Christina Rihanoff from the Far East, Vladivostok became the latest celebrity in England when it was in Strictly Come Dancing competition BBC.

Like many women who grew up in post-Soviet Russia, it is hard, but inspiring story.

So read the story of her carefully.

Because Christina is a classic "good Russian woman," and many of the things that she says illustrates this fine.

    How I escaped the suffering of life in Vladivostok and a father who will not talk to me to waltz with John Sergeant - Strictly bomb on Christina

    By Antonia Hoyle - Daily Mail

    It was a most unusual scene witnessed by Cobb in Lyme Regis, as they lifted Woman The French Lieutenant there.

    Stout legs and lead a 64-year television political commentator John Sergeant was the waltz through the rubble with a young, blonde sex symbol of Siberia.

    He lured the suffering Christina Rihanoff go to the quiet resort of Dorset with him so they could squeeze in some practice for Strictly Come Dancing competition BBC.

    The sergeant was a long-standing involvement in local theater to perform his one-man show about his political experience.

    Now, chemistry, forged by the sea seems to be working, at least the voting public, who continue to keep them on the show Saturday night, against all expectations - especially those of the judges.

    Christina hourglass curves and glamorous hair fifties, in conjunction with entertainment haplessly trying to master sergeant of ballroom dancing, there is rapture of the nation.

    And although the shoes came to the street sergeant, 31-year-old Christina was struck by Lyme.

    "The city was so great. It was like a fairy tale, with the open ocean ahead of us, she said.

    "People were very friendly and sweet, and it was absolutely stunning.

    For Christina, who was too busy keeping the sergeant in the contest to learn much more than Britain, it was all part of the extraordinary emotional and physical journey.

    She was born in an environment much bleaker, more than 8,000 miles in Vladivostok, Russia's largest port city in its remote Pacific coast.

    Entering adolescence, as the former Soviet Union collapsed, she became a member country of the "lost generation" who grew up as the once rigid communist regime was abruptly pulled out from under them.

    It was a period of sharp growth in unemployment, abuse, crime and addiction, with great personal cost Cristina.

    "It was a dark and gloomy time, she says in her English with a heavy accent," but it was difficult for everyone.

    "I do not want people to feel sorry for me. At least I had a chance. Some people did not.

    "I used my love for dance, to make a career for myself. I feel very happy.

    As she says in the gym, west London, where she was rehearsing for this week's cha-cha with the sergeant, it is perceived as one of the survivors in their lives.

    Her ruthless competitiveness would repel, if not its friendliness and intelligence.

    In the flesh, without the fake tan and tight retro curls that were created after 16 years of abuse peroxide loose her long hair, she looks more like a Cameron Diaz than Marilyn Monroe.

    Christina says she was so tired from six hours a day training, she has voted itself with pre-recorded episode of TV's Celebrity Weakest Link to the previous day so she could return to her London lodgings to sleep.

    But, she says, she is full of energy and enthusiasm.

    This is its charm and irrepressible confidence sergeant who spent their week in eight of the competition.

    It is unlikely the next Gene Kelly and the show were the judges calling the public to vote him out for weeks.

    "We believe that every Saturday will be the last, 'she says." We do not have much time left.

    "John was not a good dancer and this week it was hard for him. But he is doing everything possible. It is not always technically correct, but it is not wrong either.

    "I doubt that it will be in the finals. I do not think it should be. But I think he deserves to be in the semifinals.

    We'll find out tonight whether their efforts last night were enough to keep them in.

    Regardless of the outcome, the sergeant, whose mother was a Russian, a new friendship.

    "He's sweet and caring as his father, says Christina.

    'You can share everything with him, all your problems and worries. You know he will and will not be judged. "

    Her story of triumph over adversity is likely to be as moving as anything sergeant faced during his 40-year career with the news.

    The only child of a musician father, Igor, an engineer and her mother, Larisa, her life was ruined when, at the age of ten, her parents separated.

    "They were too different, says Christina." Dad had his own band.

    "It was he who inspired me to dance for six years and took me on stage for the first time.

    "But I felt that he loved his music more than I do, and that because he was not there, I was not good enough. I did not realize that it's not my fault."

    He married, and as she said was typical in Russia at that time, not to speak with her for six years.

    Her problems are compounded in the next year as the collapse of communism, the spread of their corner of Russia.

    The newly appointed Mikhail Gorbachev tried to control and follow leaders provided scant moral, political or financial institutions for the people to fit into.

    With two-thirds of the suburbs of Vladivostok are so polluted they are classified dangerous for the health and average January temperature is minus 14C - similar to Alaska - people struggling to make sense of his life.

    But in many ways it was an orderly society because of the difficulty.

    "We were brought up, very respectful to the elderly, do not open your mouth and always be on time, says Christina.

    "You did not have an opinion, you're just like everyone else. It was very austere, black and white environment.

    "When everyone had gone, suddenly, you are left with no sense of direction. They did not replace our beliefs with anything.

    "When I was a child, it is misleading. Many people have not found myself. Some have returned to religion. Some I knew at school, with whom I was friendly with, he turned to drugs."

