ABC News called her a fashion figure, the likes of Liz Claiborne or Tommy Hilfiger. Metro.co.uk said, “High school student by day, top fashion designer by evening.” The Daily Mail reported,”Kira takes on the fashion world. The youngster has 40 shops selling her clothes in Russia, and her style has been billed as the Slavic answer to Topshop and H&M.” HELLO! magazine called her the “15-year-old fashion whiz.”

We’re talking about Kira Plastinina, of course. And at 15, she’s the chief designer for a rapidly growing chain of clothing stores aimed at teenage girls. The first Kira Plastinina shop opened in Moscow last year, and already the chain now has 28 locations throughout Russia. And the stylish teenager is ready to storm the U.S. this year with stores from coast to coast, with at least half a dozen stores operating in as early as July at prime locations such as SOHO and Manhattan in New York, and Beverly Center in Los Angeles.

Bob Higgins, senior vice president, retail development and operations of Kira Plastinina, said a minimum of 50 U.S. stores are envisioned by 2010. “We actually feel like we are being real cautious and strategic,” he said. “The stores are either on premier streets or in A malls.”

With an average price of $48, the collection emphasizes denim, tops and day and evening dresses with touches of white, metals and wood, and Kira’s signature pink and is aimed at fashion conscious girls and women aged 15 to 25.

What’s she like? As could be expected, Kira does take in a diet of pop culture. And she says Paris Hilton is her style muse. She loves the Olsen twins, Italian craftsmanship and hot pink. Javno Magazine reported that Kira wants to be taken as a designer so seriously that she offered Paris Hilton two million dollars just to sit in the front row at her fashion show.

Kira always had aspirations of making it in the fashion world. “As far back as I can remember, I was always drawing things, either clothing or horses,” said the 10th-grader at the Anglo-American School in Moscow. “But mostly clothing.”

So what we now see is a broad array of teen-oriented clothes, shoes and accessories that are plainly girly and playful, with touches of hearts and frills–and of course, an unabashed use of pink and purple.

So, the Russian is coming. Get to know her a little better before she hits the teenage fashion scene:

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