New York, Mar 10 : Maria Sergeyeva, a 24-year-old philosophy student and political activist, is emerging as a rising star in Russian politics.

Since a gushing speech praising Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and president Dmitry Medvedev at a recent pro-Kremlin rally, she has become an Internet sensation as the pin-up of the country's fervently patriotic youth movement.

Russia''s largest political blog had to ban further posts about `Masha' due to excessive traffic.

It may be the first step towards the fulfilment of her political ambitions.

"I was brought up to be a patriot from day one. My love for Russia came with my mother''s milk. I loved listening to my grandparents'' heroic tales from the war," the New York Daily News quoted Sergeyeva, as telling the Times of London.

"Putin has given us stability and economic growth. It''s good that he''s hardline and tough," she added. (ANI)