Olga Lukovskaya plus size Instagram model. “Being fat is not scary.” Nude plus size models have stirred up Belarusian society. There were a lot of orders

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

Some support the girls and write that in Belarus most women are fat, so it was high time to show the real picture. Others accused the models of promoting obesity and should have joined a gym instead of doing a photo shoot.

So in Once again The myth about tolerant Belarusians has been shattered.

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

“We held 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, and previously had little experience in participating in photography.

“50% of women in any the country is full, — Elena Moroz, the restaurant manager, writes on Facebook. “So what, now hide and not be beautiful?”

“Looking at the advertisement, the first thought is to sign up for a gym, but not to buy a bag,- says the company's sales employee electronic equipment Elena Smirnova. — Obesity in a young girl is a sign or hormonal disorder, or the fact that she eats and cannot stop. Sorry for being rude."

The SB journalist also shares the same opinion. Belarus Today" Roman Rud.

“These are not girls, but fat cows who do not have enough intelligence, will and understanding of food hygiene to simply take care of themselves. But there is plenty of laziness and gluttony. Elevating these shortcomings into advantages is the same as justifying murderers because they did not kill their victims painfully,— the journalist wrote on Facebook, commenting on the models’ photos. — By the way, I worked on myself. From 103 kg to 84 now. Remembering how difficult it was, I am especially irritated by the glorification of fat women. It turns out that I didn’t have to strain myself... all I had to do was cover myself with my Killtoday handbag, and now I’m handsome.”

Expert: Only 2% of girls can look like thin models

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

“And here in Belarus, actually for the first time, we are shown fat women and asked to discuss their attractiveness,- she notes. “Moreover, there is a huge amount of advertising about weight loss that claims that beauty and success can only be achieved by losing weight and achieving a certain “norm.” All this forms stable, often biased and negative ideas about overweight people. If you're thin, you're afraid of gaining weight. If you are a little overweight, 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 thin models, who are considered the epitome of beauty. The rest 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 help destroy stereotypes in society:

“You can remember the singer Beth Ditto, who is called “magnificently fat.” She wrote columns in music magazines, then got to Paris Fashion Week, where she sat in the front row with her size XXL. tulle dress from Fendi and ruined the appearance of thin models. Beth Ditto, a fashion-savvy singer, won't let anyone get her down."

And although the photo fat girls in fashion magazines is still a new thing for Belarus; a whole industry has emerged in the world modeling business plus size.

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

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

Fashion model: we weren't trying to promote obesity

One of the participants in the photo shoot that caused a controversial reaction, Olga Lukomskaya, responded to reviews online.

“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 ridiculous! 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 definitely say that you can live with this and be very beautiful for yourself and those around you! It is very important to love and believe in yourself, in any clothing size, this also applies to skinny girls, writes Olga. “But it’s important to understand that being overweight is bad for your health, not your mood. If you heavy weight, you simply have to fight him, just for yourself, and not for someone !»

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

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

She shared that she has been “in the body” all her life, just like her parents. “Being fat is not a vice and 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 person with overweight, why then do we push people away in photos? 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 was professional plus-size model Olga Lukomskaya, who claims that beauty does not depend on size at all.

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

Olga Lukomskaya: I have always been a girl with curves, I didn’t dream of becoming a model: as a child I saw myself more on stage, I even planned to start a singing career. That's why I moved to Moscow. To gain a foothold in this city, she got a job in a luxury children's clothing store. The choice of place was not accidental - all my life I have been fascinated by fashion, I liked leafing through glossy magazines. I probably re-read all the fashion publications that were published in the early 2000s. One day, it seems, in Cosmopolitan, I came across an article 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 (2008) the opportunity to stumble upon something like this in a glossy magazine was very rare. For me, this was a kind of proof that I was not the only one: plus-size girls can understand fashion, can look cool and work in a glossy industry. Three years after this incident, in 2011, I met this girl in the store where I worked. I was very surprised, but was not at a loss and decided to talk to her. She was almost ahead: “I’ve been looking at you for half an hour, let’s get acquainted. I am the director of a modeling agency, we are currently looking for a model big size" Then she handed her a business card and added: “If you don’t come to us, I know where to look for you.” Basically, she just didn't give me a chance. I came to her agency and we signed a contract. Then lessons began on posing, fashion shows and, in fact, modeling. That’s how I got into this industry by chance and I’m still stuck in it.

KYKY: Are you often invited to filming?

O.L.: There are quite a lot of offers, but this is in Moscow - in Belarus they rarely call for filming. Working in modeling is not as easy as it might seem.

