Five years ago, it was difficult to imagine girls with curvaceous figures on the catwalks and in advertising. And today, plus-size models smile at us from glossy pages, conclude contracts with famous brands and collect thousands of subscribers on social networks. One of these models is Olga Lukomskaya, a 28-year-old Belarusian woman who now lives and works in Moscow.

"IN 21 YEARS WRONG SIZE 60"

I come from Gomel, from a family of musicians. I never planned to pursue a modeling career, I was more interested in the singer's career. Although when my friends saw beautiful fat girls in advertising - and then it was a rarity! - they always told me: "There is not enough you!" I always stood out among my surroundings, and although in childhood there were only slender girls around me, I did not have complexes because of my large size. I had the correct proportions, I saw the beauty in myself - largely thanks to my parents, who have always loved me madly and constantly told me about it. I loved to cut out photographs of beautiful fat women from magazines, I admired them. They were my allies! (laughs). When I was 21, I was much larger - I wore size 60, weighed 115 kg. At the same time, I often heard compliments addressed to myself. But at some point, I realized that I could no longer live in this size. I was even a little scared - what will happen next?

- Olga, being overweight is most often a health problem. Have you encountered them?

No, I was young and healthy, but I understood my prospects. For some time I worked in Gomel in a large size clothing store as a sales assistant. I adored the women who came there, I was happy to help them in choosing outfits, but I was bitter at the thought of what I could come to if I didn't start to pull myself together. Because I'm not for obesity. I am for making women feel good no matter what weight they are. I went to the clinic and began to lose weight under the supervision of psychologists - no pills, proper fractional nutrition, calorie counting ... At the same time, I could eat absolutely everything, even cakes. For six months I have lost about 25 kg.

"IN MOSCOW, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH MONEY EVEN FOR THE PASSAGE"

- Was your move to Moscow connected with a modeling career?

No, I was just going to a big city - Moscow with its prospects has always fascinated me. I was 23 years old and had a managerial diploma in commercial communications. I started by getting a job as a salesman in a children's clothing store. On the third day of my work, a beautiful woman came into the store, whom I recognized immediately - I saw her photograph in one of the magazines. I complimented her, we got to talking. She said that she was the director of a modeling agency and would like to see me as a model.

- And you quit right away?

Yes, I soon quit my job and signed a contract with her modeling agency. She began to work with teachers in fashion shows and posing. I remember it was very funny - I come to a photo studio, such a big girl, and next to me are kittens of 13-14 years old, novice models who are with me on "you" (laughs) ... At the same time, I am the same beginner like them! The first orders began to arrive.

- Were there many orders?

No, it was 2011, everything was just beginning. The director still didn't really know how to work with plus-size models, and even more so, since I had just entered this business. I got several customers with whom I worked, the fees were low. There was not enough money, and I had a very difficult period when I had to live on potatoes, carrots and buckwheat. I shared a rented apartment with a friend. I couldn't even buy a metro pass, everything was so difficult ... But gradually customers began to appear, plus-size models became in demand, and fees began to grow. Now I am one of the famous models in Russia, I have agents who are involved in my projects.


- Now work allows you to earn a decent living?

Undoubtedly. I already have enough on the travel card, and even more (laughs).

- Do you manage to find a balance between work and personal life?

Yes, I have a young man who has a great attitude towards my work and supports me. He works in television.

I would gladly work more for Belarusian brands. In January, I will have a shooting for a clothing manufacturer from Brest. In Belarus, this direction is not yet very much in demand - I do not even know the "plus size" models operating in our country. But everything will come to this gradually.


Olga is sure that plus size models will soon be in demand in Belarus as well. Photos from the site: sofaclub.by. Photographers: Kanaplev + Leydik.

"PRODUCERS WEAR CAKES TO DON'T LOSE WEIGHT"

- What parameters do you have now?

I wear size 54 and keep my weight in check all the time. I can compare my body to a balloon - I am very inclined to be overweight. I once had a relapse - I gained 7 kg in two weeks. But it is important to keep your parameters in working mode, not to get better. I eat a healthy diet, fatty foods rarely appear on my plate. Although I can afford sweets or pastries, it's hard for me to refuse them. I don't want to be very thin, but I plan to lose weight to size 50, because I see aesthetics in this.

- Aren't you afraid that there will be less work when you lose weight?

