Beautiful woman with a simple wish

Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Oxana Fedorova has it all -- recognition as the world's most beautiful woman, higher education and a brilliant career on the St. Petersburg police force, so what more could the reigning Miss Universe want?

"I also hope to become a mother and take care of my children," Fedorova said through an interpreter during a media conference at the Hotel Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta.

While on visiting the city last week, the 24-year-old outlined what she thought was important in a woman's life.

Fedorova said a woman should be able to explore to the fullest every facet of her life -- intellectually, professionally and maternally. But she added that a woman's family should never have to compete with her career.

"Family comes first, career should never interfere with it," the raven-haired, green-eyed St. Petersburger said, a somewhat traditional view coming from such a modern woman.

Born in Pskov, Russia, Fedorova is the only child of a retired physician and a housewife. She graduated a special comprehensive police school and moved to St. Petersburg when she was 18 years old.

She said in an interview with the St. Petersburg Times last year that she feels most at home in the imperial capital.

"My grandparents lived in Leningrad and survived the blockade here," she said. "I think a genie cast his spell on me when I came here and I fell in love with this city."

In this northern capital, she worked as an investigator for the Pulkovo Transport Police and was a student at the University of the Ministry of Interior.

She graduated and began teaching at the same university. If that is not impressive enough, Fedorova is also enrolled in the university's PhD program in civil law, and is currently writing her dissertation on regulating privacy and security activities.

Fedorova said she chose a career in law enforcement because it gave her confidence and discipline. With her career well on the way, Fedorova said she needed to "prove" herself as a woman.

Her achievements in the world of beauty pageants have been extremely impressive. She won the title of Miss Russia 2001 and in 1999 she won the Miss St. Petersburg 1999 title.

And besides winning the title of the most beautiful woman in the universe, Fedorova also won the Bluepoint Apparel Swimsuit and Fitness Award at this year's Miss Universe pageant.

"Being Miss Universe is the realization of my feminine side," she said.

Fedorova was crowned Miss Universe 2002 on May 29, in a glitzy ceremony in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She became the first woman from Russia to win this prestigious crown.

Fedorova said her optimism and her friendliness had helped her attain the crown.

"Most of all, I was just being myself," she said, explaining that beauty comes from a perfect balance of personality and physical appearance.

Appearance is very important, but it is inner beauty and a purposefulness that are essential for a person, not just women, to achieve something in his or her life, Fedorova said.

As Miss Universe, the 1.79 meter tall Fedorova will be based in New York City for the next year, and will travel the world acting as goodwill ambassador in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Fedorova will work with internationally recognized organizations such as the Harvard AIDS Institute, amfAR and the Center for Disease Control's AIDS: Act Now campaign.

During the course of her travels in the next year, she hopes to meet the Dalai Lama.

In Indonesia, Fedorova was very enthusiastic about learning the culture and history of the people.

Laughing as she vigorously shook the bamboo angklung (traditional musical instrument) and tried to follow the conductor's cue at a gala dinner on her behalf, and listening intently at the translations given on the history behind the Borobudur temple.

"I will certainly come back here in the future, maybe as a tourist, so I can enjoy all this again," Fedorova said.

Furthermore, she is never tired of the questions that inevitably come whenever she meets new people.

"I like answering questions and asking them, because (by doing so) I gain experience and knowledge and it compels me to know more," she said.

As a guest of Mooryati Soedibyo's Putri Indonesia Foundation, Fedorova had the opportunity to visit Borobudur temple.

"I touched the fingers!" she squealed in delight as she reached into the hollow stupa and touched the Buddha statue, "Kunto Bimo", inside. According to local belief anyone who successfully touches the statue's hands will have his wishes come true.

Maybe after this, her wish to have a family of her own and become a mother will also come true.