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

And this process is a lot of physical labor. By the way, models are limited in their choice of nail polish: only a neutral palette on their hands and feet.

KYKY: Did you have any complexes about your appearance at school?

O.L.: No, there was no global complex. I understood that I was not a very “standard” girl, but this did not stop me from communicating with my classmates, just as it did not stop them from communicating with me. I was always very active, in the center of attention, a leader in everything, so no one could say anything offensive to my face. And I didn’t hear such conversations behind my back. Unpleasant incidents only happened 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 is that in adolescence there were cases when a guy confessed his love, but said that we couldn’t meet - society wouldn’t understand. That is, the problem was not even with me, but with the boys, they were embarrassed about something. That’s why older guys usually became my fans (smiles).

KYKY: In addition to working as a model, you have your own clothing line. Is this a reflection on the lack of much choice in stores?

O.L.: Now there are practically no problems with choosing clothes in both Russia and Belarus. But in my youth it was a whole tragedy. It was possible to find things in my size only in grandma’s style; plus-size clothing in youth format did not exist. What they brought to the markets (and then we dressed there) did not emphasize the figure at all, so mother’s golden hands and Gomel second-hand goods were used. But even now in the designer lines or 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 doing it.

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

O.L.: Underwear is the skeleton of the entire look. If you wear uncomfortable panties or a bra, you simply won't feel comfortable. AND appearance will suffer. Therefore, the most important thing is to buy underwear in size, so that nothing is too tight anywhere, the sides do not stick out from the back, and the breasts do not fall out - no non-existent folds are visible. For those who have big breasts, a bra with thin foam rubber is suitable, which does not enlarge, but neatly frames the bust. Of the underwear brands, I personally really like Milavitsa; all my basics were purchased there. My sister, who has a size 7 breast, 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 deliveries and updates.

KYKY: Underwear is understandable. What about clothes? Are there any must-have items for curvy girls?

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

You can even wear leggings: leggings made of thick fabric in combination with rough boots and a loose, long 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 make a mistake with the fabric. Girls with curves should choose denser materials, for example, suit fabric, denim, thick knitwear; cotton and viscose are good for summer. The statement that curvy girls you can’t wear something, it becomes an archaism.

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

O.L.: I am glad that the plus-size trend is gaining momentum in the country. Curvy girls who wear sizes larger than 44-46 become free, calm, and self-confident. Body positivity is spreading into Belarusian society, and this is wonderful. I am happy that this is my merit. But, even in comparison with Russia, our people still have old-school ideas about beauty: a girl should be thin, wear 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 take a long time to swing. This is probably why you meet less complex people in Moscow than in Minsk or Gomel. I really like plus-size model Ashley Graham. A sexy, purposeful girl who shows that a lady with curves is beautiful, everyone likes to look at her, she very confidently and correctly positions plus-size. There would be more such heroes.

KYKY: Does plus-size have limitations? Roughly speaking, is there a number on the scale that means body positivity is over?

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 girls to strive for a healthy body so that they feel comfortable. But if at twenty years old she is, conventionally, size 66, what will happen to her at thirty? Pecking yourself for overweight under no circumstances, which is why I never tire of saying that the plus-size trend is very good. It’s wonderful when a girl understands that size 56 doesn’t kill you, that she is good and amazing. The main thing is to learn to love yourself. Many overweight girls don’t really want to lose weight, they are comfortable in their body, and they need moral support, an explanation that their desire is normal. We live in big world, where there simply should not be a single standard of man. That is why non-standard models began to gain popularity in the fashion world. We are all different and all beautiful.

If you notice an error in the text, select it and press Ctrl+Enter

Just five years ago it was difficult to imagine curvy girls on catwalks and in advertising. And today, plus-size models smile at us from the pages of glossy magazines, sign contracts with famous brands and gather thousands of subscribers on social networks. One of these models is 28-year-old Belarusian Olga Lukomskaya, who now lives and works in Moscow.

“WORN A SIZE 60 AT 21”

I come from Gomel, from a family of musicians. I never planned to study modeling career, I was more interested in the career of a singer. Although when my friends saw beautiful plump girls in advertisements - and then this was a rarity! - they always told me: “They miss you there!” I always stood out among my surroundings, and although as a child there were only slender girls around me, I did not feel embarrassed about my large size. I had the right proportions, I saw beauty in myself - largely thanks to my parents, who always loved me madly and constantly told me about it. I loved to cut out beautiful photographs from magazines overweight women, admired them. These were my allies! (laughs). When I was 21, I was much larger - I wore size 60 and weighed 115 kg. At the same time, I often heard compliments addressed to me. But at some point I realized that I could no longer live at this size. I was even a little scared - what would happen next?

