MOSCOW - Nude photos of the newly crowned Miss Russia 2009 are causing an uproar across the Russian Federation.
Sofia Rudieva of St. Petersburg, 18, turned up on the website of Perfect 10 magazine. Russia's Life.ru featured some of the photos Sunday, as did daily newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda.
Rudieva was a professional model before winning her crown and turned 18 last November. It's still unknown when the photos were taken. Komsomolskaya Pravda said the shots were only pay-per-view until she won her crown, then became free.
A statement is expected from the Miss Russia Organization regarding Rudieva's crown and her role in the Miss Universe competition, set for August 23 in Nassau, Bahamas, reports TLTNews.
The beauty queen has so far not commented on the photo scandal. Her father denied awareness of the nude photo shoot and also insisted his daughter is a virgin.
Other pageant winners whose nude shots have turned up but still competed in Miss Universe include Miss Puerto Rico 1998 Joyce Giraud, Miss Spain 2000 Helen Lindes and Miss Greece 2001 Evelina Papantoniou. All three placed in the top three their respective years, according to the site Global Beauties.
Rudyeva was crowned Miss Russia 2009 March 9 at Manezh Exhibition Hall in downtown Moscow, chosen from a group of 50 contestants.
