‘Russia’s Most Beautiful Biker’ Tatyana Ozolina dies in motorbike accident in Turkey

Vartha Bharati | 25-07-2024 | 17:00:00 IST

Tatyana Ozolina, a popular Russian social media influencer known as “MotoTanya,” lost her life in a motorcycle accident in Turkey. The 38-year-old was involved in a collision with a truck while riding her motorcycle between Mugla and Bodrum.

Reports suggest that Ozolina lost control of her red 2015 BMW S1000RR and crashed into the truck near Milas. According to The Sun, she was dead before paramedics arrived at the spot. Another motorcyclist from Turkey, Onur Obut, was injured in the accident and is currently getting medical treatment, while a third rider escaped unharmed. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances of the crash.

Ozolina was dubbed as “Russia’s most beautiful biker” and had a vast following on social media with over 2 million subscribers on YouTube and 1 million on Instagram. Andrei Ivanov, head of the MotoMoscow Association, expressed his sadness, stating, “MotoTanya is not with us anymore… she had a bright and beautiful life. Millions of people followed her. Perhaps there was not a single motorcyclist in the country who was indifferent to Tatyana. She was adored, envied, admired, copied, awarded as a top blogger, and, at the same time, discussed and slandered. Now all that remains is her memory. Sleep well,” as reported by The Sun.

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First-ever life-size Vivekananda statue in US unveiled in Seattle

12-04-2026 ¦ 12-04-2026 IST

Photo: PTI

New York (PTI): The first-ever life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in the US was unveiled in Seattle, honouring the renowned Indian philosopher and spiritual leader.

The life-size bronze statue, installed at the busy Westlake Square in downtown Seattle, is the first such installation hosted by a city government anywhere in the US, officials said.

Sculpted by Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat, it was jointly unveiled on Saturday by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta.

"From Chicago 1893 to Seattle 2026! Seattle's skyline has a new Indian icon: Swami Vivekananda! City of Seattle becomes the first city government to host the Swami Vivekananda Monument in the heart of downtown Seattle," the Consulate General of India in Seattle said in a social media post.

Addressing the event, Wilson said the monument reflects Seattle's inclusive spirit and strengthens cultural ties between India and the diverse metropolitan tech hub in the US Pacific Northwest.

The statue has been gifted by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to the City of Seattle in recognition of its "in recognition of the city’s rich multicultural character and spirit of inclusivity", the Indian mission in Seattle said in a statement.

The unveiling of the statue was held on the occasion of the celebration of ICCR Day and is part of India's broader cultural diplomacy initiatives aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties between India and the US Pacific Northwest, the Consulate said.

Located at the bustling Westlake Square, which sees over 400,000 visitors daily, the monument stands near prominent landmarks including the Amazon headquarters ‘Spheres’, the Seattle Convention Centre and the Seattle Centre Monorail.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by several local leaders, including mayors from cities in the Greater Seattle area, community representatives and members of the Indian-American diaspora.

Swami Vivekananda had delivered his historic address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, introducing Hindu philosophy to a global audience.