Maria Sergeyeva

Maria Sergeyeva, a 24-year-old philosophy student and political activist, has become a glamorous activist and Internet sensation for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and has her own dreams of running her beloved Russia some day. Since she gave a glowing review of Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev in January, the Russian beauty has taken to the Internet to become a pro-Putin, pro-Russia force to be reckoned with, has participated in political rallies, and isn’t shy about espousing her views. But she’s not without her critics.

Some call her "Putin’s pin-up girl" and claim Putin is using Sergeyeva to whip up young Russians into a patriotic frenzy so they’re unwavering in their nationalistic commitment to country — whether it be discouraging immigrants from taking Russian jobs, or blasting Putin critics, or even encouraging anti-Western sentiment. "I personally consider them my enemies," Sergeyeva said of critics of the state. "They cast doubt on things that are very important to me: the integrity of Russia and its sovereignty."

But if she’s that interested in being in politics some day, perhaps she should halt some of her online activity and rants. She seems to have no qualms about putting her personal feelings online for all to see — including her thoughts on men and tales of her weekend debauchery. In one of her blog postings, for example, she laments the fact that men "don’t understand what’s wrong in wanting to have sex with someone else.