1. Šta vas je podstaklo da pokrenete kampanju Age of Consent i zauzmete se za odbranu maloletnika od zlostavljanja i trgovine ljudima?
Moje lično iskustvo bilo je ono koje me je inspirisalo na to da zauzmem aktivan stav protiv ovakve vrste nepravde. Kada je program počeo, dobila sam preko 62.000 poruka od strane devojaka koje žive u zemljama ruskog govornog područja, od kojih su preko 13 posto bile devojke iz Ukrajine.
U poslednje vreme projekat je usporen zbog izazovnih događaja širom sveta. Ali čim se međunarodna situacija normalizuje, uveravam vas da ću se vratiti borbi za prava žena.
2. Kakve rezultate očekujete od kampanje, kako ćete znati da li je bila uspešna?
„Globalnu kampanju za pravno doba“ pokrenula sam sa misijom da podignem svest o minimalnoj starosti za ulazak u seksualne odnose širom sveta i udružim se sa grupacijom “UN Women” iz Njujorka, te zakonodavcima i medijima u Rusiji.
Ova kampanja podiže svest o činjenici da danas više od 64 zemlje na svetu i 48 posto stanovništva, imaju legalnu starost za ulazak u seksulne odnose u dobi ispod 14 godine. Iako je projekat usporen zbog komplikovane političke situacije, mnoge stvari se dešavaju u pozadini.
Haljina: Tadić Filip, Prsten: Maiko Suzuki Jewelry, Minđuše: Little Court Paris
3. Dok Rusiji nisu uvedene ekonomske sankcije živeli ste u Njujorku, a zatim ste se vratili u otadžbinu. Možete li opisati kako danas izgleda vaš život i kako poslujete u Rusiji?
Iako sankcije ne bi trebalo da naškode običnim građanima, one u stvarnosti uvek otežavaju život ibičnim ljudima. Rusi su veoma strpljiva i vredna nacija, te mnogi neostatak robe široke potrošnje doživljavaju kao priliku da lokalno proizvedenom robom popune prazninu na tržištu. Ova nova vrsta biznismena na pritisak sankcija gleda kao na savršeno vreme za nove prilike na tržištu.
Modna industrija nije izuzetak. Skoro svi vodeći modni brendovi napustili su zemlju stvarajući ogormnu prazninu kada je u pitanju zadovoljavanje potražnje zemlje za udobnim i modernism komadima. Ruska vlada razume potrebu za stvaranjem sopstvenog modnog brenda i aktivno podržava modnu industriju dajući grantove, te finansirajući poslovanja talnetovanih dizajnera u nadi da će u potpunosti zadovoljiti zahteve ljubitelja mode i možda stvoriti sopstvene modne brendove svetske klase.
Vinyl top: Nazarene Amictus
4. Videli smo vaš modni editorijal u ukrajinskom izdanju magazine Marie Claire. Kako je došlo do ove saradnje?
Radila sam za mnoge časopise u različitim zemljama. Videla sam mnogo, ali nikada nisam bio napadnuta, trolovana i omražena na mrežama samo zato što sam Ruskinja, sve do snimanja za magazin Vogue u Ukrajini.
To je zanimljiva i veoma neobična priča. Pre neku godinu, mnogo pre specijalne operacije, magazin Vogue u Ukrajini ponudio mi je publikaciju. Kada su fotografije bile gotove i članak konačno spreman za štampu. Iz direkcije magazine Vogue rečeno mi je kako sa svojih naloga na društvenim mrežama, moram da uklonim sav sadržaj koji ima veze sa Rusijom, ne bi li članak bio objavljen.
Haljina: Tadić Filip, Prsten: Maiko Suzuki Jewelry, Minđuše: Little Court Paris
Vogue je otkazao ovaj članak i fotografisanje, samo zato što su moju podršku ruskom gimnastičarskom timu (tačnije sestrama Averin) na Olimpijskim igrama u Japanu, shvatili kao prorusku propagandu. Magazin Elle takođe je odbio da objavi članak zbog moje podrške ruskoj gimnastici.
