Hollywood acting school. While Masha starred in many films, she only had a few memorable roles, so her career couldn’t be considered successful. Currently, Masha Kalinina (Maria Kalin) lives in Los Angeles, where she teaches Kundalini yoga in her studio.

#1 “Moscow Beauty” was expected to become an annual event where prizes were free to travel passes for trips abroad, cash, and luxurious (by Russian standards) gifts.

“Moscow Beauty” was expected to become an annual event where prizes were free to travel passes for trips abroad, cash, and luxurious (by Russian standards) gifts.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#2 The first beauty contest in the USSR became a sensation.

The first beauty contest in the USSR became a sensation.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#3 The girls signing up.

The girls signing up.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#4 The contest was sponsored by the up-market German fashion magazine Burda Moden.

The contest was sponsored by the up-market German fashion magazine Burda Moden.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#5 Measuring the waist.

Measuring the waist.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#6 Well, not bad.

Well, not bad.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#7 To participate in a beauty contest at that time to a large extent meant to go against the still-prevailing public opinion that only indecent and disgraceful girls took part.

To participate in a beauty contest at that time to a large extent meant to go against the still-prevailing public opinion that only indecent and disgraceful girls took part.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#8 More than 5,000 girls showed up.

More than 5,000 girls showed up.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#9 Preparing for the contest.

Preparing for the contest.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#10 No food, only water.

No food, only water.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#11 On the backstage.

On the backstage.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#12 Showing up the classic 1980s haircut.

Showing up the classic 1980s haircut.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#13 Learning how to walk on stage.

Learning how to walk on stage.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#14 Preparing for the contest.

Preparing for the contest.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#15 Lenin doesn’t approve.

Lenin doesn’t approve.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#16 In the end, a schoolgirl Masha Kalinina won the competition.

In the end, a schoolgirl Masha Kalinina won the competition.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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#17 Masha Kalinina signed a long contract with Burda Moden and later appeared on the pages of the magazine.

Masha Kalinina signed a long contract with Burda Moden and later appeared on the pages of the magazine.

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Moscow Beauty Contest 1988: When A teenage Schoolgirl won The First Beauty Pageant of the Soviet Union

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Written by Aurora Hale

I am a blogger, entrepreneur and small business coach. I'm an introvert and cat lover. My favourite hobbies are breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

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