Saturday, 6 December 2014

EXCLUSIVE: Mother of 'the world's most beautiful girl' defends 'provocative' pictures of her nine-year-old model daughter and says: 'You must be a pedophile to see sex in these pictures

  • Kristina, aged nine, is 'world's most beautiful girl' with supermodel career
  • Mother posts images to millions of followers on Facebook and Instagram
  • But critics say the pictures of nine-year-old in shorts are too provocative
  • Men have posted comments such as 'sexy legs' and mum was attacked
  • Today Glikeriya hits back at 'paedophile critics' with sick image
  • The mother of a child supermodel dubbed 'the most beautiful girl in the world' has attacked 'paedophiles' who say she is sexualising her daughter by posting provocative pictures of her.
    Kristina Pimenova is just nine years old but has become a worldwide sensation after pictures of her triggered a storm of criticism on Facebook and Instagram.
    Today her mother Glikeriya Pimenova, who runs the social media accounts and posted the pictures, hit back in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, saying: 'I do not accept those accusations about sexualisation of my child.
    'I am certain in my mind all her photographs are absolutely innocent. I have never asked her to take this or that pose, and in fact I must say she does not especially like it when I am photographing her, so I do it quickly and when she doesn't notice.' 
    Innocent pictures of Kristina, whose impressive achievements have already seen her starring in adverts for Armani, Roberto Cavalli and Benetton, became the subject of disturbing comments online.
    But Glikeriya, 39, told theworldwidenews : 'You must think like a paedophile in order to see something sexual in these pictures, so it is time for you to see a doctor. 
    Scroll down for video 
    Kristina Pimenova is just nine years old but has become a worldwide sensation after pictures of her in flimsy shorts showing her 'long legs' triggered a storm of criticism on Instagram and Twitter
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    Kristina Pimenova is just nine years old but has become a worldwide sensation after pictures of her in flimsy shorts showing her 'long legs' triggered a storm of criticism on Instagram and Twitter
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    Today Kristina Pimenova's mother Glikeriya, who runs her daughter's social media accounts told MailOnline: 'I do not accept those accusations about sexualisation of my child
    Kristina, whose astonishing career has seen her starring in adverts for Armani, Roberto Cavalli and Benetton, became the subject of disturbing comments when this picture of her in an 'adult' pose on bed attracted comments such as 'sexy legs' online
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    Kristina, whose astonishing career has seen her starring in adverts for Armani, Roberto Cavalli and Benetton, became the subject of disturbing comments when this picture of her in an 'adult' pose on bed attracted comments such as 'sexy legs' online
    Glikeriya told MailOnline: 'You must think like a paedophile in order to see something sexual in these pictures, so it is time for you to see a doctor.
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    Glikeriya told MailOnline: 'You must think like a paedophile in order to see something sexual in these pictures, so it is time for you to see a doctor.
    'Some years ago I posted a picture of little Kristina on the beach in the Maldives hugging her three soft toys and laughing.
    'She was holding all her toys in front of her chest and hugging them, and you know what comments I got to this picture?
    ''Oh, she is covering her breasts because she thinks she has something to hide!' Can you believe it? I think people who post something like this have serious psychological problems.'
    Sipping fruit tea and clearly stung by the accusations, Glikeriya insists 'All her 'poses' are natural. She is just a little girl who is attracting a lot of attention and unfortunately some of this attention is coming from strange people with huge personal problems, keen to throw dirt at anyone.'
    Glikeriya insists the problem is a minority who visit their own prejudices onto entirely innocent and beautiful pictures.
    Married to Kristina's 34 year old father, retired Russian football star, Ruslan Pimenov, she is anxious to be seen as a responsible mother and to show that her daughter is a perfectly normal girl who happens to be stunningly beautiful with long honey blonde hair, piercing azure eyes and angelic facial features.
    And who has a rare talent as an iconic child model.
    Her portfolio from a remarkable six year 'career' is simply astonishing, including Vogue and Armani, yet critics see a dark side with one commentator branding a photo of her in shorts as 'creepy' while a male user wrote worryingly: 'I like it'.
    Sitting in a fashionable Uzbek restaurant in the elite Krylatskoe district of Moscow, Glikeriya calmly sought to correct what she sees as the misplaced criticisms of her own motives, and her daughter's poses.
