Oxana Fedorova

Oxana Fedorova (Oksana Fyodorova, Оксана Фёдорова in Russian) (born December 17, 1977) is a Russian Miss Universe winner (dethroned), police officer, television hostess, actress, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Fedorova is a Russian woman who became the first Miss Russia to win the Miss Universe contest. She began in the entertainment business as a model and became Miss St. Petersburg in 1999 and Miss Russia in 2001, but declined to go to the Miss Universe 2001 pageant (where her runner-up Oxana Kalandyrets was a semifinalist).

Early Life

Childhood

Oxana Fedorova was born in Pskov, Russia, where she lived until she was 18. Fedorova is an only child, and she was brought up by her mother and maternal grandparents. According to Fedorova, her grandparents were very demanding of her.

Fedorova's parents divorced when she was three years old. She did not hear from her father since then. In 2005 Oxana tried to find her father, but discovered he had passed away.

Her father was a nuclear physicist, and her mother worked as a nurse at a psychiatric hospital (she is retired). In school, Fedorova played volleyball and her team won a championship in an urban tournament in 1995. At the police academy, Fedorova played the saxophone as a member of the brass band.

Cadet and Beauty Queen

After graduating from the police academy with a red diploma, Fedorova worked as an inspector in the Pskov militia for six months. Following her time with the force, Fedorova moved to St. Petersburg to study at the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) University, where she worked as an investigator at the Pulkovo Transport Police whilst studying. Fedorova also began to work as a model and started to participate in beauty pageants. She was named Miss St. Petersburg 1999, Miss Kalokagathia 1999, Miss Fitness, Miss Fortune, and Miss Russia 2001. Fedorova graduated from the MVD University with a gold medal in 2000. After that, Fedorova entered a post graduate course at the same university. While Oxana wrote her dissertation on "Regulation of Private Detective and Security Activity in the Russian Federation," she taught Civil Law to younger students. Fedorova's biggest fan base was among police colleagues.

Miss Universe 2002

Competition

The 2002 Miss Universe contest was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Oxana won both the swimsuit and evening gown competitions by large margins over the other nine semi-finalists. In fact, her score of 9.88 in the swimsuit competition was the highest televised score for that event in the history of the pageant.

After Crowning

Upon being crowned Miss Universe 2002, Fedorova was showered with honors and gifts. Noted Russian doll designer Helen Yarmak even dedicated a doll to her. Fedorova traveled to France, Italy, Kenya, Canada, Greece, Panama, Indonesia, and Puerto Rico as Miss Universe 2002. Controversy soon loomed ahead for Fedorova, however, as she was later rumored to be pregnant.

Dethroned

Fedorova denied the pregnancy rumors and stated that she voluntarily gave up her crown for personal reasons, mainly because she wanted to finish her law degree. Officially, she was dethroned for failing to perform the numerous duties expected of a Miss Universe titleholder. At the time she stated in an interview that she had declined to perform her duties because she was so insulted by her treatment on The Howard Stern Show. She blamed the pageant organizers for not warning her of the frequently profane Stern commentary, of which she, as a foreigner, had no prior knowledge. The crown was passed on to Panama's Justine Pasek, the first runner-up, who consequently became her country's first Miss Universe.

Fedorova was the first Miss Universe who officially did not finish her reign (although the very first Miss Universe, Armi Kuusela, gave up her title a month before her reign ended and Amparo Muñoz of Spain was "unofficially" dethroned in 1974). Although the Miss Universe Organization refuses to recognize Fedorova as a former Miss Universe, she is generally regarded as one by the public.

Police Officer

Oxana Fedorova obtained a Ph.D in Civil Law in December 2002. She continued her career as a police officer and was promoted to the ranks of Captain in September 2002 and Major in 2005.

Celebrity

Children's TV Program

• Since the end of her reign, Oxana has become a household name in Russia by hosting the country's most popular children's television show, Spokoinoi Nochi, Malyshi ("Good Night, Children") since December 2002.

• In October 2003, Spokoinoi Nochi, Malyshi won the TEFI award for Best Children's Show. TEFI (Russian: ТЭФИ) is an annual award presented by the Russian Academy of Television.

Subbotnik Television Program

• Oxana has co-hosted TV Channel Rossiya's popular Subbotnik show since September 2004.