- Olga, excess weight 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 store large sizes clothing sales consultant. I adored the women who came there, I was happy to help them choose outfits, but I was sad at the thought of what I could end up with if I didn’t start to pull myself together. Because I'm not for obesity. I'm all for women feeling good about themselves no matter what weight they are. I went to the clinic and began to lose weight under the supervision of psychologists - no pills, the right fractional meals, counting calories... At the same time, I could eat absolutely everything, even cakes. In six months I lost about 25 kg.

“IN MOSCOW THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH MONEY EVEN FOR A TRAVEL PASS”

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

No, I was just on my way to Big city- Moscow with its prospects has always fascinated me. I was 23 years old and had a management degree in commercial communications. I started by getting a job as a salesperson in a children's clothing store. On the third day of my work I went into the store beautiful woman, which I immediately recognized - I saw her photograph in one of the magazines. I complimented her and we started talking. She said that she was the director of a modeling agency and would like to have me as a model.

- And you quit right away?

Yes, I soon quit and signed a contract with her modeling agency. I started working with teachers on fashion shows and posing. I remember it was very funny - I come to the photo studio for a shoot, such a big girl, and next to me there are these 13-14 year old kittens, aspiring models, who are on first name terms with me (laughs)... At the same time, I’m the same a beginner just 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 I even more so, since I had just entered this business. I got several customers with whom I collaborated, the fees were low. I didn't have enough money, and I had a very bad time. difficult period when you had to live on potatoes, carrots and buckwheat. Rented apartment I shared it with a friend. I couldn’t even buy a metro pass, everything was so complicated... But gradually customers began to appear, plus-size models became in demand, and fees began to rise. Now I am one of the famous models in Russia, I have agents who are involved in my projects.

- Does your job now allow you to earn a decent living?

Undoubtedly. I already have enough for a 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 is great about my work and supports me. He works in television.

I would love to work more for Belarusian brands. In January I will have a shoot for a clothing manufacturer from Brest. In Belarus, this area is not yet in great demand - I don’t even know the “plus size” models working in our country. But everything will come to this gradually.

Olga is confident that plus-size models will soon be in demand in Belarus. Photo from the site: sofaclub.by. Photographers: Kanaplev + Leydik.

“PRODUCERS WEAR CAKES SO I DON’T LOSE WEIGHT”

- What parameters do you have now?

I am a dress size 54 and I constantly keep my weight under control. I can compare my body to a balloon - I am very prone to being overweight. I once had a relapse - I gained 7 kg in two weeks. But it’s important to keep your parameters in working mode and not get better. I stick to healthy eating, fatty foods rarely appear on my plate. Although I can afford sweets or baked goods, 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 it.

- 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 starting from size 46. And world-class premium brands most often invite models of size 48-50. Recently my producers asked: “Olya, what is it, have you lost weight?” They even brought me a cake (laughs). But in fact, the weight hasn’t changed, I’m just working on my body.

- Do you play sports?

I teach myself to play sports. I go to the gym and work out with a trainer. He knows that I am a plus-size model and that I don’t need drastic weight loss. People look at my body, and it should be worthy, especially since I also act in swimsuits and underwear. I really like beautiful full figures, toned, with dramatic hips.

- A slender girls Do you think they are beautiful?

There are quite a few petite girls around me. A woman has the right to be anything, the main thing is that she is healthy, feminine, and carries herself correctly, regardless of her parameters. Self-love is also important. This straightens your shoulders and makes you want to live. life to the fullest, smile at others and receive compliments in return.

“NEGATIVE REVIEWS ARE WRITE BY PEOPLE WITH NARROW VIEWS”

- Olya, have you encountered criticism on social networks? If yes, how do you react?

Any public figure faces both positive and negative feedback. This is fine. This affects 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 don’t understand – what kind of model is this? And I think that they just don’t have a very broad outlook.

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

Photoshop is everywhere, if we are talking about gloss. But now all over the world there is a trend towards minimal photo processing. My photographs for advertising companies, of course, contain Photoshop, but in 99% of the catalogs that are shot with my participation, the photographs 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 imperfections and highlight the strengths of your figure with the help of clothing and posing. But there can be no talk 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 inspired by photographs of women with curves from magazines.