Ali ja sam sportiskinja i nikada ne odustajem. Marie Claire objavili su članak i fotografije zapravo samo zbog nesporazuma. Činilo se da je tokom pregovora ukrajinska strana imala utisak da sam model rođen u Ukrajini – to je jedini razlog zašto je članak objavljen.
Ova priča jasno pokazuje da je takozvana „Rusofobija“ postojala mnogo pre nego što je specijalna operacija izvedena u Ukrajini. Smatram da je tužno što se sport i manekenstvo politizuju. Čitav cilj olimpizma je da sport stavi u službu harmoničnog razvoja čovečanstva i zato verujem da stvari te prirode, uključujući modu, treba držati van politike.
Ogrlica: Aracheli Studio, Minđuše: Aracheli Studio, Prsten: Maiko Suzuki Jewelry, Kupaći: Anna swimwear
5. Da li vam studije geopolitike koje ste pohađali pomažu da bolje razumete politička dešavanja u svetu?
Studirala sam političke nauke na Moskovskom državnom univerzitetu, što mi je pomoglo u uspostavljanju uzročno-posledičnih veza mnogih događaja i boljem snalaženju u savremenom svetu. Ali poznavanje geo politike me ne čini političarem, ja sam samo manekenka, lepa i pametna (šala).
6. Našli ste se u rijaliti programima The Face i Model Moms. Šta ste naučili iz tog iskustva? Šta mislite o današnjim rijaliti programima?
Učešće u rijalitiju ‘The Face’ bilo je za mene težak psihološki test, jer sam stalno morala nekome nešto da dokazujem i da se “lomim”, iako sam već bila afirmisani model. Ali iskustvo posmatranja emisije iznutra, omogućilo mi je da kasnije pokrenem sopstveni projekat pod nazivom Model Moms. Međutim, mislim da se era rijalitija bliži kraju, vreme je da smislimo nešto novo.
Ogrlica: Aracheli Studio, Minđuše: Aracheli Studio, Prsten: Maiko Suzuki Jewelry
7. Da li planirate posetu Srbiji?
Kada je počela specijalna vojna operacija u Ukrajini, Srbija je bila jedina evropska zemlja koja nije prekinula vazdušnu komunikaciju sa Rusijom, obezbeđujući siguran most za obične ljude koji rade u inostranstvu ili se bave važnim porodičnim pitanjima.
Sećam se dana kada sam saznala za specijalnu operaciju. Sve sam ostavila u Njujorku ne bih li doletela u Rusiju. Bila sam spreman da se ukrcam u prvi dostupan avion da budem sa svojim sinom jedincem, mamom koja je penzionisana, tatom i bakom. Mojom porodicom koja je razbolela zbog ludo komplikovane ekonomske i političke situacije, podstaknute lažnim vestima i nedostatkom pouzdanih informacija.
Sećam se kako sam pretraživala liste letova na mreži, da bih saznala kako su svi letovi otkazani, rasprodati ili nedostupni. Dobila sam napad panike. Sećam se i kako sam grozničavo pretraživala internet ne bih li saznala koji avioprevoznici još uvek lete za Moskvu. Biću iskrena, kada sam saznala da srpska avio-kompanija još uvek leti za Moskvu, bila sam vrlo emotivna. Pogotovo kada sam konačno dobila potvrdu za karte od kompanije Air Srbija.
Na putu do aerodroma saobraćaj je bio užasan – imao sam emocionalni napad panike i veoma sam zahvalan predstavnicima Er Srbije što su mi omogućili da se osećam bezbedno i bezbedno. Imao sam presjedanje u Beogradu. Zaista sam bila zadivljena koliko su srpski ljudi puni razumevanja i spremni da pomognu. Bez njihove pomoći, nikada ne bih stigao do svoje porodice.
