Support The Moscow Times!

Winner of 'Miss Emergency Situations Ministry 2014' Crowned in Moscow

Participants at the "Miss Emergency Situations Ministry 2014" competition. Emergency Situations Ministry

In one of the more bizarre pageants held this year, members of Russia's emergency services gathered in Moscow over the weekend to crown their very own "Miss Emergency Situations Ministry 2014."

"To earn the title … the girls had to have a high level of professionalism, good athletic training, individuality, creativity and good looks," the ministry said in an online statement, adding "the main purpose of the beauty contest was to reveal and develop talent among the women," at the ministry.

Second-year student Maria Markina, a Khimki native studying at the ESM's Civil Defense Academy, beat off competition from 18 other girls to pick up the top gong.

Valeria Semchenkova, a second-year student at St. Petersburg's ESM university, and Christina Gordeyeva, a psychologist in the far eastern Amur region, came in second and third place, respectively.

"The girls were all cool! There was no scheming or intrigue. We are all from the ESM, where mutual assistance is valued above all," Markina, who eventually plans to work for the ministry's PR department, told the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more