Alexandra Kosteniuk is a Russian chess Grandmaster, author, and model. As a prominent female figure in the world of chess, she is a former Women's World Chess Champion. She began learning chess at the age of five, and by the time she was 14 years old, she had already gained prominence by winning the European Girls’ Championship.
Kosteniuk's impressive chess career includes winning the Women's World Chess Championship in 2008, holding the title until 2010. She is also a four-time Russian Women's Champion and a five-time Olympiad champion as a member of the Russian team.
She is known for her advocacy to promote chess worldwide and uses her public image to attract more girls and women into chess. She has even modeled in a campaign to challenge the perception of the stereotypical chess player.