< Previousautobabes.com.au KATRINA TURNER “ I came to New Zealand from Russia with my Mum & Dad when I was 8 years old. I have a respect for beauti- ful women & my mum is the current Mrs New Zealand!autobabes.com.au >Model: Katrina Turner, Pics: Opening by Phil Bailey all others by Lescablair, Location: New Zealand Photo; Phil Bailey“ w Winning two major pageant titles sent me to Poland and China to represent New Zealand internationally ! autobabes.com.au hen the 1963 James Bond film “From Russia with Love”, dared to venture into tabu sexual attraction, it was a political hot potato at a time of a cold war! However it did introduce the incredible classic and natural beauty of Russian women to the rest of the world. And to this day, that gorgeousness still dominates the northern hemisphere with many Russian beauties making appearances in magazines through Europe, England and America. The cold war has of course long been over, but the beauty of the Russian genes remain. This is even more true with our Edition 64 feature model, the Russian born, New Zealand resident Katrina Turner. “ I came to New Zealand from Moscow in Russia with my Mum and Dad when I was 8 years old”, says Katrina ... “ I now have two brothers and one sister and have been living in New Zealand all my life.” Katrina visits Russia often though as she still has family back home. In fact, it’s her early childhood growing up in Russia, with regular visits that give her an appreciation of beautiful women and the desire to be a successful model herself. “Spending my childhood in Russia and going back to visit every couple of years has given me an appreciation and respect for beautiful women”, she says “When I cam across a Victoria’s Secret Fashion show for the first time, that appreciation turned into inspiration for modelling!” That inspiration has paid off well for Katrina who has a number of titles to her record from her modelling career. This is both from the view of her personal success, as well as career choices. “ I was sent to Poland and China to represent New Zealand when I won two major titles; Miss Supranational and Miss Bikini Universe.”, she says “This inspired me further and allowed me the platform to launch my own competition called Miss Bikini New Zealand!” “I still run this show and it has now become known as New Zealand’s Number 1 swimsuit show.” Katrina has ambitions to take Miss Bikini New Zealand to the rest of the world in the near future by introducing an international aspect. So there’s no question about Katrina’s beauty credentials and her entrepreneurial flair, but there’s more to her success secret .. it seems that beauty and winning beauty pageants is in her genes! “My mum is the current Mrs New Zealand!”, she says proudly. The Mrs New Zealand competition is a beauty pageant is an annual pageant open to women who have been married at least 6 months, with or without children. It has no age or height restriction as do the traditional competitions and is therefore open to women who still want to make a difference in their lives or challenge themselves to do something they wanted when younger but circumstances may not have allowed. In the case of Katrina’s mum, Elena Turner, a striking 168cm Russian born beautiful brunette, the motivation and inspiration was her daughter .. “When my daughter told me, ‘Mum, you have nothing to lose, do it,’ I said ‘No, you are crazy!”, says autobabes.com.au Photo; Lescablairautobabes.com.au Elena. “I can’t walk around in my bikini.’ She told me there wouldn’t be a bikini section, only aerobic wear.” So Katrina’s mum is officially a crowned pageant winner and her challenge is increased with her entry into the next level of competition; the Mrs International pageant where she’ll compete against another 60 married women between the ages of 21 to 54 for a crown in Florida this July. “There are so many beautiful women in New Zealand ..” says Katrina, “ And I think it’s due to the variety we have here.” “ We are a multicultural country in New Zealand and we have so many interesting flavours of women!” Katrina is keen to therefore allow those women a platform to reach more people around the world via her swimsuit competition. “My ambition is to become a successful international business woman, whilst at the same time travelling the world and exploring life”, she says She is at the beginning of that journey with plans to take Miss Bikini New Zealand to the world. Part of her strategy was to join ‘NZ’s Finest’ which is our covergirl Bonnie Leigh-Jones’ agency. Katrina is also quite well travelled with travels to most of the world. “I have been to Dubai, China, Poland, Fiji, Africa, Russia, Thailand, Australia and Hong Kong for both business and pleasure.”, she says. “I think the best place was Thailand for the most exotic beaches and the great shopping available.”“ I felt inspired to become a model , and to launch ‘Miss Bikini New Zealand’ when I saw a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show for the very first time. autobabes.com.au Photo; Lescablair“ autobabes.com.au The Thailand island of Phi Phi has the most exotic and beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen ! Photos; Lescablairautobabes.com.au“ autobabes.com.au If I were a car, I’d be an Aston Martin because they’re sophisticated and I’ve been a Bond Girl all my life!autobabes.com.au Photos; LescablairNext >