1. Overview
Oksana Gennadyevna Borodina (Оксана Геннадьевна БородинаOksana Gennad'yevna BorodinaRussian; née Fedorova, ФёдороваFyodorovaRussian), known professionally as Oxana Fedorova, is a prominent Russian beauty pageant winner, television presenter, actress, singer, and former police officer. She rose to international fame after being crowned Miss Universe 2002, becoming the first Russian entrant to win the title. However, her reign lasted only 119 days before she was controversially dethroned, making her the first Miss Universe to lose her title. Despite this, she is widely recognized and was named the "most beautiful Miss Universe of all time" by Global Beauties in 2011 and the "most beautiful woman in Russia" in a 2012 poll by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion. Fedorova has since built a multifaceted career, notably as a long-running host of the children's program Good Night, Little Ones! and as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2007, actively engaging in charity work. In 2024, she was honored as a Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.
2. Early life and education
Oksana Fedorova's early life was shaped by her family background and her pursuit of education in law enforcement, which she balanced with her burgeoning career in modeling.
2.1. Childhood and family
Oksana Fedorova was born on December 17, 1977, in Pskov, Russia. Her father, Gennadiy Fedorov, was a nuclear physicist, and her mother, Elena Fedorova (née Trofimovich), worked as a psychiatric nurse, later retiring from her role as a pediatric nurse. Her parents divorced when she was three years old, and she subsequently lost contact with her father, who later passed away before she attempted to locate him in 2005. As an only child, Oksana was raised primarily by her mother and maternal grandparents, who held high hopes for her future. Her maternal grandfather, Mikhail Grigoryevich Vasilyev, was a police officer in Saint Petersburg before and during the Great Patriotic War, later transferring to Pskov and receiving the "Honorary Citizen of the City of Pskov" award for his police service. Another maternal grandfather, Alexey Trofimovich Kulikov, encouraged her to continue the family tradition of public service by becoming a police officer. From 1985 to 1995, she attended a lyceum in Pskov, where she was the captain of the volleyball team and learned to play the guitar. After graduating, she attempted to start a modeling career but was initially met with disinterest from agencies in Saint Petersburg and Moscow.
2.2. Education
Fedorova pursued a rigorous academic path in law enforcement. As a teenager, she enrolled in the police academy, where she played the saxophone in the academy's brass band. After working as an inspector in Pskov for six months, she moved to Saint Petersburg to attend the Saint Petersburg State University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. While a student, she gained practical experience working as an investigator for the Pulkovo Transport Police.
She graduated from the university in 2000 with a gold medal and subsequently began post-graduate studies at the same institution. During this period, she wrote her thesis on "Regulation of Private Detective and Security Activity in the Russian Federation" and also taught civil law to younger students. In 2002, Fedorova successfully defended her doctoral thesis, and in 2003, she received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in civil law from the Saint Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. Following her doctorate, she continued her teaching career at the university.
3. Career
Oksana Fedorova's career is marked by her diverse professional activities, spanning law enforcement, beauty pageants, media, music, and entrepreneurial ventures.
3.1. Police career
Fedorova's commitment to law enforcement began in her teenage years when she enrolled in the police academy. After graduating, she served as an inspector in Pskov for six months. While pursuing her studies at the Saint Petersburg State University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, she worked as an investigator for the Pulkovo Transport Police. Her dedication to her police career continued after completing her doctorate in 2005. She received promotions, becoming a captain in September 2002 and a major in 2005.
3.2. Modeling and pageantry
Fedorova's journey into the world of modeling and beauty pageants began in 1999 when she started working professionally as a model. This led to her introduction to beauty competitions.
3.2.1. Miss Russia
In 1999, Fedorova achieved early success by being named Miss Saint Petersburg and Miss Kalokagathia. She also earned titles such as Miss Sport and Miss Luck. In 2001, she represented Saint Petersburg at Miss Russia, where she was ultimately declared the winner. As a model, Fedorova has walked the runway for notable designers including Tony Ward and Yulia Yanina, and has participated in major fashion weeks in Rome, Milan, and Moscow.
3.2.2. Miss Universe 2002
As Miss Russia 2001, Fedorova was initially unable to attend Miss Universe 2001 due to her ongoing studies. However, she competed the following year at Miss Universe 2002, held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her arrival in San Juan was delayed compared to other contestants due to a hold-up in her work visa from Russia, attributed to tensions between Russia and the United States over upcoming nuclear arms discussions between then-Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin. Donald Trump, the owner of the Miss Universe Organization at the time, commented on the unusual year, noting the turmoil in various countries and the safety concerns for contestants traveling to the event.
