Let's talk about some famous Russian women whose names are recognized outside of Russia and who create a positive image of successful and beautiful Russian women in general.

Anna Ahmatova

       Anna Ahmatova was a great Russian poetess. She was born and raised at the beginning of the 20th century - the time of big changes in Russia. Her life symbolizes continuous fight between the poet and the government. When she was a gymnasium student Anna Ahmatova wrote emotional poems full of femininity and romanticism. However, after the Revolution the tone of her poems changed. Even though the poetess did not support the Russian Revolution of 1917, she did not leave her country with a new Soviet face. After the WWII her poems were filled with sadness for her country and people.

Anna Pavlova

       Anna Pavlova was a great Russian ballerina (ballet dancer) at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. Her weak, almost fragile completion  made it hard for her to master ballet dancing at the beginning. However, her persistence, hard work and passionate love for ballet helped Anna Pavlova become recognized and admired even by the strictest critics of that time. She developed her own style and manner of dancing which was very different from the classical ballet dancing taught at that time. Later the ballerina moved to Britain and had a great influence on British ballet. When she was diagnosed with a lethal condition and was required to have an operation which would affect her ability to dance, she refused to be operated because she couldn't imagine her life without dancing. She passed away shortly after that.

Alla Pugacheva

       Alla Pugacheva was often called a Russian prima donna. Being the most popular Soviet singer she also starred in several Russian movies, recorded songs for various programs and films, was invited and performed in different countries, and won prizes as a singer. Her song “Harlequin” (Арлекино) made her extremely famous in Russia and other Soviet republics. Career of Alla Pugacheva was one of the most successful careers in Russian show business starting from 1965 till 2000. The prima donna still gives concerts and sings in various Russian cities up to this day.