Olga Stepanovna Khokhlova, also known as Olga Ruiz-Picasso, was born on June 17, 1891, in Nizhyn, Russian Empire, and passed away on February 11, 1955, in Cannes, France. She was a Russian ballerina, performed with the "Ballets Russes" of Diaghilev, became the first wife of Pablo Picasso, and the mother of his eldest son, Paulo.

Olga was born into the family of Colonel Stepan Vasilyevich Khokhlov of the Russian Imperial Army and his wife Lydia Zinchenko. Her dream of becoming a ballerina began after visiting France and watching a performance by Madame Schréssont. Olga studied at a private ballet school in St. Petersburg.

From 1915, she began dancing with Sergei Diaghilev's "Ballets Russes." On May 18, 1917, Olga performed at the premiere of the ballet "Parade" at the Châtelet Theatre. This ballet was created by Sergei Diaghilev, Erik Satie, and Jean Cocteau, while Pablo Picasso was responsible for the costumes and scenery. After meeting Picasso, she traveled with him to Barcelona, where the artist introduced her to his family. His mother was initially concerned about her son marrying a foreigner, and Picasso painted a portrait of Olga in Spanish attire to reassure her. They later returned to Paris and began their life together on Rue de Boti.

On June 18, 1918, Olga and Pablo were married in the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Paris. Jean Cocteau and Max Jacob were present as witnesses. After marriage, Olga took the surname Picasso and, at her husband's insistence, left her ballet career.

On February 4, 1921, the couple had a son, Paulo. However, from 1927, their relationship began to deteriorate. That same year, Picasso started an affair with 17-year-old Frenchwoman Marie-Thérèse Walter. In 1935, Olga learned about this affair and that Marie-Thérèse was expecting a child. She immediately ended her relationship with Picasso and filed for divorce, taking their son Paulo with her. However, Picasso refused to share the property as stipulated in their marriage contract, so Olga remained his legal wife until her death. She was buried in Cannes.