Veoma sam zahvalna kompaniji Air Srbija, što mi je pomogla da se vidim sa svojom porodicom, u trenutku kada do toga nije bilo stalo ni jednom drugom prevozniku.
Rukavice: Dooway, Suknja: Wear Natural
8. Nakon filma “Making the Day”, da li ste razmišljali da počnete profesionalno da se bavite glumom? Šta vam se u tom iskustvu najviše dopalo? A, postoji li nešto što vam se najmanje dopalo?
Snimanje filma “Making the Day” bilo je sjajno iskustvo. Imala sam priliku da radim sa pravim profesionalcima – izuzetnim ljudima na filmu i van njega. Bila sam pred filmskom kamerom i ranije, ali ovo je bilo potpuno drugačije iskustvo. Usponi i padovi deo su svakog kreativnog procesa. Međutim, kada prvi put vidite produkciju na velikom ekranu, znate da se isplatilo.
9. Poznato ste i priznato ime u modnom biznisu. Da li neki od vaših modnih snova još uvek niste ostvarili?
Složila bih se sa jednim poznatim Rusom koji je rekao: „Mislim da bi Rusija bila … ispred ostatka planete, ne samo u oblasti baleta i svemirskih raketa.“ Ali, kao manekenka i žena, sanjam da je u ovu rečenicu uvrštena reč “moda”. Na kraju krajeva, lepota će spasiti svet!
10. Postoji li još neki od modnih snova koji niste ostvarili?
Planiram da se bavim produkcijom editorijala i kreativnog sadržaja u kojima će vodeću ulogu igrati ruski dizajneri, a materijal će biti distribuiran u zemljama sveta koje ne podržavaju sankcije Rusiji.
Haljina: Stefan, Prsten: Erickson Beamon
Fotograf: Alena Kostromina @alenakostromina.dp
Stilista: Nikita Klesch @youngpublicist
Videograf: Ben Stoll @bennybstoll
Kosa i šminka: Anastasia @mua_newyork
Model: Kira Dikhtyar @kiradikhtyar
Asistent stiliste: Valeria Kovtun @lerkov_a
Lokacija: James Kiviour @thepretentioushome
PR: LSA @leo.alderman @lsapublications
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1. What prompted you to launch the Age of Consent campaign and defend minors from abuse and sex trafficking?
It was my personal experience that inspired me to take an active stance against injustice. When the program started, I received 62,000 messages from girls who live in Russian-speaking countries over 13% of which were girls from Ukraine.
Lately, the project slowed down due to challenging events around the globe. But, as soon as the international situation normalizes I can reassure you that I will be back to resuming my fight for woman’s rights.
2. What results do you expect from the campaign, how will you know if it was successful?
I launched the ‘Global Legal Age Campaign’ with the mission to raise the minimum age across the globe and team up with UN Women in NY and lawmakers and media in Russia.
This campaign raises awareness about the fact, that today, over 64 countries by number and 48% by population have a legal age of consent lower than 14 y.o. Even though the project has slowed down due to the complicated political situation, many things are happening in the background.
3. You lived in New York until economic sanctions were imposed on Russia, and then you returned to your homeland. Can you describe how you do business and live in Russia today?
Even though Sanctions are not supposed to hurt regular citizens, in reality, they always make life difficult for ordinary people. Russians are a very patient and hardworking nation, so many perceive the lack of consumer goods as an opportunity to fill the market void with locally manufactured goods. This new breed of businessmen is viewing sanctions pressure as a perfect time for new market opportunities.
The fashion industry is not an exception. Almost all major fashion brands have left the country creating an enormous void when it comes to satisfying countries’ demand for comfortable and fashionable closing. The Russian government understands the need to have its own fashion brands and is actively supporting the fashion industry by giving grants and business financing to talented designers in hopes of fully satisfying fashionistas’ demands and, maybe creating its own world-class fashion brands.