    'We lived in France when I was expecting Kristina,' explained Glikeriya, dressed simply in jeans, a pink jumper and Loius Vitton scarf. At the time, her husband played for FC Metz.
    'I went to Moscow to give birth and soon afterwards returned to France, so Kristina was born in Russia,' she said.
    Glikeriya Pimenova, who runs her daughter's Facebook account and posts pictures of her, said people who attack the images as sexual have 'sick imaginations' and should see a doctor'
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    Glikeriya Pimenova, who runs her daughter's Facebook account and posts pictures of her, said people who attack the images as sexual have 'sick imaginations' and should see a doctor'
    Kristina's father Ruslan is 'very proud' of his daughter's modelling success
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    Kristina's father Ruslan is 'very proud' of his daughter's modelling success
    Kristina has been modelling since the age of three and her astonishing career has seen her starring in adverts for Armani, Roberto Cavalli and Benetton
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    Kristina has been modelling since the age of three and her astonishing career has seen her starring in adverts for Armani, Roberto Cavalli and Benetton
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    Kristina's mother does not allow her to see the unfair comments about the pictures online as she wants to protect her from trolls
    'Until the age of three we lived in France and I was astonished to see the amount of attention she attracted from people who saw her.
    'In any public place we visited, people just surrounded her and keep repeating 'Oh, such a sweet child', 'look at her', and similar comments.
    'Kristina really enjoyed such attention but it was only abroad, I am afraid. When we came back to Russia it was a shock for my child.
    'I remember she was sitting in her pram as I pushed her, and she kept smiling to everybody who passed by, but nobody cared. She turned to me with pure shock on her face - what's wrong?
    'But I knew she was cute and decided to give it a try. I browsed the internet and found the model agency for children with the most attractive and easy to understand website, and sent them Kristina's photographs.
    'We were invited for a chat and she was added to their database. Her first photo session took place a little before her fourth birthday. When she turned four, we had our first portfolio done.'
     I do not accept those accusations about sexualisation of my child
     Glikeriya Pimenova
    Her 'career' exploded as Kristina's image was demanded both in Russia and worldwide. Her daughter's Facebook has more than 2.1 million likes, and she has 315,000 followers on Instagram.
    Sipping fruit tea, Glikeriya came to the nub of the criticisms which plainly sting her amid censures that the poses are 'adult' attracting disturbing comments like 'sexy legs'.
    'I do not accept those accusations about sexualisation of my child,' she said.
    'I am certain in my mind all her photographs are absolutely innocent. I have never asked her to take this or that pose, and in fact I must say she does not especially like it when I am photographing her, so I do it quickly and when she doesn't notice.
    'All her 'poses' are natural. She is just a little girl who is attracting a lot of attention and unfortunately some of this attention is coming from strange people with huge personal problems, keen to throw dirt at anyone.'
    'For example, there were many angry comments under a photograph of Kristina playing badminton, she was wearing a T-shirt and shorts.'
    Yet this only happened when the picture was highlighted in the Western media - not earlier, when it was on her social media sites, she claimed.
    'This picture in shorts did not attract any negative comments before. Why would anybody be unhappy about these shorts?
    'For God's sake, what else should a child wear in summer when she is playing badminton? I suggest they sue Roberto Cavalli Junior and Mango Kids for making wicked clothes.
    Until the age of three Kristina and her mother and father lived in France where Glikeriya was astonished to see the amount of attention she attracted from people who saw her
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    Until the age of three Kristina and her mother and father lived in France where Glikeriya was astonished to see the amount of attention she attracted from people who saw her
    Glikeriya says: I knew [Kristina] was cute and found the model agency for children with the most attractive and easy to understand website, and sent them photographs'
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    Glikeriya says: I knew [Kristina] was cute and found the model agency for children with the most attractive and easy to understand website, and sent them photographs'
    Kristina's father Ruslan, pictured above, is very proud of her success, while Glikeriya says sister 'is not envious, she has other interests in her life'
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    Kristina's father Ruslan, pictured above, is very proud of her success, while Glikeriya says sister 'is not envious, she has other interests in her life'
    'Or there was a picture of her by the river, where she is holding a bottle of water in her hands. I took it secretly, she did not even see - and again there were accusations of a 'sexual pose' and the wrong sort of clothes.'
    She sees her daughter as breathtakingly beautiful and wants to record her as she grows up.