Notable Television Appearances

*On June 25, 2002 she was featured in The Howard Stern Show with Robin Quivers

• Oxana was a presenter for the reality television show Fort Boyard: Russia, in 2003 and 2004 on TV Channel Rossiya (Russia TV Channel).
• Fedorova became one of the judges for the reality television show You are a Supermodel in 2004.
• Oxana co-hosted the New Year's 2005 TV Special, "Новогодний огонек на Шаболовке" (Novogodniy Ogonek Shabolovke) on Channel Rossiya.
• In October 2005, Ms. Fedorova received the Russian Club of Orthodox Maecenases Award for "Active Participation in Development of Social Projects."
• Fedorova judged the Miss Kursk Pageant in 2006 and 2007. At the 2007 contest, Oxana also performed a dance number with her Dancing With The Stars dance partner, Alexander Litvinenko.
• Fedorova returned to Fort Boyard: Russia in 2006 as a contestant.
• In 2006, Oxana made her acting debut, appearing in the top-rated Russian television sitcom Ne Rodis' Krasivoy (Be Not Born Beautiful).
• Fedorova appeared on the television show, Dancing With The Stars 2: Russian Version in 2006. She made it to the Top 5.
• Oxana hosted the Russian Junior Eurovision 2007 song contest on June 3, 2007. The competition was broadcast on Channel Rossiya.
• At the Supermodel of the World-Russia 2007 competition on September 12, 2007, Oxana was a judge.
• Oxana was a guest on the New Year's 2008 TV Special "Голубой огонек на Шаболовке 2008" (Goluboy Ogonek Na Shabolovke 2008) on Channel Rossiya.
• Ms. Fedorova was a presenter at the "Золотой Орел" (Golden Eagle) awards for film and television excellence. The event took place on January 25, 2008 in Moscow and was broadcast on Channel Rossiya.
• Oxana co-hosted the Eurovision 2008 Russian Finals on March 8, 2008 on Channel Rossiya.
• She read out the results of the Russian televote during the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest held in Belgrade, Serbia
• Oxana was a guest on the Channel Rossiya show, "Феномен" (Fenomen) in August 2008.
• Oxana and Dima Bilan sang a duet during the New Year's 2009 TV Special, "золотая рыбка" (Zolotaya Ribka) on Channel Rossiya.

Filmography

• In September 2006, her first film, Sofia, was released.
• Oxana was among several Russian celebrities who lent their voices to the animated fairy tale, "Феи" (Fairies). The Walt Disney production was released in Russian theaters on October 23, 2008.

Endorsements

Max Factor Cosmetics

• Oxana became the face of Max Factor-Russia in 2007.

LUSIN Company

• In March 2007, Oxana signed an endorsement deal with the Russian company, LUSIN.

EURO 2008 Tourism Campaign

• During the EURO 2008 Football Championship, hosted by Austria and Switzerland, Oxana promoted Austrian tourism.

Sony VAIO P Series Computers

• Oxana became the face of the Sony VAIO P brand in Russia in April 2009. Due to her active and multifaceted lifestyle, she was considered an ideal match to promote the ultraportable computers.

High Fashion Modeling

• Oxana Fedorova continues to model. She has walked the runway for top designers like Tony Ward and Yulia Yanina. At Rome Fashion Week "Alta Roma Alta Moda," in Rome, Italy, on January 31, 2008, Oxana was radiant wearing an exquisite Yulia Yanina creation.
• In March 2008, Oxana modeled creations by Tasha Strogaya and Natalia Valevskaya at Fashion Week in Moscow F/W 2008-2009.
• She walked the runway at the Russian Silhouette 2007 Fashion Show in Moscow.
• Oxana was mesmerizing on the catwalk at Russian Fashion Week in April 2008.
• At Fashion Week in Moscow Spring/Summer 2009 Season, Oxana Fedorova wore a Natalia Valevskaya creation.
• Oxana modeled a Tony Ward design at the Millionaire Fair 2008 in Moscow, Russia on November 27, 2008.

• She dazzled in Ilya Shiyan and Yana Rudkovskaya creations at the (Volvo) Fashion Week in Moscow F/W 2009-2010 on March 23, 2009.

The Formula of Style Book

• In October 2008, Oxana Fedorova released her first book, "Формула стиля." "The Formula of Style."

Political Activity

Russian Party of Life

• In recent years, Fedorova decided to become active in Russian politics. She ran as a candidate for the Russian Party of Life in December 2003 for the State Duma elections, but was defeated.

• In March 2005, Fedorova again ran for a political position, this time in the regional Voronezh, Duma elections, but was once more defeated at the polls.

• In August 2005, several Russian newspapers, including Komsomolskaya Pravda, reported that they expected Fedorova would try to win a seat in the Federation Council, upper house, representing the Tula region. However, Fedorova did not run, as she told news media that she had put her political career on hold.

• It is also of note that Fedorova was an agent for Sergey Mironov, leader of the Russian Party of Life, during the 2004 presidential election.

Social Activist

Energy of Life Youth Movement

• Oxana became co-chairman for the Energy of Life youth movement for the Russian Party of Life in 2003.

Russian Children's Welfare Society

• Fedorova is on the Russia Advisory Board of the Russian Children's Welfare Society (RCWS) and appeared as a special guest at the "Petroushka on the Hudson" and distributed gifts to orphaned children during the 4th Annual Yelka party for orphans and disabled children in Moscow hosted by RCWS.

World Without Tears Children's Charity

• Oxana has been involved in the children's charity program, "МИР БЕЗ СЛЕЗ" (World Without Tears) since 2004. The program is sponsored by Russia's VTB Bank.

UNICEF

• Oxana Fedorova has been representing UNICEF in Russia since May 2006. She became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the Russian Federation on September 17, 2007.

Personal Life

• During her school days, Fedorova participated in volleyball, hand-to-hand fighting (expert in the martial arts) and shooting. Her speed in disassembling and assembling a Kalashnikov rifle is one of her specialities, and she has called firing weapons her "favorite pastime".
• Fedorova especially likes dogs and owns a Terrier, a Mastiff and two Shepherds.
• She collects international dolls.
• Oxana loves to sing and dance, and plays the guitar and the saxophone. She also enjoys reading, painting, philosophy and the fine arts.
• Fedorova is an Orthodox Christian.
• Oxana has often told the media that she would like to be a mother. In August, 2007 she married Philip Toft, a German businessman, in Munich, Germany.