People started talking about Gomel resident Olga Lukomskaya in Minsk after candid shooting from photographers Zhenya Kanaplev and Yulia Leydik. The size 54 model boldly exposed herself for an advertisement for the Killtoday brand - a rarity for the Belarusian fashion industry, where plus size fashion models seem to not exist. Olga Lukomskaya has been living in Moscow for four years now, appearing on the catwalk and filming for magazines and commercial projects. The plump model spoke to Onliner.by about stereotypes, the beauty of the female form and self-love.

Photo by Kanaplev+Leydik

Photo by Kanaplev+Leydik

I was born in Gomel. My whole family is from there, spanning many generations. I have been trying to get to Moscow since childhood. This one is big beautiful city captivated me with its capabilities. In high school, I periodically went to Moscow to visit my great-aunt. I always asked her to go to different castings like “ People's Artist" and "Star Factory". Yes, yes, in the tenth grade I dreamed of becoming famous singer and move to the Russian capital. Throughout her childhood and youth she studied vocals and was a choir soloist. At 23, when I left for Moscow after university, I thought about musical career. I saw myself in show business - I’m not afraid of this word [Laughs. - Approx. Onliner.by]. I never even dreamed of modeling.

I've always been a girl in the body. Always. From the early childhood. I liked photographs of plump, pretty girls, I copied the pictures and pasted them into a folder on my desktop on the computer. In Belarus, the plus size industry has not been developed, and in Russia the popularization of beautiful plus size girls is just beginning to gain momentum. I showed friends and acquaintances my collection of photographs and magazine clippings, and they said to me: “Olya, you are so pretty! I wish I could photograph you myself!” They didn’t say the word “model” back then because they couldn’t combine “model” and “big girl.” I always saw that I was pretty 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 of gloss. While still a schoolgirl, I collected them, bought them, and always understood the latest trends. Once in one of the issues of Cosmo I came across a photograph of a girl large forms. She was an employee of the fashion department of Cosmopolitan. The magazine organized a photo shoot in which the employees themselves presented their “looks.” And I so remembered this girl and her options for images for curvy beauties! She was stately and stylish! I just fell in love with her. Images of her took up residence in my mind.

When I moved to Moscow, I was looking for any job to get my hands on. As a result, I got a job as a salesperson 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 same girl from Cosmopolitan, whose photograph I had admired for many years. I recognized her and thought: “Wow, how cool she is in real life! Stylish, beautiful, well-groomed." We made eye contact, and I complimented her and admitted that I remember that photo shoot. And in response she handed me a business card with the words: “I am the director of a modeling agency and am currently 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.” That's how everything was decided. As it turned out, the girl who was my idol left Cosmo a long time ago and began working in other projects. I successfully passed an interview at her agency, photo tests, training in fashion shows and posing. The very next day I quit the store and received my first photography order.

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 were filmings, but they happened too rarely. There were few orders. The demand for thin models was much higher. My situation was not stable: today I have income, but tomorrow I don’t. I had to pay for rented housing, eat, and dress. There wasn't enough money. So I got a job permanent job V nice office, eventually became the head of the sales department. I fell out of the modeling rut for a year and a half. Although occasionally I had filming - four a month, no more.

But in the end, I realized that I wanted to develop as a model, to work in the beauty industry, to feel like a luxurious woman, to express myself on camera. The office wouldn't give it to me. So I quit, even though the decision scared me. I took a step into the abyss of the unknown a year and a half ago. From then on, I completely devoted myself to the filming process of large sizes. I started promoting myself, without agents. In March 2014, she participated in a show at Moscow Fashion Week by Russian designer Nikolai Krasnikov, along with famous model. After the show, I began to receive more and more new customers, filming, and offers. So I came to the conclusion that my main job is to be a model. In Moscow they now know and see me: I work on television, with fashion magazines, clothing brands. Now it's not so easy to fit weekends into my schedule.

My parameters now: hips - 120 centimeters, waist - 93, chest - 113. I wear Russian clothing size 52-54. Shoe size - 41. As for height, I am a baby model compared to the required standards. My height is 173 centimeters. I used to weigh 115 kilograms, now my weight fluctuates around 90. I am constantly in the process of losing weight. The plus size category starts from size 46. But I don’t strive for such parameters. I set myself a goal of getting into size 48. But that doesn't mean I'll definitely achieve it. You just need to have a certain ideal in your head in order to keep yourself within limits and not let yourself go wild. Unfortunately, it is very easy for me to gain weight, so I constantly control myself with regard to nutrition, and very rarely indulge in excess. This is not a diet, but rather a habit. I don’t eat mayonnaise, I fill the refrigerator with vegetables, fruits, meat, and cereals. Simple proper food. Is it true, delicious pastries- This is my weakness. But what about us, some kind of robots?..

