Yulia is originally from Odessa on the Crimean coast. Her friend Alla, whom she met in the Anastasia office, has lived in Kiev all of her 22 years and faces the same problem.

Both girls are lively, attractive and well educated with a command of foreign languages in addition to native Ukrainian and Russian.  Neither have children. Both have travelled  - Yulia on modelling assignments to Germany and London, Alla on business trips with her oil and energy company employer to many countries . The week after we met in Kiev, Alla was heading for Singapore.

Of the men they have met through Anastasia Alla is impressed most with Americans while Yulia has found interesting introductions from Australia, Canada and England.  In general the girls say the men that contact them are much older although Yulia said she was having lengthy conversations with an Australian who was only a year older than her. Both say that age and appearance are only secondary considerations in their quest for a mate. “they must be tender and smart,” says Alla while Yulia says what is important is “Soul. If his mind and heart are in tune with mine, then the rest is secondary.”

Anastasia International has a good reputation among Ukrainian girls seeking foreign husbands. Evry girl is registered and must produce her passport at the Kiev office or through affiliate agencies in other Ukrainian towns. The girls receive calls from prospective partners at pre-arranged times in the agency’s Kiev office where translators and interpreters are available.

Anastasia International claims to be the leading romantic introduction agency specializing in ladies from Russia, Ukraine and former Soviet states and has over 15,500 ladies on their books. The agency has earned a blue chip reputation over the years by weeding out potential scam artists and offering unique services including translator-assisted e-mail, telephone calls and video chat.

Alla is hoping to meet the man of her dreams and “the magic clicks”. Yulia, who is preparing for an end to her modeling days by studying theatrical production, says “First, I have to be in love. I think I’ll feel it. First we will chat over the internet, then we will talk by phone and if we like each other then we can try a relationship.”

Both the girls are optimistic about Anastasia International and have got to know other girls at the agency who have already become engaged through the agency.

“I have high hopes for Anastasia International”, says Alla.

“I want to try. Maybe it will work,” Yulia adds.

The agency, which has administrative offices in the USA and Russia is at www.anastasia-international.com .