Former Ukrainian beauty queen says she isn't fighting Russian invasion
A former beauty queen has clarified that she hasn't traded in her tiara for a rifle to join Ukraine's ongoing resistance to Russia's invasion.
On her Instagram account last month, Anastasia Lenna, who was Miss Grand Ukraine in 2015, posted a photo of herself wearing combat gear and holding a rifle. Many took that to mean that she had joined the fight against Russia.
But Lenna later posted that she hasn't joined the military or a militia and instead simply meant to "inspire" people. She also said that she is an airsoft player, indicating that the rifle in the photo is an airgun that shoots plastic pellets.
"I am not a military, just a woman, just normal human. Just a person, like all people of my country. "I am also a airsoft player for years," her post stated. "All pictures in my profile to inspire people. I had a normal life just on Wednesday, like millions people."
Lenna's Instagram stories have been filled with calls for assistance for Ukraine and praise for the brave men and women fighting to defend their homeland.
Lenna speaks five languages and worked as a translator and PR manager, according to TMZ.
"I don’t do any propaganda except showing that our woman of Ukraine - strong, confident and powerful," Lenna wrote. "I appreciate all attention and support to my country, all people in Ukraine we fight every day against Russian aggression."
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NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect that Lenna did not join the military in Ukraine.