Beiruting News

Underage girls working in the fashion industry isn’t new. But after years of consciously discouraging the sexualization of young girls and promoting fair treatment and healthy lifestyles for minors, it comes as a bit of a shock that Kristina Pimenova is being dubbed the “most beautiful girl in the world” at just 9 years old.

Born in 2005 in Moscow, Russia, Pimenova started modeling at the age of three, scoring contracts with Armani, Benetton, Fendi, and Roberto Cavalli’s children’s lines. She landed the cover of Vogue Bambini, her Facebook fan page has more than 2 million likes, and her Instagram handle, which is managed by her mother, has 416,000 followers.

Of course, children have always worked as models, butPimenova’s case is especially disconcerting thanks to her massive social media following, which opens her up to trolling on an international scale. Many commenters have called her a “babe,” “flawless,” and are even making remarks on her long legs and other body parts. Not even old enough to walk down the aisle, Pimenova has even received marriage proposals.

Photo: kristinapimenova2005/Instagram

But Pimenova, and more specifically her mother, Glikeriya Shirokova, who is also a model, has come under fire following recent media attention. “My child would never ever ever ever ever wear shorts this tight and small—ever,” one Instagram user wrote. Another said, “Parents like you are the reason why girls grow up to have many issues… also there are so many sick people out [there] that look at these in sexual ways.” One even called the provocative photos a “pedophile’s dream.”

In response to the criticism, Shirkova told MailOnline: “You must think like a pedophile in order to see something sexual in these pictures, so it is time for you to see a doctor.” She insists that all the photographs are completely innocent and despite claims that she’s exploiting her daughter’s beauty for personal gain, she insists the problem is with people who have their own personal and possibly psychological issues. “I do not accept those accusations about sexualization of my child,” she said.