No, because there is a demand for every size. In the plus size category you can work from size 46. And premium brands of the world level most often invite just models of 48-50 sizes. Recently my producers asked: "Olya, what is it, have you lost weight?" They even brought me a cake (laughs). But in fact, the weight has not changed, I just work on my body.


- Do you go in for sports?

I teach myself to sports. I go to a gym, work out with a trainer. He knows that I am a plus size model, that I do not need drastic weight loss. People look at my body, and it should be worthy, especially since I am filming in swimsuits and underwear. I really like beautiful, full figures, toned, with spectacular hips.

- Do slender girls seem beautiful to you?

There are enough petite girls around me. A woman has the right to be anyone, the main thing is that she be healthy, feminine, carry herself correctly, regardless of the parameters. Self-love is also important. This straightens the shoulders, there is a desire to live life to the fullest, smile at others and receive compliments in return.

"NEGATIVE REVIEWS WERE BY PEOPLE WITH A NARROW LOOP"

- Olya, have you encountered criticism in social networks? If so, how do you react?

Any public person is faced with both positive and negative responses. This is fine. This touches my mother more, although she has already learned not to pay attention to it, as before. We are all different, we all have the right to be. It happens that people do not understand - they say, what kind of model is this? And I think that they just do not have a very broad outlook.

- Tell me honestly - is there a lot of Photoshop in your pictures?

Photoshop is everywhere when we talk about gloss. But now all over the world there is a tendency towards minimal photo processing. My photographs for advertising companies, of course, have Photoshop, but in 99% of catalogs that are shot with my participation, photos are not processed in any way. I have really thin ankles, thin wrists, an oval face shape, no big cheeks. I have secrets on how to hide flaws and highlight the dignity of the figure with clothes and posing. But there can be no question of changing the proportions in the photo. In I post photos and videos from my life - there I am as I am. I want other women to look at me and be inspired in the same way that I was once inspired by photographs of women with forms from magazines.


In an interview with the site, the successful plus-size model Olga Lukomskaya spoke about how at the age of 20 she weighed "critically a lot", admitted that seven years ago she earned so little that she could not buy a metro pass, and also shared her fashion and beauty rules.

Ashley Graham, Tara Lynn, Jenny Rank, Iskra Lawrence are just some of the plus-size models whose names are thundering all over the world today. Each of them, by their own example, proves that the standard of beauty is not the notorious 90-60-90.

Of the Russian plus-size models, only Ekaterina Zharkova is known. We met and talked with the one whose world recognition is still ahead, but in Russia she has already become a star.

Our heroine is Olga Lukomskaya, looking at which it is impossible to restrain herself and not pay her a compliment, this girl is so charming. Olya is from Belarus, which gave the fashion industry such stars as Marina Linchuk, Olga Sherrer and Ekaterina Zingarevich.

Lukomskaya was born into a family of musicians and dreamed of becoming a singer. The girl even went to the auditions of "Star Factory" and "People's Artist". Fortunately for the Russian modeling business, fate decreed otherwise.

website: Olga, how did it happen that you decided to become a model?

: Honestly, I never dreamed about it or thought about it. But I always watched with pleasure the spectacular girls with forms, who, during my youth, were just beginning to appear on the pages of gloss. I loved to cut out photographs of beautiful fat women from magazines, I admired them. They were my allies!

website: You were born in Gomel ( city ​​in Belarus - approx. site), but did you decide to conquer the modeling business from Moscow?

O. L.: That's right. In 2011, I moved to the Russian capital and started looking for myself and a job. I got a job in a children's clothing store, where on the second day came a girl who later became my "fairy godmother." I went up to her to help, and she held out her business card with the words: “I am the director of a modeling agency and I am looking for you. I need a plus size model. " And she added: “If you don’t come to me, I know where to look for you,” and this left me no chance. As a result, I worked in this store for only three days, and after that I immediately signed a contract with the agency.

website: Did the capital immediately take on or show its character?

O. L.: When I arrived in Moscow, there was no specific plan or place where I was expected to work. There was only a small room in a kopeck piece, which we shared with a friend who also came to conquer Belokamennaya.

Living in Belarus, I saved up to move to Moscow, but I calculated the amount incorrectly: I thought that this money would be enough for me for a long time, but no.

Despite the fact that I started working as a model soon enough, there was no super profit, I would say, everything was extremely modest. Months passed, financial reserves were melting, the income from filming was penny. I remember well the period when I could not afford to buy a metro pass for a month. In general, it was different.

website: The modeling business often does not suppress, but on the contrary, strengthens the complexes, even among the most self-confident girls. How were you doing with that?