Fedorova excelled in the competition, winning both the swimsuit and evening gown segments by a significant margin over the other nine semi-finalists. Her swimsuit score of 9.88 was notably the highest ever televised in Miss Universe history. Upon being crowned Miss Universe 2002, Fedorova received numerous honors and gifts, including a doll created for her by Russian designer Helen Yarmak.
During her reign, Fedorova traveled extensively, visiting countries such as Canada, France, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Panama, Puerto Rico, United States, and Egypt. In Kenya, she toured HIV/AIDS programs and visited AIDS orphanages in and around Nairobi. Her visit to Indonesia included a trip to Borobudur Temple in Central Java with Miss Indonesia 2002 Melanie Putria Dewita Sari, and a meeting with then-President of Indonesia, Megawati Sukarnoputri, at her residence in Istana Negara. In Paris, Fedorova attended the 131st General Assembly of the International Exhibitions Bureau, where she met Nobel Prize winner in physics, Zhores Alfyorov. She also helped crown Miss Universe Italy 2003 Silvia Ceccon in Italy and attended the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival in Canada. In Panama, she was present for the contract signing that designated the country as the host for Miss Universe 2003. In September 2002, she returned to Puerto Rico to assist in crowning Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2003, Carla Tricoli.
A few months after her coronation, Fedorova was dethroned by the Miss Universe Organization, ending her reign after 119 days. This made her the first Miss Universe to be officially dethroned. While the organization cited her failure to fulfill certain duties as the reason, Fedorova herself stated in an interview that she had declined to perform her duties because she felt insulted by her treatment on The Howard Stern Show, blaming the pageant organizers for not warning her about the sexual nature of questions frequently posed by Howard Stern. She also indicated a desire to complete her law degree as a personal reason for relinquishing the crown. Despite rumors of pregnancy, Fedorova denied these claims, stating she voluntarily gave up the title for personal reasons, primarily to finish her law studies. The Mikimoto Crown was subsequently passed to the first runner-up, Justine Pasek of Panama, who became her country's first Miss Universe. Despite the official dethronement, a significant portion of the public continued to view Fedorova as the legitimate winner. In 2011, the pageant website Global Beauties named her the "most beautiful Miss Universe of all time," and a 2012 poll by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion identified her as the "most beautiful woman in Russia."
3.3. Film and television career
Following her dethronement in 2003, Fedorova transitioned into the entertainment industry, primarily focusing on television.
3.3.1. Hosting and MC activities
Fedorova began her television career after declining an offer to host Star Factory for Channel One. She was subsequently selected to host the long-running Russian children's program Good Night, Little Ones! for the VGTRK, starting in January 2003. The show received critical acclaim, winning the TEFI award for Best Children's Show in October 2003. From 2004 to 2010, she co-hosted the program Subbotnik on Russia-1.
Fedorova also played a significant role in the Eurovision Song Contest franchise, hosting the Russian national selections for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009 and Eurovision Song Contest 2010. She served as Russia's spokesperson for the 2008, 2010, and 2012 Eurovision Song Contests. In 2014, she began hosting Koroleva krasoty, a style and fashion program. She also co-hosted a New Year's Eve special in 2004.
3.3.2. Acting and voice acting
Fedorova has appeared as a contestant or judge on various television shows. In 2006, she competed in the second season of the Russian version of Dancing with the Stars, where she placed fifth. She also served as a guest judge on the Russian version of Project Runway in 2011 and was a contestant on the Russian version of Name That Tune in 2014. Her acting credits include a guest appearance in a 2006 episode of the sitcom Ne rodis krasivoy and a role in the film Sofia, which premiered in September 2006.
As a voice actress, Fedorova has lent her voice to the Russian language versions of several animated films. She voiced Barbie in Toy Story 3 and Queen Clarion in the Tinker Bell film series, including Tinker Bell (2008), Secret of the Wings (2012), and The Pirate Fairy (2014).
3.4. Music career
Fedorova embarked on her music career in 2009, releasing the single "Prava lyubov" in collaboration with Nikolay Baskov. This duet achieved significant recognition, winning the Duet of the Year award at the 2010 Golden Gramophone Awards. She followed this with the solo single "Na shag odin" in 2010. Her debut studio album, Na krayu u lyubvi, was released in 2011. In 2013, she released another single titled "Moya doktrina." More recently, in 2019, Fedorova and Russian tenor Dmitry Galikhin released the official video for their Spanish duet, "Historia de un Amor."
