Kiev, Moscow  - The daughter of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko stepped up her career as a fashion model with runway work at a Milan show, Russia's Izvestia newspaper reported Tuesday.

Vitalina Yushchenko took part in the showing of the summer collection of the Ukrainian designer Aina Gase, according to the report.

Vitalina's portfolio also includes photographs posed for Russian Vogue. Prior to taking up modelling, the 27-year-old mother-of-two had pursued a career as a pop singer.

Vitalina is Yushchenko's eldest child by a previous marriage.

Ukrainian media have accused Vitalina and her younger brother Andriy, 23, of trying to cash in on their father's position as president.

Both Yushchenko children lead high profile public lives, with Ukrainian society pages chronicling in detail their lifestyle, property, and celebrity friends.

Andriy, an unemployed student, came in for particularly sharp criticism recently for parking his 30,000-euro BMW SUV illegally in downtown Kiev.

Yushchenko has reacted strongly to such charges, claiming the media targets his children in order to sell newspaper and television advertising. (dpa)