O. L.: My complexes appeared in adolescence and they were associated with clothes and shoes. I've always been a big girl, and the most difficult thing for me was to dress so as not to look like an aunt. There were no mass markets at that time, only second-hand Gomel helped me out. Thanks to them, relatives! I remember that it was very difficult for me to admit to my friends that I could only buy things of my size there.

site: Since we started talking about parameters and sizes, tell me your numbers.

O. L.: Height 173 cm, bust 117, waist 95, hips 125, foot size 41.

website: Have you tried to lose weight or love yourself the way you are?

O. L.: Once in the ninth grade, I tried to start losing weight and tuned in to the so-called hunger strike marathon. I must say right away that I have no willpower, so at the beginning of the diet, I immediately realized that I could not stand a day. Then I decided that I would simply not eat after six, and for greater effect I began to swing my abs and legs. There weren't any special results, but I didn't worry! I really loved and love myself the way I am. I don't want to be very thin.


website: And that, there was never a single breakdown or a moment when you could not look at yourself in the mirror?

O. L.: Of course he was! At 22, I reached my critical condition - the scales showed 115 kilograms. Realizing that the older I get, the more I will weigh, I turned to specialists, and specifically to a psychologist-nutritionist. No pills, just proper fractional nutrition and calorie counting - all this led to the fact that in less than a year I lost 25 kilograms.

website: We are now thinking that Tess Holliday weighs 155 kilograms ...

O. L.: Everyone has their own critical weight, mine was at around 115. It all depends on your own feelings. But the fact is the fact: extra pounds are very difficult to carry on yourself. As for Tess Holliday, she is a beauty and a very strong woman.

website: Yes, Tess is doing fine both in her personal life and in her professional life: she participates in pranks, and acts in advertising. But this is in America, and what is it like to work as a plus-size model in Russia?

O. L.: Here, every year, plus-size modeling is gaining momentum. There are many brands that sew clothes for women with shapes. Consequently, there were more orders for us.

And unlike 2011, when I was just starting, the work has become more interesting, and the fees are not so funny anymore. There is now enough for a metro pass ( laughs).

But despite all this, in Russia this area of ​​the modeling business is still at its initial stage.

website: So it's too early to talk about rivalry between models?

O. L.: Competition for plus-size models in size and type. I’m now 56, and I don’t know of a single actively working Russian model in this category: all the girls, as far as I know, are smaller than me.


website: Did you have a desire to go to the West? There is more work, and the fees are many times more interesting.

O. L.: I would like to work in Europe and the USA. Three years ago I was very serious about it, but something went wrong - I was whirled around in a relationship, and I left the race. I think I'll go to the second round soon. So far, there have been no specific invitations from European agencies. I was invited to work in Turkey, but for some reason I don’t want to go there.

website: You are a very beautiful girl! Not deprived of the attention of men? How do you get along with them?

O. L.: Thanks for the compliment! Men, of course, get to know each other, but I have been in a relationship for a long time. And before, when she was a free young lady, she did not suffer from lack of attention. It happened that at parties she could easily be the first to speak, she was not particularly soared in this regard.

website: How do you take care of yourself?

O. L.: There are no super secrets, all of them are known to any girl. As for the face, it is very important to cleanse the skin well after make-up, tone it up and moisturize it with cream. Sometimes I make fabric masks, I especially like with a warming effect. Hair is my sore point: because of constant filming, it suffers a lot. Therefore, I periodically treat them with different serums. In body care, I really like scrubs and massages and often go to the bathhouse.

website: Let's talk about clothes. Is it possible to be full and fashionable in our country?

O. L.: You can already, I know that for sure! Hooray! The mass market is increasingly beginning to expand its size charts, oversize has not been canceled, in ordinary stores you can have things over 46. My advice to all girls: if you have not found something to your liking and figure in the store, do not be lazy, google new brands, there are a lot of them today.

website: About 11,000 people have subscribed to you on Instagram. Are there any evil followers among them? How do you generally feel about criticism on social networks?

O. L.: To be honest, I somehow don't really see haters on my page. And if someone is trying to offend me, then I just do not pay attention to it. But relatively recently, one comment in the directorate threw me into a stupor.



Timer magazine published the first Belarusian photo session with plus size models. Photos also appeared on social networks.

