This is the world’s youngest supermodel, Kristina Pimenova
Nine-year-old Kristina Pimenova of Moscow, Russia, has been modeling since the age of three and is called the “the most beautiful girl in the world.” Pimenova, who is also a youth gymnast has already modeled for major fashion designers such as, Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, and Benetton. Some people are even calling her the youngest supermodel.
Her mother Gilkeriya Shirokova, a former model, managers her daughter’s career and several social media accounts. She regularly updates Kristina’s Instagram feed with photos of her both professional and candid, and argues that Kristina ‘DOES NOT post on the Internet.’
The nine-year-old’s Facebook biography reads: ‘She first got started in modelling when she was 3 years old, anywhere her mom would go, people would tell her how adorable Kristina was and tell her to try modelling.
‘Her mom decided to try it out and Kristie soon realized how much fun it was, especially catwalk and fashion shows.
‘She’s been having a blast ever since and is still loving every minute of it.’
Kristina Pimenova has more than two million Facebook followers, but also a large group of concerned parents who insist she is being sexualized. Recent comments on her Instagram photos include users calling her a “babe” and praising her “long legs.”
Despite only modeling children’s clothing and wearing little, if any make-up in her professional shots, photos include her wearing shorts or little skirts often which invite tons of disturbing comments.
“Creepy pic for a child,” one commenter of a candid photo of Kristina wearing leopard print hot pants, while another male user writes: “I like it.”
This is what other commenters had to say:
In response to one comment about Kristina’s ‘sexy legs’, another wrote: ‘Treating a child like a adult, taking adult style photos is so wrong.
‘You are sexifying your daughter and parents like you are the reason why girls grow up to have many issues… also there are so many sick ppl out their that look at these in sexually ways.
‘My child would never ever ever ever ever wear shorts this tight and small ever [sic].’ [via]
Some people argue that Kristina’s photos are entirely innocent and that adults are projecting their own agendas onto neutral images. But, is all that social media feedback necessary for a 9 year old. As Stacey Ritzen from Uproxx pointed out:
Not to sound all Judgey McJudgerson, but I don’t know what the hell putting photos of your child online to be ogled at by grown adults has anything to do with your kid’s modeling career. Pimenova’s mother claims that she removes any inappropriate comments on her daughter’s images, but should they even there to be commented in the first place? As Mark Shrayber over at Jezebel notes, the attention — both positive and negative — is likely to wreak havoc on a child’s psyche. [via]
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