    'About the picture of my child on the bed in winter socks and a sweater, playing on her telephone, what is the problem about it?
    'I am not deleting this picture of principle, because I think any criticism about it is the fruit of a sick imagination.
    'And those comments about long legs? Excuse me, if I see a girl with long legs of any age, I notice it, but I have nothing to do with paedophiles.
    'The same is about beautiful lips or eyes or nose. I think we are having too much of this topic. I consider all the pictures I am posting to be normal, otherwise I would not have posted them.
    'I feel sorry when I read comments and conclusions of people who do not know us, who never met us, but take their right to judge me and my daughter, to shout that she does not have a childhood or that this stupid mother is making money.
    'I am here to tell you that we have enough money, that Kristina has a happy childhood - and that I have an honours degree from a university, so I don't think these accusations stick.'
    She adds a barbed comment that will be seen as offensive by many in the West: 'The flow of such comments is coming from countries where same-sex marriages are allowed.'
    She appears mystified - as are many Russians - that displays of homosexuality in front of children can be condoned in Europe or America, while 'innocent' pictures of her daughter have attracted such opprobrium.
    Kristina enjoys an astonishingly successful career but her mother has been accused of sexualising her. Today Glikeriya said: 'I feel sorry when I read comments'
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    Kristina enjoys an astonishingly successful career but her mother has been accused of sexualising her. Today Glikeriya said: 'I feel sorry when I read comments'
    Kristina is hugely successful and has worked for huge labels including Armani and Roberto Cavalli
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    Kristina is hugely successful and has worked for huge labels including Armani and Roberto Cavalli
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    Kristina sees photo shoots as an adventure and her mother said she likes to be photographed by professional photographers
    Glikeriya wants to describe a typical day in Kristina's life to try and show that the girl's life is much like many others, and in fact is dominated far more by sport - rhythmic gymnastics - than by modelling.
    'Let me tell you how our day goes and you can decide yourself,' she said.
    'We wake up at 7 am every day, we leave for school at 8 am. I pick up Kristina from school in the early afternoon and drive her to Moscow to her rhythmic gymnastics sports school where she spends four hours six days in a week.
    'We live outside Moscow, so it is at least three hours of driving every day. We come back home about 7 pm, have our dinner, and Kristina does her homework, then bed.
    'She does sport training on Saturdays too.'
    For the last two years she took part in the Alina 2013 gymnastics competitions in Tatarstan, fronted by former gold-medal winning gymnast Alina Kabayeva, 31, widely rumoured to be the secret partner of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
    Kristina's modelling is a distraction from her studies and sport, said her mother.
    'When Kristina has a photo session, which usually takes a full day, it is a relief for her, a sort of day off and a pure adventure.
    'This is the right word to describe what she feels about these sessions - it really is an adventure for her.
    'She tries new clothes, visits interesting and beautiful places, she meets other child models who are by now good friends. They are so glad to see each other and they play together in between.
    'Kristina likes to be photographed by professional photographers. She communicates with them well, and is a very sociable and open-hearted child.
    Until the age of three the family lived in France and Kristina's mother was astonished to see the amount of attention she attracted from people
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    Until the age of three the family lived in France and Kristina's mother was astonished to see the amount of attention she attracted from people
    In any public place the family visited in France, people surrounded her and keep repeating 'Oh, such a sweet child', 'look at her' 
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    In any public place the family visited in France, people surrounded her and keep repeating 'Oh, such a sweet child', 'look at her' 
    As Kristina grew up she also displayed remarkable intelligence and her grandfather has amassed a library to satisfy her wish to learn
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    As Kristina grew up she also displayed remarkable intelligence and her grandfather has amassed a library to satisfy her wish to learn
    Among Kristina's many credits include Armani Junior (twice), Roberto Cavalli (twice), Fendi, D&G, and Benetton Undercolors 
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    Among Kristina's many credits include Armani Junior (twice), Roberto Cavalli (twice), Fendi, D&G, and Benetton Undercolors 
    'She is very easy to work with, according to many photographers who have told me so.
    'I was so pleased to hear not just that my child is beautiful but that she is professional in what she is doing.
    'I see that my daughter likes it and that she is good at it, and this is the reason why I am going on with it.
    'After all, it is our duty as parents to spot the talents of our children and to develop them.
    'If she had only been a shy child who is scared to meet new people, she would have never succeeded. A pretty face is not everything in this business.'
