Anna Gladchenko won about $5,000 and a free trip to Saipan next year with free accommodations at the World Resort Saipan.
Tamara Jukova was first runner up, while Olga Chichulina won the Darling of the Crowd Award — and a flat screen television.
Gladchenko said through an interpreter that winning the pageant “awed” and “surprised” her.
She told the local media that she loved Saipan and would love to come back in the future.
The other contestants were Liliya Dubenskaya, Dasha Berdnik, Alina Sobina, Luba Meteleva, Anna Pikulenko and Natasha Akimova.
The candidates competed in the presentation and simulation categories where they wore attractive costumes and impersonated their favorite celebrities.
The swim wear competition followed, with the candidates walking on stage amid a blue haze from smoke machines.
Capping the competition was the European wedding gown showcase with candidates wearing different wedding creations.
Making up the panel of judges were World Resort Saipan general manager Hong Chul Shin, Miss Northern Marianas International 1996 Jennifer White-Aguon, CNMI first lady Josie Fitial, pageant manager Igor Shmakov, pageant promoter and general manager of Red Star Model Agency Svetlana Oksjuzian, and PRIMOTV general manager Svetlana Orekhova.
The candidates, who arrived here on Oct. 8, said they had a grand time sampling the island’s attractions.
Oksjuzian, in an interview, said they decided to hold the pageant on Saipan because the place offers the most ideal setting.
“Saipan is a very beautiful place, and we would also like to build closer relationships between Russia and Saipan through this event,” Oksjuzian said.
She added that the candidates and the entourage had a wonderful time on island.
“This is the first visit of the candidates to Saipan, and they are bewitched by the beauty of the place,” she said. They will leave Saipan on Oct. 17.
The elimination round of the Russian Supermodel of Year pageant was held in Vladivostok in July and was organized by Maxi-M-Red Star and Public Television of Primorye.
Oksjuzian said 104 ladies joined the elimination round and this figure was trimmed to 10 in the September pre-finals.
The sponsors in Russia were Aquaresources Ltd and PrumStroyResource Ltd.
The Saipan sponsors were Saipan World Resort, Fiesta Resort & Spa, Sea Ventures Inc., Mariana Resort & Spa, Stellar Marianas and MCV.
The hosts of the pageant on Saturday were Chris Cabrera and Heather Calderwood.
