Enter Russia's new first lady -- Svetlana Medvedeva

By Amie Ferris-Rotman

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A patron of Russian fashion, socialite and supporter of the arts, Svetlana Medvedeva is shaking off her air of mystery as she prepares to become Russia's first lady.

Russian media are already drawing comparisons with Raisa Gorbacheva, the late wife of the last Soviet president, whose glamorous image and frequent public appearances broke with Soviet tradition.

Medvedeva becomes first lady when her husband, Dmitry Medvedev, 42, takes over as president in May following his election victory on Sunday. She has already caused something of a media frenzy even though she shies away from photographers and does not give interviews.

A stylish blonde, she often appears in the Russian versions of celebrity magazines "Hello" and "OK", hailing Russian art or featuring on their "best dressed" lists. Her friends include many Russian celebrities.

Born Svetlana Linnik, she started dating her future husband when they were both around 14 at school 305 in their home town of St Petersburg. They married in 1989.

"She had a bright personality," Medvedev's former high school teacher, Irina Grigorovskaya, told Reuters.

"(Many boys) took an interest in her, but she chose Dima (Medvedev). They were a beautiful couple," said Grigorovskaya, who has stayed in touch since she taught Medvedev mathematics in the 1970s.

Medvedev's campaign team declines to say how old the future first lady is. She trained as an economist, but gave up her career when their only child was born in 1996.