Ukraine is known for being home to some of the most beautiful women in the world, and also these two.

It seems the gene pool is so refined in Ukraine that even their soldiers and gorgeous, and the military must know it because every year they hold the “Miss Trooper” contest, a beauty pageant to determine the most stunning soldier female soldier in the Ukraine army.

^Footage from Miss Trooper 2011

Now in its third year, the contest is open to any of the 18,000+ women currently enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. And it isn’t just about looks: contestants are also judged on their pistol and rifle marksmanship, RPG proficiency, and handling of armored vehicles. There is also a swimsuit competition.

The crown (a blue beret in this case) goes to the soldier with the highest marks across the board. That means even an uggo can win if she’ proves she could top the other girls in a firefight—which, if you think about it, is a pretty fair deal.

Have a look at the photos from this year’s competition, as well as the winners from 2010 and 2011, below. The final stage (swimsuits) will be held next week and the winner announced in early January.

Source: Hachima Kiko, FACTS ICTV