Maria Makarenko is a model student. The 18-year-old Russian is supplementing her studies of Mandarin and international trade at the International Business and Economics University in Beijing by earning extra cash as a "freelance model", working advertisements, magazines and the occasional auto show. She says the lifestyle suits her perfectly.

Maria Makarenko is an 18-year-old student from Russia.

"I am always moving. My week is spent studying and my weekends are usually spent traveling somewhere for a photo shoot," she said.

Her journey to a freelance model began when she heard about the Fast Model School in her hometown of Vladivostok, Russia, when she was just 14.

When she asked her mother to enroll her in the school, she was disappointed when told the 1,000-yuan-a month fee was too expensive. She thought her dreams of becoming a model would never come to fruition.

"I begged her and begged her, but she told me it was a waste," Makarenko said.

Just days before school began, her boyfriend at the time graciously granted her wish, offering to pay her tuition.

"It was one of the most life-changing experiences I have had so far," she said.

The school taught her standard modeling skills such as how to do the catwalk, apply cosmetics, and how to diet. But her real lessons in modeling were taught to her on the side by her teachers.

"It's a secret at modeling school that if you are a good student and get along well with the teachers, you will get taught the 'secrets'," she said.

She said she was taught how to get along well with photographers, how to avoid nasty competitors and most importantly, how to charm the judges.

She uses the biggest secret, however, whenever she steps on stage.

"Anytime I step on stage, I count to five slowly in my head and just stare at the audience," she said, "the lack of sound draws the attention of the audience and allows me to see the crowd."

The cost of her modeling schooling was quickly reimbursed after Makarenko won her first beauty contest at the age of 15, landing her a 10,500 yuan (US$1,500) first prize.

"The first thing I did was go out and buy myself a personal computer," she said. "It was so empowering to be able to do that on my own."

She soon found herself winning or being placed in several beauty contests throughout Russia.

Though Makarenko is now concentrating hard on her studies and on learning Chinese, she said she doesn't see herself as someone who will stick in one place for long.

"I want to travel the world and see so many places. Coming to Beijing is my first real big-city experience and I have been loving it," She said.

Makarenko said she has never seen herself as someone who would live a standard life. Her dream is to move to Hollywood try her hand at becoming an actress. And she's had a start during her time in Beijing, having been given minor roles in two TV shows.

But Makarenko isn't setting her sights on just that. She said she would also like to develop her modeling career and open her own modeling school one day.

"There is a saying in Russia, 'Some people believe that there are seven Fridays in the week', meaning someone plans like it's always the weekend. I am one of those people, I am planning a million things," she said.

(China Daily May 14, 2010)