Nikita

Penthouse Pet of the Month July 1998\ Mention to anyone the title of the French film (and American cable series) \ La Femme Nikita\ and images of a sexy powerful woman comes to mind. The action/adventure tale of a female killer who is transformed into a secret agent has quite a following of devoted fans. So does our Nikita, A 22-year-old Russian. \ Our Pet of the Month’s own transformation came began when she left Moscow at the age of 15. “I was in school, studying art, when I found myself getting very bored,” the energetic blonde tells us. “I was at a crossroad in my life. There were big changes going on in Moscow, but things weren’t happening fast enough for me. So many people were having such a difficult time living in Russia, getting frustrated by not being able to get even the simplest things for themselves or for their family. I didn’t want that to happen to me. That’s when I decided to leave home and try my hand at a modeling career.” \ She says she was considered a quiet girl growing up, “but I knew I would have to be aggressive if I wanted to make myself a success.” \ Before long the 36-25-36 Nikita was going on modeling assignments throughout Europe. At six feet, our statuesque Pet turns heads wherever she goes. “Although I’ve always wanted to model, I never really considered myself to be more beautiful than other girls I’ve seen in magazines or on television. I think everyone has something about themselves that makes them beautiful and unique. You never know what one person is going to find attractive about someone else.” Then Nikita adds, “For me, what I look for is someone I can talk to and be myself with. A perfect date could be a simple lunch at a café or just taking a bus ride around town. I’m not interested in a lot of romance. I think most of it is phony anyway. But if I find a man I like and he likes me without any pretense, then that person will win my heart.”\ Nikita presently lives in Los Angeles. “For me, the United States was always a wonderland,” she reveals. “I heard all the stories about how great the weather is and how everyone has a car. Here in L.A. it’s true. It’s always warm, but still people will get in the car rather than walk.”\ “I like my space,” Nikita reports. “And I don’t rush into relationships. It takes some time to feel comfortable sharing my fantasies. But once I reveal those secrets, my lovers always agree it was time well spent.” \ Nikita, we’d say time is very much on your side.\ Nikita’s resume includes several small film roles. “I enjoy acting,” she says, “but as everyone says in Hollywood, what I really want is to direct.”