    Her determination to succeed herself meant that while others took heroin, she had never experienced.

    "I never even drank or smoked, but my parents, she says.

    "I kept myself busy dancing. Because I went straight from school to school dances, I'm not wandering the streets.

    When she was 15 and a couple of my classmates died of a heroin overdose, she was at a crossroads.

    "I was very lonely. I did not have many options, but I knew I had to decide what I wanted to do and work hard because I do not want to end up like one of them, "she says.

    So talented ballet student designed for ballroom dancing skills to try to avoid her desperate situation.

    Meanwhile, crime has increased, as poverty is a hidden city.

    "Sometimes people get robbed," she says. "A couple of times in my purse stolen.

    "People broke into lockers at school to steal. One winter we lost power, on and off for several weeks. We wore layers of jumpers and coats to keep warm.

    With the closure of factories on a daily basis in 600 000-strong city, her mother lost her job.

    The state gave them a two-bedroom apartment and a monthly allowance, but it was still a struggle, says Christina.

    "The institution of marriage is no longer supported, she said.

    "My mom got really sick from stress, and it was in the hospital for a long time.'s Relatives cared for me, and I was earning money for both of us, teaching dance.

    Jobs says it continues to decline. Her aunt, "amazing" pediatrician, has lost his position and doctors at the present time hotel receptionist.

    "I support her and my mother financially, says Christina." If you have some kind of connection is difficult to get the job done. "

    Christina's mother made her pink costumes dance as there were no shops to buy them from Vladivostok, even if they had money, and encouraged her to finish her education - so Christina graduated with a degree in tourism and hospitality.

    Her best friend in the city is now working stylist, married with a son seven years.

    "She was very strong, and we felt we had to get everything yourself, says Christina. "It was my dream and I got mine."

    At 21 and competing at international level in Latin dance competitions, she was invited to work in America, Russian coach, who moved there.

    For several years, she joined the Dancing with the Stars tour, the American version of Dancing with the Stars.

    Christine currently owns a studio apartment in Los Angeles.

    "The movement was interesting and scary. I love America, she says. "There is no limit to age or who you should be."

    Beneficiary, she says, her mother, Larisa who green card and is now staying with her in America.

    "She was one in Russia and wanted to be with me, says Christina.

    "I've seen a change in her since she moved. It 52. In Russia, it means that you must be a grandmother at home, not thinking about myself.

    "But in the U.S. it is still a young woman. A woman can get a second marriage, to open their own business.

    She adds: "It is good that Obama won. America is ready for someone young and open, which could lead the country to better days and make peace with the world."

    Christina reconciled with his father, Igor couple of years ago.

    "He was my idol, and I was angry he left us," she says. "But I realized I have no father, and forgave him.

    "He still lives in Vladivostok, and currently directs the show. It looks to me on YouTube and calls to say he is very proud of.

    No sooner had arrived in Larissa States than Christina, being seen by a team of Strictly was outside the UK to start rehearsals for the current series.

    "In America, some of the girls were jealous, but from the very beginning dancers are nothing but supportive," she says.

    "We spend a lot of time together.

    After the show last Saturday, they all went to the West End of Chinawhite nightclub together last Sunday and she saw the new Bond film Quantum of Solace with the other dancer Lilia Kopylova, Russian, whom she first met in Vladivostok, when she was 13 years old.

    "Maybe one day I could be another Russian Bond girl," she says.

    "I want to get into acting. I'm not as beautiful as Marilyn Monroe, but I love all of Hollywood's glamor era.

    But she adds: "I am glad to get the makeup off and spend Sunday in tracksuit bottoms, looking terrible."

    She saves her caustic criticism of Judge Arlene Phillips, 64, who was strict in its treatment of sergeant last week, said of him: "It's all very well that people fall in love with a man, but what makes feet ISN 'is the foxtrot.

    Christina replies: "I do not want to fight, but it surprises me, Arlene is so negative about John, as it is the same age as him.

    "Having him on the show, they send messages that dancing is good for everyone. He looks younger and healthier now.

    Christina, who will join the other dancers on a tour of the UK in February and hopes to be invited to the show next year, adds: "show is not really about dancing. It's Saturday night entertainment show.

    "We're still in it because we want to have fun. Many people feel that they can relate to John.

    "Women love his kindness and he is pure entertainment. He jokes about the sex symbol. I tell him that I do not think that we women know what we want when it comes to people."

    Although it was the same in another five years, the American dancer who lives in Los Angeles, Christina does not want to be named.

    "He's very famous in our business, but it's important for people to see me who I am, not as his girlfriend, she said, adding:" It's hard to have relationships in our business, so I'm protective.

    "People are always talking behind our backs, and it can be bitchy.

    She says that she will settle down and have children in the next few years if they are raised in Russia.

    "I returned a couple of times, but I will not live there, she says.

    "I'm sad because it's a beautiful country. From what my friends tell me that things get a little better.

    "This is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of natural resources and may be one of the best.

    Life is looking rosy for the girl who danced her way out of the contaminated drug and crime-ridden Vladivostok - but for how long she and the sergeant will adorn our TV screens, only you can decide.