Russia's first lady-oligarchs—today's business owners, designers, editors of big-name mags and tabloids, and Dima Bilan producers—sprang up in the beginning of 2000. While the idea that "a man stands behind every big thing in Russia" continues to sit snug in the Russian psyche, the estrogen level among oligarchs is changing. Yes, Russia's rich female still parties, and she still uses her connections, but she now leads a more "European" style of life, dresses according to "Hollywood" fashions as opposed to head-to-toe Versace, and has capitalist ambitions of her own! How did she come so far so fast? Well, it helps being the granddaughter of Mikhail Gorbachev.

When not busy modeling, spinning stories for PR, and posing for photos at debutante balls in Paris, Gorby's granddaughters Ksenia Gorbacheva (28) and Anastasia Virganskaya (21) moonlight as editors at beauty and fashion mag, Grazia. A coworker narcs on the sisters, saying they rarely show their faces at the office, which is located in a former furniture factory in a run-down neighborhood. When they do stop by, they arrive only in cars driven by chauffeurs.

26-year-old Kseniya Sobchak has famous political blood coursing through her veins, as well. The daughter of St. Petersburg's corrupt first mayor, Anatoly, Sobchak is something of a blonde institution in Russia with her own perfume line, radio and TV shows, and a book (a.k.a How To Marry An Oligarch 101). Often compared to Paris Hilton, Sobchak much prefers comparisons to Oprah Winfrey. Last year, between demands that she be taken more seriously, Sobchak pulled an Imelda Marcos and put 400 personal pairs of shoes on display at an art gallery.

Gallery owner and fashion designer Daria Zhukova (27) obviously read a chapter from Sobchak's self-help book as she currently holds the title of "Roman Abramovich's girlfriend." Her high-end label Kova & T—which Zhukova co-founded with bestie and fellow heiress Christina Tang (daughter of David Tang ,
Shanghai Tang founder,)—is decidedly more "cosmopolitan" than expressly Russian. Kind of the image Zhukova wants for herself, given the frequent trips to London and the gallery hob-knobs with Australian product designer Marc Newson, NY art dealer Larry Gagosian, and "kitsch" artist extraordinaire Jeff Koons. "Dasha," as she's known to Russia's gossip columnists (some of them employee's of the allegedly Zhukova-owned blah-blah blog Spletnik.ru), also has her own modern art gallery in Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage, a historical Melnikov building. Almost as impressive as the fact that she's friend's with W's daughter, Barbara.

Finally, two more names to watch: Yana Rudkovskaya, the brains (and big bucks) behind syrupy Eurovision crooner Dima Bilan, and Irina Viner, a controversial loudmouth chief coach of the Russian Olympic gymnastics team. She's also billionaire Alisher Usmanov's wife; sorry, things haven't changed that much.

Russia's Successful New It Girls [Times Online]
Новое поколение: светские львицы и успешные бизнес-леди [Gloria Mundi]

Photos courtesy of Gloria Mundi and Daily Mail