Some support girls and write that in Belarus most women are overweight, so it's high time to show the real picture. Others lashed out with accusations that the models were promoting obesity, and instead of taking a photo session, they should have signed up for a gym.

This is how the myth about tolerant Belarusians broke once again.

The photo session was made for the Minsk brand of leather accessories and bags. Designer Milana Khasinevich says: the idea was to show that any woman can feel beautiful.

“We conducted a casting on the Internet, - she says. - We received a lot of applications and photos. As a result, two models were selected - Olga Lukomskaya and Daria Memetova. "

Both girls are from Belarus. Olga has been living and working in Moscow for the last three years. She is a professional plus size fashion model. Daria is a radiologist by profession, before that she had little experience in taking part in photography.

“50% of women in any country are overweight,- the restaurant manager Elena Moroz writes on Facebook. "And what, now to hide and not be beautiful?"

“Looking at the ads, the first thought is to sign up for a gym, but not buy a bag,- says Elena Smirnova, an employee of a company selling electronic equipment. - Obesity in a young girl is a sign of either a hormonal disorder, or the fact that she is eating and cannot stop. Sorry for being rude. "

The journalist of “SB. Belarus Today ”Roman Rud.

“These are not girls, but fat cows who do not have enough intelligence, will and understanding of food hygiene to take care of themselves. But laziness and gluttony are in abundance. Erecting these disadvantages into advantages is the same as justifying the murderers, because they did not hurt their victims,- wrote the journalist on Facebook, commenting on the photos of the models. - By the way, I worked on myself. From 103 kg to 84 now. Remembering how difficult it was, I am especially annoyed by the chanting of the fat women. It turns out that I shouldn't have to strain ... it was enough to cover myself with a Killtoday purse, and here I am handsome. "

Expert: only 2% of girls can look like skinny models

Gender expert Irina Solomatina believes that such a reaction is caused by the fact that it is more customary to see images of thin, attractive models in advertising.

“And here in Belarus, in fact, for the first time, they show us fat women and offer to discuss their attractiveness,- she notes. “Moreover, there is a huge number of weight loss promotional products that claim that beauty and success can only be achieved by losing weight and achieving a certain“ norm ”. All this forms stable, often preconceived and negative ideas about obese people. If you are slim, you are afraid to get better. If you are a little fat, then there is an irresistible desire to lose weight and be thin. "

According to the expert, the problem is that only 2% of women and girls can look like skinny models who are considered the epitome of beauty. Others spend their lives dissatisfied with their own appearance, which is very different from that presented in glossy magazines.

According to Irina Solomatina, such photo sessions contribute to the destruction of stereotypes in society:

“You can remember the singer Beth Ditto, who is called“ superbly fat ”. She ran columns in music magazines, then got to Paris Fashion Week, where she settled down in the front row with her XXL century size. a tulle dress from Fendi and ruined the appearance of skinny models. Beth Ditto, a fashion-savvy singer, will not allow herself to offend. "

And although photos of fat girls in fashion magazines are still a novelty for Belarus, a whole industry of plus size model business has developed in the world.

“The boundaries of a definite normative beauty associated with thinness are expanding,- says Irina Solomatina. - Today, the fashion industry has begun to take into account not only the XXL size, but, for example, women with special needs. Let's recall Angelina Uelskaya from Minsk - the first model with cerebral palsy at the Fashion Without Borders Fashion Week in Moscow.

The expert believes that thanks to this diversity, we can develop our own idea of ​​beauty and learn to feel comfortable in our bodies.

Fashion Model: We Didn't Try To Promote Obesity

One of the participants in the photo shoot that caused an ambiguous reaction, Olga Lukomskaya, reacted to the reviews on the network.

“Reading the comments, I was a little surprised why some people thought we were trying to promote and encourage obesity! This is complete nonsense and funny! Personally, I want women, girls and girls who have problems with excess weight to finally see that it is not fatal to be fat! And I can say for sure that you can live with it and, moreover, be very beautiful for yourself and those around you! It is very important to love and believe in yourself, in any size of clothes, this also applies to thin girls- writes Olga. - But it is important to understand that being overweight is bad for your health, not for your mood. If you have a lot of weight, you simply have to fight it, just for yourself, and not for someone !»

Four years ago, Olga weighed 115 kg and wore size 60: “Now my size is 52-54, and this is my personal little victory. Now I am in the process of losing weight. My goal is roughly 48th the size".

