By Maria Danilova / AP

ON a typical day she may chair a cabinet meeting, visit coal miners or fly to Brussels for a summit.

But before she steps out of her home, she sculpts her rich blond hair into a peasant-style braid.

Only then does she become the prime minister every Ukrainian can instantly identify.

Photograph: Getty Images 

The hair is the high point of Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko's glamorous image.

But she also has a steely, in-your-face resolve.

To her adoring supporters she's simply ''Yulia,'' selfless fighter for democracy. The hairdo is more than just a fashion statement; it evokes a beloved symbol of Ukrainian identity - the humble, honest peasant.