Russian Beauty in a Nutshell

As you’ve probably noticed, Russian ladies love to pose next to brown bears. To be fair, the result is often stunning, even though we’re not sure the bears are too happy to become Instagram superstars. However, not all of the ladies-with-bears photoshoots in Russia are vanity projects. Some actually convey an important message.

In 2015, two Russian models posed next to a 1,400-pound bear to raise awareness of the cruel bear hunting that goes on in the country. The bear in question was a furry cutie named ‘Stephen,’ who was adopted by a loving owner after nearly being killed by hunters.