All Miss Soviet Union (USSR) Winners (1989-1991). Photo Gallery

Miss USSR 1990 Masha (Maria) Keja from Vitebsk (Belarus) starts her modeling career and works in the US, Germany and France. Unfortunately her modeling career is tragically interrupted by a brutal car accident. This is when the need of creation and Masha Keja's artistic studies takes over. In 1995 she signs a designer contract with Lancel, a leading french leather goods company. After a brilliant 10 year career at Lancel, creating and shaping men's and women's bags, luggages and small leather goods in Italy, Spain and France, Masha leaves the company and starts consulting in fashion in 2006. She worked for high end fashion brands Minority and Marino Orlandi as well as Christian Lacroix, where she creates during 4 seasons collections of bags for prêt-a-porter and haute couture ... In 2008 she launched her own accessories and leather goods brand called “Masha Keja”.

 

Maria Keja voluntarily gave up her crown for personal reasons (marriage). The crown was passed on to Yulia Lemigova, the first runner-up. Yulia Lemigova represented the Soviet Union at Miss Universe 1991. She placed 2nd runner-up. Since 2009, she has been linked romantically to tennis great Martina Navratilova. Navratilova proposed to Lemigova in between the two Mens Semi Final matches at the 2014 US Open and was accepted.

 

 

 

 

 

Last Miss USSR is Ilmira Shamsutdinova from Saratov. She was crowned in 1991. Ilmira Shamsutdinova represented Russia at Miss International 1993 (1st runner-up), Miss Europe 1995, Miss Universe 1996 (top 6 and Best National Costume Award).