    Among her credits, Kristina was pictured for Armani Junior (twice), Roberto Cavalli (twice), Dsquared2, Minifix, Twin-Set Simona Barbiery,Ermanno Scervino Junior (twice), Fendi, D&G, Replay, Silvian Heach Kids ( twice), Monnalisa ( twice), Paessagino , Benetton Undercolors , Krytik, Lu Lu by Miss Grant, and Brest (twice).
    'I wonder why those angry bloggers are not interested in numerous children who really are used by their parents, who push them into various soap operas and shows,' she said.
    'These children have to miss school for weeks on end for the sake of some minutes on the screen, but for many families this is the only source of income.'
    Glikeriya explains: 'We do three or four photo sessions per month, sometime it is just one long day, sometimes it takes two or three days.
    Kristina does three or four photo sessions per month, sometime it is just one long day, sometimes it takes two or three days
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    Kristina does three or four photo sessions per month, sometime it is just one long day, sometimes it takes two or three days
    Photo sessions for Kristina usually take a full day but her mother says it is a relief for her, 'a sort of day off and a pure adventure'
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    Photo sessions for Kristina usually take a full day but her mother says it is a relief for her, 'a sort of day off and a pure adventure'
    Kristina's mother says she is not able to monitor all the comments on her social network accounts but says the number of positive comments is much much bigger
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    Kristina's mother says she is not able to monitor all the comments on her social network accounts but says the number of positive comments is much much bigger
    Kristina's mother Glikeriya says: 'I understand that many people are simply envious when somebody is beautiful and successful.
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    Kristina's mother Glikeriya says: 'I understand that many people are simply envious when somebody is beautiful and successful.
    'She never took part in any beauty contests for children and we will never do this.
    'I am strongly against such thing. To be honest, I do not like the idea of beauty contests for adults either. I think only in sports it is right to choose the best one.'
    Then she underlines several points which she strongly believes her critics fail to grasp: as a mother she shields her daughter both from the enormous publicity around her, and from the threats of real sexualisation.
    'Kristina does not go online and she will not do so at least until she turns 13,' she insisted.
    'She has not seen all those stories about her. The reason? I don't want her to grow vain and too full of herself.' Nor to be hurt by either the troll comments or the criticisms which are strongly-felt but could be painful.'
    She refuses all requests for Kristina to take part in TV shows or other media spectacles, seeing these as unhealthy.
    'It is a rule for serious photo sessions - no make-up for children. We never use any make up, the only exception is made for lips, where it is allowed to use balsam, not to shine them but if they are dry, which often happens with kids.' But no lipstick or make-up.
    'I want her to remain as nice and kind-hearted as she is now and to be happy in this life,' she said.
    'I do not want her to be a celebrity or a star, it is not my goal at all.
    'I only want her to develop her talents, and if it leads her to being famous later, I want her to remember about those people who are less fortunate in this life.
    Family photos of Kristina show she has always been photogenic and her mother attacks critics of the images as people who 'think like paedophiles'
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    Family photos of Kristina show she has always been photogenic and her mother attacks critics of the images as people who 'think like paedophiles'
    As well as photo sessions Kristina spends lots of time with friends and her family and is shown her camping 
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    As well as photo sessions Kristina spends lots of time with friends and her family and is shown her camping 
    Like every nine-year-old girl Kristina also plays with her friends and her mother makes sure she has plenty of downtime
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    Like every nine-year-old girl Kristina also plays with her friends and her mother makes sure she has plenty of downtime
    'Kristina is very kind and responsive. She can already feel great compassion and I am keen only to cultivate such traits in her.
    'She can be naive as a child and sometimes she sound so wise. And she is an enormously charming girl, who quickly makes friends with children and adults alike.
    'She is living in a happy and comfortable atmosphere. I am proud she is not at all vain, and she is surrounded by love and attention. I believe many girls would like to swap with my daughter and they would enjoy her life.'
    Glikeriya admits that the media coverage about Kristina has hurt her when, she insists, her motives are to do the best by her daughter.
    'I don't like it when media pick up only angry comments about my girl,' she said.
    'There are many people who have nothing to do and they just enjoy posting nasty things and watching reactions from other bloggers who take it seriously and start arguing.
    'I am not able to monitor all the comments in my social network accounts but I must say the number of positive comments is much much bigger.
