Swedish Mail Order Brides

The 5 Hottest Russians on Reality TV

With the prevalence of hot Russian models and athletes, it’s no wonder Eastern European women have started to appear in TV programs as well. Here are 5 of the hottest Russian women to appear on reality TV.

Karina Smirnoff – Dancing With the Stars

Born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Karina is a professional ballroom dancer and performer on Dancing With the Stars. Throughout her time on the show, she has been paired with such celebrities as Mario Lopez, Billy Ray Cyrus, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Aaron Carter. Karina began dancing when she was 5 years old and has won numerous championships. She is also an animal rights activist and has posed nude for PETA’s anti-fur campaign.

“I did wear fur, especially when I was growing up in the Ukraine,” Smirnoff admitted in an interview with PETA. “But there are ways of being warm and being fashionable without being cruel.”

Irina Shabayeva – Project Runway

Originally from the Republic of Georgia, Irina won the sixth season of Project Runway. Producers portrayed her as a somewhat shrewd and bitchy contestant, but Irina is not bothered by that role.

“So many women are afraid of the bitch word, but you’ve got to go for what you want,” she said in an interview with Marie Claire. “It’s not going to be handed to you.”

Katia Ivanova – Celebrity Big Brother 2010 (UK)

Ekaterina “Katia” Ivanova’s is a Russian model who is best-known for her tumultuous relationship with Rolling Stones’ guitarist Ronnie Wood. After a rather public breakup with Woods, Katia appeared on Celebrity Big Brother where she allegedly hooked up with Swedish TV DJ Jonas “Basshunter” Altberg. However, the couple didn’t have long to establish a relationship. Katia was the first housemate to be evicted, garnering 44% of the vote.

Natasha Galkina – America’s Next Top Model

Though she got off to a weak start, Natasha Galinka managed to place second in the eighth cycle of the popular reality show America’s Next Top Model. Born in Rostov, Russia, Natasha met her American husband while attending university in Moscow and the couple married when she was nearly 20 years old. Natasha joined her new husband in Texas and the two eventually had a daughter.

Natasha’s fellow contestants were somewhat critical of her marriage to a man 21 years her senior and suggested she was a mail order bride. Natasha denies these accusations and has nothing but praise for her husband.

“When they said ‘mail-order bride‘ I didn’t even know what that was! I had to have someone tell me… He’s very romantic, he’s very nice, he takes care of me, he loves me to death, and I love him very much.”

Svetlana Shusterman – The Real World: Key West

Svetlana Shusterman was born in Odessa, Ukraine but grew up in the United States. Producers selected her for the 17th season of The Real World, and fans came to know her “the crazy Russian chick.” After her appearance on the show, Svetlana posed for the cover of popular men’s magazine FHM and MTV featured her 21st birthday on an episode of My Super Sweet Sixteen!. Sexy Svetlana has a love of nudity.

She told FHM: “I’m always naked and want other people to be naked with me. I did walk around my bedroom nude on the show, but not in other areas of the house. There’s no good excuse for walking into a kitchen naked.”

Anyone know the name of the novel I read?

I've been searching high and low for the name of a novel I read at least ten years. I can not remember the name or author, but in the end, it was a girl who is a mail order bride to a Swedish man. I think the two main characters' names were Hans and Anna. After married, Hans Anna learns that he lied about some things, like bringing the time his younger brother, to have knowledge of cooking and cleaning, and about being a virgin. History is about finding a way to do work between them. Please! I have really wanted to find this book. Any help would be great! OMG! Thank you very much, which was the book I was looking for. I have asked on this site before, and searched online and have not been successful for months now. Thanks again!

The Terms of Endearment by Karl Lindstrom LaVyrle Spencer and Anna Reardon