Alexander Lukashenko, the long-standing leader of Belarus often characterized as “Europe’s last dictator,” is once again at the center of intense personal speculation.

Reports from Eastern European investigative outlets and Russian media have linked the 71-year-old president to Aliya Korotkaya, a 22-year-old beauty queen and rising star in the Belarusian modeling circuit.

The relationship, which features a nearly 50-year age gap, reportedly blossomed through the state-sanctioned beauty industry that Lukashenko has personally curated over his three decades in power.

Korotkaya, a runner-up in the Miss Belarus 2025 pageant and a recent medalist at the Miss BRICS 2026 international contest in Kazan, has been spotted by the leader’s side at several high-profile public events.

Observers of the Minsk elite note that Korotkaya is not the first young woman from the National School of Beauty to catch the president’s eye.

Lukashenko has a well-documented history of selecting companions from the pool of pageant contestants he frequently judges or hosts at official state functions.

In 2019, he was famously linked to Maria Vasilevich, then 22, who was crowned Miss Belarus 2018.

Following their public appearances at the 2018 World Cup and various state balls, Vasilevich was eventually elected to the Belarusian parliament at age 22, becoming the country’s youngest lawmaker.

Korotkaya’s ascent appears to follow a similar trajectory. Since late 2025, she has been a regular fixture in the presidential box at ice hockey matches—a sport Lukashenko plays and promotes with religious fervor.

Reports from Russian outlet Bloknot indicate that during a match in early April 2026, Lukashenko was seen presenting the young model with soft toys, a gesture that has fueled “young mistress” headlines across Russian-language social media channels.

Who is Aliya Korotkaya?

A native of Minsk, Aliya Korotkaya (22) is described as a model, psychologist, and fashion designer behind the brand KIALI.

Her father was reportedly a model with an international profile, and she began her training at the National School of Beauty at the age of 12.

Her recent accolades include:

• Second Runner-up (Bronze Medal): Miss BRICS 2026 in Kazan, Russia.
• Audience Choice Award: Miss BRICS 2026.
• First Runner-up: Miss Belarus 2025.
• Second Vice-Miss: Miss Minsk 2025.

While Belarusian state media maintains a strictly professional tone, focusing on her “artistry” and “modern Belarusian beauty,” Russian tabloids have been more blunt, referring to her as the president’s “new favorite.”

The rumors surrounding Korotkaya coincide with a major state propaganda push.

Lukashenko officially declared 2026 as the “Year of the Belarusian Woman,” a move aimed at “popularizing the role of women in preserving and developing society.”

In his New Year’s address, Lukashenko spoke of “all-consuming love” and the “special role” women play as the foundation of the nation.

Critics of the regime, however, point to the irony of these declarations. While the state celebrates women in rhetoric, it maintains a patriarchal structure where the president’s personal life remains a shielded, yet highly visible, instrument of his image as a “virile” leader.

Lukashenko remains legally married to Galina Lukashenko, 71, though the couple has been estranged for over 30 years. He has never officially divorced, yet Galina is rarely seen in public and does not perform the duties of a First Lady.

Lukashenko’s personal life often serves as a distraction from his tightening grip on power and his controversial role on the world stage.

Having ruled since 1994, he recently oversaw a 2025 presidential election that Western monitors and the European Parliament dismissed as a “sham.”

His relationship with Vladimir Putin remains his most critical lifeline. Belarus continues to host Russian tactical nuclear weapons and serves as a strategic staging ground for Russian military operations.

Amid this geopolitical tension, there have been unconfirmed murmurs regarding a potential diplomatic shift, including a rumored invitation to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to end years of isolation—a prospect that would represent a significant pivot for the Minsk strongman.

For young women like Korotkaya, the “National School of Beauty” acts as more than just a training ground; it is a direct pipeline to the presidential inner circle.

The school is state-funded and was recently granted status as the “single coordinator” for international beauty representation under a decree signed by Lukashenko himself.

By surrounding himself with beauty queens nearly 50 years his junior, Lukashenko continues to project an image of ageless authority, even as he enters his eighth decade.

Whether Aliya Korotkaya will follow Maria Vasilevich’s path into the halls of political power or remain a permanent fixture in the presidential hockey box remains to be seen.