Olga Lukomskaya took part in the famous Russian talk show "Let's Get Married" (on video - from 23:40).

She shared that she had been “in the body” all her life, like her parents. “To be complete is not a vice and is not scary, She said. "It doesn't matter what size you are, it matters who you are."

Designer Milana Khasinevich believes that negative comments reflect the complexes and dissatisfaction of the people who wrote them:

“Each of us has a mother, grandmother or other overweight person, why then do we push people away in the photo? Any woman can feel beautiful. "

KYKY, together with the Milavitsa brand, continues to tell the stories of women free from prejudice. The next heroine of the # milavitsa4women project is the professional plus-size model Olga Lukomskaya, who claims that beauty does not depend on size at all.

KYKY: You are from Gomel, now you live and work as a model in Moscow. How did it happen?

Olga Lukomskaya: I have always been a girl with forms, I never dreamed of becoming a model: as a child, I saw myself more on stage, even planned to start a singing career. Therefore, she moved to Moscow. To gain a foothold in this city, I got a job in a luxury children's clothing store. The choice of location was not accidental - all my life I was fascinated by fashion, I liked flipping glossy magazines. I guess I reread all the fashion publications that came out in the early 2000s. Once, it seems in Cosmopolitan, I came across material in which journalists presented their own images. I remember the article, because among the girls there was also a plump young lady, and at that time (year 2008) the opportunity to stumble upon something like that in gloss was a rarity. For me, this was a kind of proof that I was not the only one: overweight girls can understand fashion, they can look cool and work in gloss. Three years after this incident, in 2011, I met this girl in the store where I worked. She was very surprised, but not at a loss and decided to speak to her. She almost got ahead: “I've been looking at you for half an hour, let's get acquainted. I am the director of a modeling agency, now we are looking for a plus size model. " Then she held out her business card and added: "If you do not come to us, I know where to look for you." In fact, she just didn't give me a chance. I came to her agency and we signed a contract. Then lessons on posing, fashion shows and, in fact, modeling began. In such a random way, I got into this industry and I still cook in it.

KYKY: Are you often invited to shoot?

O.L .: There are a lot of proposals, but this is in Moscow - in Belarus they rarely invite to shoot. Modeling work is not as easy as it might seem.

Often you have to get up at five in the morning to arrive for a make-up by 6:30. Shooting can last 15 hours, or there can be two of them a day.

And this process is a lot of physical labor. By the way, the models have limitations with the choice of nail polish: only a neutral palette on the hands and feet.

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KYKY: At school, did you have complexes about your appearance?

O.L .: No, there was no global complex. I understood that I was not a very "standard" girl, but this did not interfere with communicating with classmates, as well as with me. I was always very active, in the center of attention, a leader in everything, so no one could say something offensive to my face. And I never heard such conversations behind my back. Unpleasant incidents happened except in sanatoriums - places far from home, where other children simply did not know me. There were no problems with the boys either. The only thing, in adolescence, there were cases when a guy confessed his love, but said that we could not meet - society would not understand. That is, the problem was not even with me, but with the boys, they were shy about something. Therefore, usually older guys became my fans (smiles).

KYKY: In addition to working as a model, you have your own clothing line. Is it such a reflection on the lack of a large selection in stores?

O.L .: Now there are practically no problems with choosing clothes in Russia and Belarus. But in my youth it was a whole tragedy. It was possible to find things of my size only in the grandmother's style, plus-size clothes for the youth format did not exist. What was brought to the markets (and then we dressed exactly there) did not at all emphasize the figure, therefore, mother's golden hands and Gomel second-hand shops were used. But even now, in the design lines or the mass market that I advertise, I like 15% at most. I always wanted to create my own things, and when the opportunity arose, I started to do it.

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KYKY: How to choose the right underwear for a plus-size girl?

O.L .: Lingerie is the skeleton of the whole image. If you wear uncomfortable underpants or a bra, you simply won't be able to feel comfortable. And the appearance will suffer. Therefore, the most important thing is to buy underwear by size, so that nothing and anywhere is pulled over, the sides do not stick out from the back, and the chest does not fall out - nonexistent folds are not visible. For those with large breasts, a bra with thin foam rubber, which does not enlarge, but neatly frames the bust, is suitable. Of the lingerie brands, I personally really like Milavitsa, my entire base was bought there. My sister, the owner of the seventh breast size, also loves this brand very much and always finds models for herself. Of course, it's not a fact that you will buy underwear on your first trip to the store - the chances are 50/50, so I recommend monitoring the deliveries and updates.

