Organisers of the Mrs Russia beauty pageant have been forced to defend their winner, blaming a photograph taken at a bad angle after she was mercilessly mocked online.

Images of Natalya Oskar, from Khabarovsk, who won the contest on Tuesday, became an object of vitriol as social media users - many of them from Ukraine - ridiculed her looks.

Some made derisive remarks about her short stature, full lips and heavy makeup. Others suggested she had too much plastic surgery.

The Mrs Russia competition, where contestants have to be married and have children, became more inclusive this year to welcome shorter women and plus-size models.