Sukhinova won the 2007 Miss Russia pageant on 14 December 2007 in Moscow, where she represented Tyumen.

She was unable to represent Russia at Miss Universe 2008 due to her college work, so her 1st runner-up, Vera Krasova, replaced her in the pageant.

[4] On 13 December 2008, Sukhinova was crowned the new Miss World at the finals in Johannesburg, South Africa after beating 108 contestants.

[citation needed] In a press conference after her victory, she said: "I am very glad to have brought this crown to Russia.

I am proud that it is Russia that got the crown and I devote my victory to the whole country and to its every citizen... and to my grandmother.