KYKY: Underwear is understandable. What about clothes? Are there stop-things for curvy girls?

O.L .: No. The main rule in clothing is to emphasize thin, graceful places in the figure. A hint at the waist, ankles - show all this, and try to cover dangerous "turns". For example, if you are wearing trousers, wear longer blouses. And never buy things with the expectation "I will wear when I lose weight." Often these just hang in the closet, but it's even worse when a girl decides to put them on - she experiences stress due to lack of comfort and, probably, something "falls out" while walking.

Even leggings can be worn: leggings made of dense fabric in combination with coarse boots and a loose, elongated sweater will look very cool.

The ban on horizontal stripes is also a myth. A blouse with such a print, over which a plain jacket is worn, looks beautiful. The main thing is not to miscalculate with the fabric. Girls with uniforms should choose denser materials, for example, suiting fabric, denim, dense knitwear, cotton and viscose are well suited for the summer. The statement that curvy girls cannot wear something becomes archaic.

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KYKY: You said that there are few job offers in Belarus, what is the reason?

O.L .: I am glad that the plus-size trend is gaining momentum in the country. Curvy girls who wear sizes over 44-46 become free and calm, self-confident. Body-positive is coming to the Belarusian society, and this is wonderful. I am happy that this is also my merit. But, even in comparison with Russia, our people still have old-school ideas about beauty: a girl must be thin, walk in tights, high boots and mini. That is, in Belarus there is a stereotype about female appearance, which very slowly begins to collapse. Unfortunately, we always swing for a long time. This is probably why notorious people are met in Moscow less often than in Minsk or Gomel. I really like the plus-size model Ashley Graham. A sexy, purposeful girl who shows that a lady with shapes is beautiful, it is pleasant to look at her for everyone, she is very confident and correctly positioning plus-size. There would be more such heroes.

KYKY: Plus-size restrictions? Roughly speaking, is there a figure on the scales that means that body positivity is over?

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O.L .: It is impossible to say after how many kilograms or centimeters you need to stop eating. In any case, I am not advocating unlimited obesity. I try to keep myself in shape. I am for the fact that girls strive for a healthy body, so that they feel comfortable. But if at twenty she has, conventionally, the 66th size, what will happen to her at thirty? In no case should you peck yourself for extra pounds, so I never get tired of saying that the plus-size trend is very good. It's great when a girl realizes that they don't die from size 56, that she is good and adorable. The main thing is to learn to love yourself. Many overweight girls don't really want to lose weight, they are comfortable in their bodies, and they need moral support, an explanation that their desire is normal. We live in a big world where there simply should not be a single standard of a person. That is why non-standard models began to gain popularity in the fashion world. We are all different and we are all beautiful.

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They started talking about Gomel Olga Lukomskaya in Minsk after a candid shooting with photographers Zhenya Kanaplyov and Yulia Leydik. A model of size 54 boldly naked for advertising the Killtoday brand - a rarity for the Belarusian fashion industry, where plus size models do not seem to exist. Olga Lukomskaya has been living in Moscow for four years now, going on the catwalk, filming for magazines and commercial projects. The plump model told Onliner.by about stereotypes, the beauty of female forms and love for herself.

Photo Kanaplev + Leydik

Photo Kanaplev + Leydik

I was born in Gomel. All my family comes from there, and for many generations. I have been striving to get to Moscow since childhood. This big beautiful city captivated me with its possibilities. In high school, I periodically went to Moscow to visit my great-aunt. I always asked her to go to different auditions like "People's Artist" and "Star Factory". Yes, yes, in the tenth grade I dreamed of becoming a famous singer and moving to the Russian capital. All her childhood and adolescence she studied vocals, was a soloist of the choir. At 23, when she left for Moscow after university, she was thinking about a musical career. I saw myself in show business - I'm not afraid of this word [Laughs. - Approx. Onliner.by]. I didn't even dream of modeling.

I've always been a girl in a body. Is always. From early childhood. I liked the pictures of plump pretty girls, I copied the pictures and pasted them into my daddy on my desktop on my computer. In Belarus, the plus size industry was not developed, and in Russia, the popularization of beautiful fat girls is just beginning to gain momentum. I showed friends and acquaintances my collection of photographs and clippings from magazines, and they told me: “Olya, you're so pretty! I should take pictures of you myself! " The word "model" was not pronounced then, because they could not combine "model" and "big girl". I have always seen that I am good-looking and beautiful.