People can say whatever they want. Everyone has the right to their own point of view. But I was lucky: in my life I have never heard very rude comments. Or I don't remember them. That's the kind of person I am - not vindictive. At school I was an active child, everyone was friends with me, they knew me like that since childhood.

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

In an interview with the site, successful plus-size model Olga Lukomskaya spoke about how at 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 - these are just some of the plus-size models whose names are making waves all over the world today. Each of them is on by example proves that the standard of beauty is not the notorious 90-60-90.

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

Our heroine is Olga Lukomskaya, looking at whom you can’t help but compliment her, this girl is so charming. Olya comes 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 castings 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 or thought about this. But I always enjoyed watching spectacular girls with curves, who in the days of my youth were just beginning to appear on the pages of glossy magazines. I loved cutting out photographs of beautiful plump women from magazines and admiring them. These were my allies!

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

O.L.: That's right. In 2011, I moved to the Russian capital and began to look for myself, as well as a job. I got a job in a children's clothing store, where on the second day a girl came, who later became my “fairy godmother.” I went up to her to help, and she handed me her business card with the words: “I am the director of a modeling agency and I’m 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 with that she 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 accept or show its character?

O.L.: When I arrived in Moscow, there was no specific plan or place where they were waiting for me to work. There was only a small room in a two-room apartment, 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 last me a long time, but it didn’t.

Despite the fact that I started working as a model fairly soon, there was no super income, I would say, everything was extremely modest. Months passed, financial reserves melted, income from filming was pitiful. I remember well the period when I couldn’t afford to buy a metro pass for a month. In general, it was different.

website: Modeling business often does not suppress, but on the contrary, strengthens complexes, even in the most confident girls. How did you get on with this?

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

website: Since we're talking about parameters and sizes, tell us your numbers.

O.L.: Height 173 centimeters, chest girth - 117, waist - 95, hips - 125, foot size 41.

website: Have you tried to lose weight or have you fallen in love with yourself as 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’ll say right away that I don’t have willpower, so at the beginning of the diet I immediately realized that I wouldn’t last a day. Then I decided that I simply wouldn’t eat after six, and for greater effect I started working out my abs and legs. There weren’t any special results, but I wasn’t worried! I really loved and love myself as I am. I don't want to be very thin.

website: And what, you never had a single breakdown or moment when you couldn’t look at yourself in the mirror?

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

website: We just thought 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 feeling. But the fact is a fact: extra pounds are very difficult to carry around. As for Tess Holliday, she is a beauty and very Strong woman.

website: Yes, Tess is doing great both in her personal life and in her professional life: she takes part in pranks and appears in commercials. But this is in America, but what is it like to work as a plus-size model in Russia?

O.L.: Here, modeling in the plus-size category is gaining momentum every year. There are now many brands that make clothes for women with curves. Consequently, there are more orders for us.

And unlike 2011, when I just started, the work has become more interesting, and the fees are no longer so ridiculous. There is now enough for a metro pass ( laughs).

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

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

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

website: Have you ever wanted to go to the West? There is more work there, 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 this, but something went wrong - I was overwhelmed by the relationship, and I left the race. I think I'll go for the second round soon. There have been no specific invitations from European agencies yet. I was invited to work in Turkey, but for some reason I don’t want to go there.

website: You are very beautiful girl! Are men not deprived of attention? How is your relationship with them?

O. L.: Thanks for the compliment! Men, of course, get to know each other, but I’ve been in a relationship for a long time. And before, when I was a free young lady, I did not suffer from lack of attention. It happened that at parties she could easily be the first to speak, but she didn’t really worry about it.

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 makeup, tone it and moisturize it with cream. Sometimes I make fabric masks, especially those with a warming effect. Hair is my sore subject: due to constant filming, it suffers a lot. Therefore, I periodically treat them with different serums. When it comes to 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 fat and fashionable in our country?

O.L.: It’s already possible, I know that for sure! Hooray! The mass market is increasingly beginning to expand its size ranges; no one has canceled oversize; in regular stores you can buy items larger than size 46. My advice to all girls: if you haven’t found something you like and fit in the store, don’t be lazy, google new brands, there are a lot of them today.

website: About 11,000 people follow you on Instagram. Are there any angry followers among them? How do you generally deal with criticism? in social networks?

O.L.: Frankly, I somehow don’t really see haters on my page. And if someone tries to insult me, then I simply don’t pay attention to it. But relatively recently, one comment in a direct message put me in a stupor.