For many Soviet women, the 10th grader from Moscow, Yulia Sukhanova, became the pioneer of a new, hitherto unseen world of beauty contests. The girl went down in history as the first model to win the honorary title of Miss USSR-89. The history of the first beauty of the Soviet Union, her life path before and after the contest, read in this article.
Family and first years of life
The future "Miss USSR" was born in an ordinary, large Soviet family in 1972. Information about the father of the star is scarce, it is only known that he died after suffering a heart attack when the girl was only 9 years old.
There is more information about Julia’s mother, but all of them differ significantly from each other. The Soviet press wrote that she worked as an ordinary barmaid at the All-Russian Theater Society. The Americans argue that she was just an ordinary employee. But the civil husband of the beauty in her memoirs wrote that she held one of the highest posts in the humanitarian sphere. Be that as it may, the only evidence that the mother of Julia was as beautiful as her daughter can be considered as conclusive evidence.
The girl, in addition to the regular school, received an education in music. She was fond of shaping, she studied foreign languages.
A huge role in the life of Julia was played by the husband of one of her sisters - Igor, because he replaced her father. And his wife, 15 years older than Julia, sister Lyudmila, just initiated the girl to try her hand at a beauty contest.
On the way to fame …
It should be noted that Yulia Sukhanova herself did not consider herself a beauty. However, growing up, she was very popular among members of the opposite sex.
Just on the 16th anniversary of the girl in Moscow decided to organize the first beauty contest "Moscow Beauty-88". Lyudmila decided that this was their chance, and practically took her sister by the hand for a preview.
The first such event caused great excitement among the public, there were a lot of people wishing to participate. The sisters, seeing a huge line, turned back. But here in the fate of the young beauty, His Majesty intervened case. One of the representatives of the organizing committee of the contest, cruising along the line in search of beautiful girls, noticed Yulia and offered to go through the casting without waiting.
First experience
After passing the casting, Julia Sukhanova, despite the fact that she did not have a passport at that time, was allowed to participate in the competition. The event was held at the Sports Palace, and was very popular among the audience.
However, this time Masha Kalinina won. The heroine of our story, reaching the semifinals, left the race.
As the girl herself notes, at that time she did not even know how to confidently stand in high heels, did not do any hairstyles or use makeup. Nevertheless, Julia, just the spontaneity was remembered by the organizers of the contest.
The most important thing that Yulia Sukhanova made for herself from this contest is experience. She saw all the charms of social life in the capital, understood how to prepare for competitions, and what was most appreciated by the jury.
Like other participants, she traveled to Poland, where she tried herself as a fashion model, starring for a booklet of clothing advertising.
Serious preparation
Julia Sukhanova, Miss USSR, whose biography began to rapidly gain momentum, during the announcement of a new beauty contest decided to make every effort to achieve the best result this time.
All the winners of the first beauty contest refused to participate in the new competition, so the organizers offered to take part in those girls who reached the semi-finals that time.
Absolutely without any obstacles, Julia, together with the other 34 applicants, ended up in the final part of the Miss USSR-89 contest. In the boarding house "Aksakovo" near Moscow, serious training began for the participants.
Girls seriously engaged in shaping, perfecting their body, learned to walk on the catwalk, posed for photographers.
It should be noted that most of the participants had no experience in participating in such events. Therefore, it is not surprising that during the preparation, only a few girls immediately stood out among the general mass. Julia was a leader in this list.
Contest
The final of the contest "Miss USSR-89" was held on May 21, 1989.
For the first time in the history of the Soviet Union, Central Television broadcasted the contest for six hours in a row. Moreover, in addition to the jury, the audience also had the right to choose their winner.
The contestants demonstrated their outfits, answered questions from the hosts, and even defiled in swimsuits. This competition was held under the name: "Demonstration of beach ensembles."
Julia felt the full taste of victory. First, she was awarded the title “Miss Spectator Sympathy”, and then, without letting herself come to her senses, “Miss USSR-89”. Among the honorary members of the jury who made such a crucial decision, it should be noted: ballerina Ekaterina Maksimova, TV presenter Leonid Yakubovich, actress Irina Skobtseva, singer Muslim Magomayev.
Yulia Sukhanova - miss USSR-89, reacted to the assignment of a new title with tears, she cried with happiness.
Clouded victory
It would seem that everything turned out perfectly. “Yulia Sukhanova is Miss Soviet Union, ” they said now on every corner. The very winner of the contest reaped the fruits of hatred from envious rivals. The girls who also participated in this competition began to ignore her, they simply turned their backs on her.
Even during the competition itself, the crown, which awarded the winner, was damaged. The large aquamarine that adorned the symbol of victory was stolen.
The beauty queen received a television as a prize. Girls who were far from winning received better and richer prizes.
However, these events could not completely overshadow the joy of victory, because Yulia Sukhanova - miss USSR-89, enjoyed popular love and support.
Unfulfilled career model
It is no secret that before the start of the competition, its organizers, who set themselves the goal of subsequently earning money on young models, suggested that all participants sign a contract for further work. According to Sukhanova, it was about 90% of the income that beauties had to give to the heads of the company for acting as intermediaries. Many girls refused, and Julia agreed.
Later, some evil languages will argue that this fact played an important role in the fact that it was Julia who won the victory.
But everything didn’t happen at all as the organizers of the contest had expected. At the time of signing the contract, Julia Sukhanova - Miss USSR (photo in the article) was a minor. In addition to the girl, her mother should have been present at the signing of the contract, but since there was no signature, the contract was considered invalid.
Life after the contest
Julia, collecting the necessary documents, in September 1989 moved to the United States. The appearance of the first miss of the USSR there caused unprecedented excitement. The girl was in the spotlight, was just like hot cakes.
The first American tour would have been 3 weeks. The young beauty was invited to various social events, where she made useful contacts with world-famous stars.
The girl did not know English, so she spoke with foreigners with the help of an interpreter. Julia Sukhanova, whose photo flew around the world, later admitted that the most difficult thing she endured was constant dressing and long poses in front of the cameras.
Germany and Japan became the next countries where the beauty queen went. Although the return of Sukhanova to the USSR was planned at the very beginning of the trip, she still did not return home.
In America, the girl tried herself in the role of a model for catalogs of underwear, and also participated in the filming of an advertisement for yogurt.
Sukhanova several times appeared on the covers of foreign magazines, participated in fashion shows, worked as a model. The girl invested all the money she earned in her own business.
Having established her own company selling sports and medical equipment, in 2000 she became a fairly wealthy woman who completely secured herself a luxurious life.