Besides, I was an obsessive fan of glossy magazines. This is still my fetish. Grandfather has Talmuds in his garage, just dozens of boxes with "gloss". While still a schoolgirl, I collected them, bought them, always understood the latest trends and trends. Once, in one of the Cosmo rooms, I came across a photograph of a girl of large shapes. She was an employee of the directorate of the Cosmopolitan fashion department. A photo session was organized in the magazine, in which the employees themselves presented their "bows". And so I remember this girl and her options for images for lush beauties! She was stately, stylish! I just fell in love with her. Her images settled in my mind.

When I moved to Moscow, I was looking for any job to catch hold of. As a result, I got a job as a seller in a luxury children's clothing store. But I worked there for exactly three days [Laughs. - Approx. Onliner.by]. On the third day in this store, I saw the very same girl from Cosmopolitan, whose photograph I had admired for many years. I recognized her and thought: “Wow, how awesome she is in life! Stylish, beautiful, well-groomed. " Our eyes collided, and I complimented her, admitted that I remember that photo session. And she in return handed me a business card with the words: “I am the director of a modeling agency and now I am looking for a plus size girl. I really need a complete model. If you don't come to me, I know where to find you. " And that's how it all worked out. As it turned out, the girl who was my idol left Cosmo a long time ago and started working in other projects. I successfully passed an interview at her agency, photo tests, training in fashion shows and posing. The next day I quit my job and got my first order for a photo shoot.

Then everything was not so smooth. My fairy godmother didn't have enough work for my size. In 2011, plus size girls were just taking their first steps in the Moscow fashion industry. There was filming, but they were too rare. There were few orders. The demand for thin models was much higher. My position was not stable: I have earnings today, but not tomorrow. I had to pay for rented accommodation, eat, dress. There was not enough money. Therefore, I got a permanent job in a good office, and eventually became the head of the sales department. For a year and a half, I fell out of the model rut. Although occasionally I had shootings - four a month, no more.

But in the end, I realized that I want to develop exactly as a model, work in the beauty industry, feel like a gorgeous woman, show myself in the frame. Ophis didn't give me that. So I quit, even though the decision frightened me. I took a step into the abyss of the unknown a year and a half ago. Since then, she has completely surrendered herself to the large-scale filming process. She began to promote herself, without agents. In March 2014, she took part in a show at Moscow Fashion Week with Russian designer Nikolai Krasnikov, along with a famous model. After the show, more and more new customers, filming, proposals began to appear. So I came to the conclusion that my main job is to be a model. In Moscow, they know and see me now: I work on television, with fashion magazines, and clothing brands. Now it's not easy to fit a weekend into my schedule.

My parameters are now: hips - 120 centimeters, waist - 93, chest - 113. I wear Russian clothing size 52-54. Shoe size 41. In terms of height, I am a baby model compared to the required standards. My height is 173 centimeters. Before I weighed 115 kilograms, now the weight fluctuates around 90. I am constantly in the process of losing weight. Plus size category starts from size 46. But I don't strive for such parameters. I set myself a goal to enter the 48th size. But this does not mean that I will definitely achieve this. You just need to have some ideal in your head in order to keep yourself within the framework, not to let yourself bloom. Unfortunately, it is very easy for me to gain weight, so I constantly monitor myself in relation to nutrition, very rarely allow excess. This is not a diet, but rather a habit. I do not eat mayonnaise, I fill the refrigerator with vegetables, fruits, meat, cereals. Simple right food. True, delicious pastries are my weakness. But what are we, some kind of robots? ..

People can say whatever they want. Everyone is entitled to their point of view. But I was lucky: in my life I have not heard very rude comments. Or I don't remember them. That is the kind of person I am - unforgettable. At school I was an active child, everyone was friends with me, they knew me like that from childhood.

In our world, fashion is popularized only for thin people, so stereotypes are formed that being very thin is good. Fine. Right. And if you are a little more than a girl in a magazine or advertisement, then you are somehow different, wrong. This is a big problem. How many girls are depressed because of this! And how many harm their health, losing weight incorrectly, too quickly. Diet isn't cool. There must be a correct lifestyle.