Anna Good
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has people from all social spheres taking up arms to protect their country, including one of the country’s former beauty pageant queens.
Anastasiia Lenna is also known as the former Miss Grand Ukraine, and she has joined the resistance fighting back against Russia’s attempt to take over her country. In a post on Instagram, the 24-year-old Kyiv native posted photos of herself holding an assault rifle with the simple caption, “22.02.2022 🇺🇦 #standwithukraine #handsoffukraine”
Lenna has previous experience using airsoft guns and has regularly posted photos of herself in the brush with a weapon in hand in the past. Prior to the invasion, she worked as a translator and PR manager, and speaks five languages, but she dropped everything when the attacks began on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine to fight back.
In the past day alone, Lenna’s followers have risen from 115,000 to 201,000, with people supporting the woman’s proud defiance of Putin’s actions. In her Instagram story, Lenna shared a video of herself at a practice range and wrote, “Training. The invaders will die on our land! All world see[s] this!”
“Everyone who crosses the Ukrainian border with the intent to invade will be killed!”
The former Miss Grand Ukraine also applauded President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s actions since the invasion began, calling her president “a true and strong leader.”
Lenna has a dedicated Story Highlight on her Instagram page featuring all of her Story posts thus far about the attacks, resources, and more.
She has also shared places to donate, for those who support Ukraine’s right to sovereignty and their fight against the Russian army.
The former beauty pageant queen is one among many fighting to protect her country and her people. She is fiercely protective of Ukraine and her message is loud and clear: Stand With Ukraine.