Interview: Model Kateryna Frunze (Poland)

Could you tell us about yourself?

My name is Katerina Frunze, I am 17 years old. I'm living in Warsaw now as I study at the university, at the Faculty of Law. I'm in my second year already. I am the youngest student on my course and, probably, at the university. Throughout my life, everyone around me is very surprised when they find out my age, because I went to school 2 years earlier than others. I cоme from Ukraine, the city of Odessa, which is located on the Black Sea, a very beautiful place. I am very talented and creative: I graduated from music school, piano class, and recently I learnt to play the guitar myself and started to sing along with it; I studied in a ballet studio, I studied drawing and took theatrical class. I thought of connecting my life with some kind of creative profession, but then I discovered that my attitude of mind would help me to become a good lawyer. My friends may call me a calm, even quiet person, but it helps me to be attentive to small things. I get along with people very well and I like to resolve conflicts, because I do not find anything more meaningless in life than quarrels between people.

If you could change something in yourself, what would it be?

I don’t think I would like to change myself. This does not mean that my appearance is perfect. I think there is some point in the way anyone of us looks. In all the imperfections of appearance different people see different things, and it depends on us only how people around us see ourselves. This is deeply connected with how you accept yourself from within. I am sure that the dislike of one's appearance comes from the dislike for one's personality, and at some point all of this becomes a snowball of psychological problems. I think I have some disadvantages: a lack of confidence or an excess of restraint, but if I had the opportunity to get rid of it with the help of a magic genie who fulfills desires, I would not use it. All the shortcomings were given to a man only so that he could strive for something better, worked on himself, then all of his experience and knowledge would make him a strong and handsome man from the inside whom they would want to admire.

How did you start modeling?

My relatives in every possible way tried to improve my low self-esteem, so they managed that I performed at concerts as a pianist, sang in a choir, played in a theater club, went to a modeling school, participated in fashion shows; but nothing helped me to add confidence and self-acceptance. Me, myself, was my most severe critic, and something certainly didn't suit me in myself. Once my mother convinced me to participate in a beauty pageant. I took the first Vice-miss crown. The winner’s crown on my head convinced me that, nevertheless, there is something beautiful in me that others can see. It was the first step towards my self-acceptance. Now I am a freelance model, I do not belong to any agency.

What is your beauty regimen?

I do not have any particular mode. Fortunately, at my age it’s enough just to sleep the right amount of time, do fitness and have a healthy diet. First of all, sleep is the most important thing. You should drink a lot of water when you eat healthy, you shouldn't put yourself into tight frames. Well, in general, my advice is: communicate more with nice people, laugh and try not to have stress. Live in harmony with yourself and with the world around you.

What do you think of working as a model?

Working as a model can be very exhausting. It needs a lot (A LOT) of patience and strength. This means constant contact with people, readiness to impersonate a completely different person in front of the lens, which is difficult both emotionally and physically. Even if you have dreamed about such a job for all of your life, it is still exhausting, because this is a job, first of all. For me, modeling is even something bigger. I have some fears and complexes with which I live in my everyday life, but when I walk out to the camera view, I forget about them. Each photo shoot for me is something like a parachute jump, to which I have been preparing for a very long time and worried, but when I take a step forward, everything around doesn’t matter to me anymore. For a while, you just dive into the action, without thinking about anything else. I enjoy my work.

What are your personal qualities that set you apart from others?

Probably, my friends should be asked about this, but I will try to answer myself. Maybe, it is my sincerity? It’s easy for me to show various emotions, because I don’t “play” them, I just live them through, that's way they look natural. Also, my perfectionism - I am very demanding to myself, and this helps me to evolve. I learn very quickly and delve into work, so I rarely need to be repeated twice. And, as I have said, I am completely non-conflict, but extremely purposeful.

What are your plans for the future?

At the moment, there is a dream - it's acting in movies. I will tell about this a little further. I would also like to travel more. Like many people of my generation, I grew up on anime, now I listen to k-pop, communicate with different people on the Internet, so for a very long time I have wanted to go to Asia. Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka - cities of which I have been dreaming for a long time. I do not exclude that the trip can be combined with work, which would only make it more interesting.

What are some of your favorite experiences so far?

I have recently casted in an episode of a movie. It was there that I got the idea to act in movies as the main character. I was interested in acting earlier, I have watched various videos about the tricks actors use in movies, how operators work, why editing is important, and so on. But when I visited the set personally, tha magic world of cinema became only more interesting to me. I love writing short stories, and since childhood I was sure that one day I would write a movie script; but now it seems to me that I am able to stand up on the other side of this process. In general, the way the movie is shot has amazed me tremendously. All people turn into one whole, which works so harmoniously and simply, even when it is the eighth hour of a shooting day and many people are exhausted. The magic of cinema amazed me greatly and I dream of being invited to star in a major role in some interesting big movie.

Do you have any tips for those who want to start modeling?

I think I can advise something useful not only in modeling. Never stop reaching your goals. History knows a lot of examples when successful people were told they would not succeed. Others did not believe in them, but they continued moving, and in the end it was worth it. This is the main thing. Think about yourself, about your desires. Do something that brings you joy and don't stop trying. Remember that you are most beautiful when you are happy. It is important.

What do you think of the magazine?

This magazine is a collection of many wonderful and talented people in one place. A good opportunity to show new faces, whether they are models, photographers or other artists. Also, the works of more successful people here inspire and motivate those who have just started doing this to work harder. I am glad that I was given the possibility to share my works and my thoughts, I am grateful for such a great opportunity! I wish good luck and prosperity to the magazine and to all who read it.

https://www.instagram.com/katrin_frunze

https://www.facebook.com/katerynafr