3.5. Other ventures
In 2008, Fedorova published her first book, The Formula of Style, which offered beauty and style advice alongside autobiographical insights. She also ventured into the publishing world, becoming the editor-in-chief of MODA TOPICAL Magazine in 2010. Demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit in fashion, Fedorova launched her own fashion line, OFERA, in 2014. The line made its debut at the Spring/Summer 2015 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Moscow. In 2011, she further extended her influence by founding a school in Ufa specifically for girls aged 10 to 16.
Fedorova has partaken in numerous charity projects. She has been a member of UNICEF since 2006, and became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2007. Fedorova is additionally a member of the Board of Advisors for the Russian Children's Welfare Society. She created the charity Speshite delat dobro! in October 2009 with the assistance of the Russian Ministry of Defence. The foundation provides support to orphans and children in difficult situations, providing specific attention to orphaned children of parents who died while serving in the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs or Russian Armed Forces. In October 2005, she received the "Russian Club of Orthodox Maecenases Award" for her "Active Participation in Development of Social Projects," recognizing her significant contributions to social initiatives.
4. Charity activities and social contribution
Oksana Fedorova is deeply committed to various social causes and has actively participated in numerous charity projects. She became a member of UNICEF in 2006 and was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2007, a role through which she supports children's welfare initiatives. She is also a member of the Board of Advisors for the Russian Children's Welfare Society.
In October 2009, Fedorova established her own charitable foundation, Speshite delat dobro! (Hurry to Do Good!), with the support of the Russian Ministry of Defence. This foundation is dedicated to providing support to orphans and children facing difficult circumstances, with a particular focus on children orphaned due to the death of parents serving in the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs or the Russian Armed Forces. In October 2005, she received the "Russian Club of Orthodox Maecenases Award" for her "Active Participation in Development of Social Projects," recognizing her significant contributions to social initiatives.
5. Personal life
Oksana Fedorova is a devout member of the Russian Orthodox Church. Her personal life has seen several significant relationships. She married German model Philip Toft in Munich in 2007, but their marriage ended in divorce in 2010. In 2011, Fedorova married Andrey Borodin, who served as a KGB officer, a member of the Presidential Administration of Russia, and the vice president of the Russian Boxing Federation. The couple has two children: a son born in 2012 and a daughter born in 2013. Fedorova has expressed her desire to be a mother and is known to be fond of dogs, owning several, including a Terrier, a Mastiff, and two sheepdogs.
6. Political activities
In recent years, Oksana Fedorova has shown an interest in political activities within Russia. She participated in campaigns for the Russian Party of Life. In December 2003, she ran for a seat in the State Duma but was unsuccessful. She made another attempt in March 2005, running in the Voronezh regional Duma elections, but again did not secure a victory. In August 2005, despite reports from various Russian newspapers, including Komsomolskaya Pravada, suggesting she would run for an upper house position representing the Tula region, Fedorova publicly declined, stating that she was temporarily postponing her political career. She also served as a co-leader for the "Life Power" movement of the Russian Party of Life in 2003.
7. Awards and honors
Oksana Fedorova has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career in pageantry, entertainment, and charity work.
- 1999 - Miss Saint Petersburg
- 2001 - Miss Russia
- 2002 - Miss Universe 2002 (Dethroned)
- 2012 - BIAF for contribution to charity (Lebanon, Beirut)
- 2024 - Honored Artist of the Russian Federation
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ZD Award | Duet of the Year | Prava lyubov (with Nikolay Baskov) | Won |
| Golden Gramophone Award |
8. Assessment and legacy
Oksana Fedorova's career and public image have been subject to significant assessment, particularly regarding her brief but impactful reign as Miss Universe. Despite being the first Miss Universe to be dethroned, she has maintained an enduring recognition as a prominent figure in beauty pageantry and media. Her decision to relinquish the crown, whether voluntary or forced, did not diminish her standing in the eyes of many, with a substantial portion of the public continuing to view her as the legitimate winner of the 2002 title. This public sentiment was underscored by Global Beauties naming her the "most beautiful Miss Universe of all time" in 2011, and a 2012 poll in Russia identifying her as the "most beautiful woman" in the country.
Beyond her pageant fame, Fedorova has cultivated a diverse legacy through her extensive work in television, music, fashion, and particularly her dedicated charity efforts as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Her transition from a police officer to a media personality, coupled with her commitment to social causes, showcases a multifaceted career that continues to resonate with the public in Russia and beyond.