4. We have seen your fashion editorial in the Ukrainian edition of Marie Clair. How did it come about?
I have worked for many magazines in different countries. I have seen a lot, but I have never been attacked, trolled, and hated online just for being Russian until the Vogue photoshoot in Ukraine.
It is an interesting and very unusual story. A while year ago, well before the special operation, Vogue magazine in Ukraine offered me a publication. When the photos were done and the article was finally ready for print, I was told by Vogue, that I would need to remove all Russia-related content from my social media accounts in order for the article to be published.
Vogue canceled this article and photoshoot only because they took my support for the Russian Gymnastics Team (sisters Averin to be precise) at the Japan Olympics for pro-Russian propaganda. Elle magazine also refused to publish the article because of my support for Russian gymnastics.
But I am an athlete and I never give up. The article and photoshoot were published by Marie Clair simply because of a misunderstanding. It appeared that during the negotiations, the Ukrainian side was under impression that I was a Ukrainian-born model – this is the only reason why the article was published.
This story clearly shows that the so-called “Rusofobia” existed well before the special operation took place in Ukraine. I think it is a shame that sports and modeling are becoming politicized. The entire goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind and therefore, I do believe that things of that nature, including fashion, should be placed outside of politics.
5. Does the study of geopolitics help you better understand political developments in the world?
I studied political science at Moscow State University, it helps to establish cause-and-effect relationships of many events and better navigate the modern world. But knowledge of political geography does not make me a politician, I am just a model, beautiful and smart (joke).
6. You starred reality shows The Face and Model Moms. What did you learn from that experience? What do you think of reality shows today?
Participation in the reality show ‘The Face’ was a difficult test for me in terms of psychology because I constantly had to prove something to someone and “break” myself while being already an established model. But it was the experience of seeing the show from the inside that allowed me to later launch my own Model Moms project. And yet, I think that the era of reality shows is coming to an end, it’s time to come up with something new.
7. Do you plan to visit Serbia?
When a special military operation began in Ukraine, Serbia was the only European country that has not stopped air communication with Russia, providing a safe bridge for ordinary people who work abroad and travel on important family matters.
I remember, the day, when I got to know about the special operation. I dropped everything in New York to fly to Russia. I was ready to board the first available plane to be with my only son, my retired mom, dad, and grandmother who are all worried sick because of the insanely complicated economic and political situation fuelled by fake news and lack of reliable information.
I remember looking at flight listings online only to find out that all the flights were canceled, sold out, or unavailable. I had a panic attack. I remember frantically searching the internet to find out which air carriers still have flights to Moscow. To be honest, when I learned that Serbian Airline still has flights to Moscow. I got emotional when I finally got my ticket confirmation from Air Serbia.
On the way to the airport, the traffic was awful – I had an emotional panic attack and I am so thankful to Air Serbia representatives for making me feel safe and secure. I had a layover in Belgrade. I was truly amazed at how helpful and understanding Serbian people are. Without their help, I would’ve never made it to my family.
I am very thankful to Air Serbia for helping me reunite with my family when no other carrier cared.
8. After the movie Making the Day, have you considered to become a pro in acting? What did you like the most in that experience? Is there something that you loved less?
Making the Day was a great experience. I had an opportunity to work with true professionals – remarkable people on and off film. I have been in front of a movie camera before, but this was an absolutely different experience. The ups and downs are a part of any creative process, so you have to plow throw. But when you see the production for the first time on the big screen, you know that it was well worth it.
9. You are well known and recognized name in fashion business. Is there any dream in fashion left that you still did not achieve?
I would agree with one famous Russian who said, “I think that Russia would be … ahead of the rest of the planet, not only in the field of ballet and space rockets.” But, as a fashion model and a woman, I dream of the word “fashion” added to the list. After all, beauty will save the world!
10. Is there another dream in fashion that you haven’t yet achieved?
I plan to produce shows and photoshoots with Russian designers in the countries of the world that do not support sanctions against Russia.