    'I understand that many people are simply envious when somebody is beautiful and successful.
    'Their minds are full of cliches, like the one that all models are brainless stupid cows or children who are doing something extra and have no childhood.'
    These are outrageous, cruel and false stereotypes, she says.
    'It is their problem, not mine.
    'The same about those comments to the pictures of Kristina in shorts. Glikeriya I have posted my reply to these people - I said that you must think like a paedophile in order to see something sexual in these pictures, so it is time for you to see a doctor.
    'I can give you one more example. Some years ago I posted a picture of little Kristina on the beach in the Maldives hugging her three soft toys and laughing.
    'She was holding all her toys in front of her chest and hugging them, and you know what comments I got to this picture?
    ''Oh, she is covering her breasts because she thinks she has something to hide!' Can you believe it? I think people who post something like this have serious psychological problems.
    'They are able to see sex in an innocent picture of a little girl holding her toys.
    'Where will we get if we start thinking in such a way?
    Kristina is also a talented rhythmic gymnast and attends a sports school where she spends four hours six days in a week
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    Kristina is also a talented rhythmic gymnast and attends a sports school where she spends four hours six days in a week
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    Kristina is dedicated and to fulfil her sport and school commitments she and her mother spend three hours driving every day
    'Let's delete all pictures of babies who are often just naked. At the same time, I do understand the serious concerns about encouraging paedophilia or making children look sexual.
    'If you spend some time online, you can come across pictures of young girls in truly sexual poses, with heavy make-up and dressed like women, lying in bed or something.
    'It is all very clear there and I totally object to using children in this way. But just have a look at such pictures and compare them with photos of Kristina, and you'll see that photos of my daughter have nothing whatever to do with it.'
    Like many Russian mothers, she is strong is seeking to guide her daughter through the pitfalls of growing up.
    'Kristina is training seriously in sport and we are not going to stop this in the nearest future, although I think I would not want a sport career for her,' she said.
    'I would not like sports to replace school - and the older you get with serious sport it is hardly possible to combine it with studies as they grow older.
    'I also want her to have more time for herself, for her personal development.
    'Right now, she dreams of being an actress or a producer.
    'She loves changing clothes and acting and making small films - with the help of an iPhone app.
    Kristina dreams of being an actress or a producer. Her mother told MailOnline: 'She loves changing clothes and acting and making small films - with the help of an iPhone app.
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    Kristina dreams of being an actress or a producer. Her mother told MailOnline: 'She loves changing clothes and acting and making small films - with the help of an iPhone app.
    Glikeriya, Kristina's mother, says she wants her to be busy with modelling, sport and schoolwork so she goes smoothly through the teenage period
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    Glikeriya, Kristina's mother, says she wants her to be busy with modelling, sport and schoolwork so she goes smoothly through the teenage period
    'But I am glad she has sport in her life now because it teaches children to be hard working and achieve goals. I want my daughter to be busy, it will help her to go smoothly through the difficult teenage period.
    'She would also like a dog. She likes Corgis, which I know are the favourite of the British Queen.
    'I am glad to see that my daughter is a happy child because I also had a happy childhood. I grow up at the Russian North, by the ocean, because my dad was a submariner. '
    Glikeriya herself has come a long way from her Arctic roots, which she puts down to having had good parents.
    Her father collected a library of 3,000 books, bartering whatever he could for new titles, to help foster her love of learning.
    Some things written about her are untrue, for example that she herself was a model, she said.
    'I has nothing to do with the model business, I am not tall enough for it and I was always honest with myself about my chances, although I did receive offers when I was young.
    'It is the kind of business where you must be among the best 100 in the world - otherwise it is not worth it at all.
    'I worked as a TV reporter after school, then I entered university where I studied international corporate finance.
    'I was really interested in my studies but I knew that such job could be found only abroad. In Russia, at the time, the chances were tiny.
    'My elder daughter Natalia was born when I was 21, so I stayed in Russia and later got a job in insurance.
    'I have also worked in logistics, and then I got a job in the commercial department of Lokomotiv football club in Moscow.
    'This is where I met Ruslan Pimenov, Kristina's father.
    'Natalia is 18 now, she went to a good private school in UK but is now likely to continue her studies in Russia.
    'She did not do any photo sessions as a child but she is very proud for her younger sister's success, as is Ruslan. She is not envious, she has other interests in her life.'
     
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