We recently connected with Eugenia Kuzmina and have shared our conversation below.
Eugenia, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
I was born in post soviet times on food lines in Russia. Even though my dad was the First Responder to Chornobyl Disaster and a well-known scientist, we lived paycheck to paycheck, barely surviving, sometimes on porridge, water, and sugar only for weeks. In a communist worker mentality society, the school system encourages to be modest, not take risks, not stand out, color inside the lines, listen to leaders, and believe in the Country’s agenda. But since a young age, inheriting my scientist dad’s curiosity, I realized it was all propaganda to keep people working hard and being small. I knew being creative was what life was about, and taking risks was just in my blood. I started with challenging teachers in art lessons, coloring outside the lines and convention, only to be punished. I told our history teacher that I believed our history was a one-sided closed government story and the West was portrayed as evil. At the same time, it’s not only to be beaten with a ruler. I made a bikini out of our school uniform because I knew there would be a revolution, and I was forced to apologize to the whole school for being a bad citizen. Shame and punishment we supposed to be my teachers, but my heart knew the way. I kept going! When the iron curtain finally collapsed, I dreamed about traveling and living in the country. I was 14. A scout for a Parisian Modeling agency scouted me on the streets and offered a contract. My parents were convinced I would be sold to some shady organization dancing on the tables while my passport would be gone. Still, I convinced him otherwise and took a risk leaving to live in pairs full-time at 15, signing contracts, renting apartments paying taxes. From then on, I decided the only way to live is to trust a gut feeling and take a chance no matter how much anyone says it’s impossible and can’t be done. I slammed my doors open in the face of nay-sayers. I worked on my mindset to become a successful independent model and became one of the biggest earners in the agency. At 21, when my doctors said it’s almost impossible to have kids, I po] proved them wrong and had two kids. My agents were concerned I was leaving such a lucrative and what’s supposed to be a short-lived career ( there’s still ageism, but there’s always to push things for a good change ). After my kids, I returned to modeling, acting, stand-up comedy, and racing cars! I started a blog, www.modelmom.tv, to find an open, vulnerable conversation about having both kids and a career and created the stand-up show ” Models of COmedy,” proving a few claims that ” Pretty Women Cant be funny “, they can. At this point, there’s nothing and no one who can stop me from realizing my dreams, and it is all a journey, not a destination. So Cheers for living big, making bold choices, saying yes to love and not fear, and taking risks
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Eugenia Kuzmina is a Russian-American actress, comedian, and model. Her father was a renowned nuclear physicist who was one of the first responds to the Chornobyl disaster. Her mother is a former scientist and a housewife. Eugenia grew up on food lines in Post Soviet time. She was training to be a professional ice skater when at 13 years old, she was pulled out from a group of kids in her school to appear in a Russian version of SNL “Eralash.” She was then cast to appear in Chuck Norris’s film but couldn’t leave the country due to visa issues. After appearing in commercials for Coca-Cola, L’Oréal, and Wrigleys in Moscow, for which she was paid more than her scientist’s dad, she was noticed by a scout at Nathalie Models Europe. She signed a contract and moved to Paris at 15 to work with such brands as Yves Saint Laurent, Cartier, Dior, Armani, Hermes, Loreal, and Vogue, among many others…
After Ford Models, then IMG signed her contract and moved her to the US, she was noticed by Rodrigo Prieto (cinematographer of ” Wolf Of Wall Street,” “Babel”) to appear in his directorial debut opposite Elle Fanning “Likeness.” The movie was screened at Tribeca Film Festival and received excellent reviews. John Turturro cast Eugenia to play opposite him in a film with Woody Allen, “Fading Gigolo.” Recently Eugenia worked opposite Bill Murray in “Rock The Kasbah,” Milla Kunis and Christina Applegate in “Bad Moms, “Guy Ritchie’s ” The Gentlemen, “Operation Fortune, “etc. Eugenia’s Tv credits include ” Spy City, “True Blood,” “New Girl,” “Castle,” “The Comeback,” “Lady Dynamite,” Tour De Pharmacy, “etc.
Eugenia is very passionate about comedy and writes and performs Stand Up regularly at The Comedy Store and The Laugh Factory. She has created a show, ” Models of Comedy, “that is touring around the world. Her other hobbies include motorcycles, doing her own stunts, languages (French, Portuguese), and supporting environmental causes worldwide.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Regarding goals, Capricorns lined them up to the tee, and being born on the day that Jesus Stole my birthday … and my ego ( Dec 25 ), I know I’m destined to go far … even though most people in my childhood environment would say ” DAGE ne Probuy ” … which means ” Dont even try. ” I am put on this planet to support those who don’t have the voice and power to have it. I’m here to support the most precious in our society as kids, women, and wild animals. I’m here to stand firm for those who deserve it and who are banished because of the patriarchy. I swear I might have been a witch executed by the Inquisition in my past life, as I’m here to stand in the name of nature and nurture and not control, possess ego, or fake power. I’m here as a representation and a model of the divine feminine true authentic power. I work with many organizations like Freedom For All https://www.freedomforall.org/, which my ex-boss Katie Ford from Ford models created to help anti-human trafficking. I work with Wild Wolves that are on the list of species being abused and extinct https://wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org/, saving wild horses with director Ashley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DtzjMxhSxU. From The Heart Tribe https://www.ftht.org/ and I believe being a comedian, model, and actor mom gives me a platform to spread the goodness.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I was born into a highly fatalistic culture and an environment that doesn’t believe in smiling at strangers. I grew up around people who think smiling is a mental illness. I also grew up with a ton of shame and guilt for my looks and for being a sensual human . Being born an orthodox, I had to be punished and apologize, and I took it upon myself to try to work harder for my mistakes until a priest violated my privacy. That made me resign from the church and focus on spirituality, not rigid religion. Once I decided to change and work on my mind being positive, leaving Russia and my surroundings, I tried to elevate everyone to be happier. I had to let go of what didn’t serves me in my growth and evolution. I believe happiness is an insider job, life is abundant, and kindness is free.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eugenia-kuzmina.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eugeniakuzmina/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@eugeniakuzmina1
Image Credits
Gisela Schober Anadolu Agency Stephane Cardinale