Vanessa Vinogradova: “I’m investing in building a women’s community.

Vanessa Vinogradova: I'm investing in building a women's community. - 1 - изображение

Especially for Woman Magazine blogger Vanessa Vinogradova told how she reacts to haters, what topics she doesn’t write about and what pisses her off on Instagram.

Do you remember when you decided to start a blog and how long ago it was?

I’ve actually been a blogger since I was 12 years old. I don’t remember exactly where it started, but I was popular on Ask.fm, anonymous and non-anonymous questions were asked there. I had 100,000 subscribers there, I even flew to Moscow to meet other bloggers. 

Then there was Periscope, and a little later my mom got me an Instagram account, because she thought that was the future of this social network. Later I got a friend who also ran Instagram (she also has 800 thousand followers now)  and we started taking pictures of each other. That’s where it all started.

What do you think is the main message of the blog?

I have a female audience and I put my energy into communicating with girls, into creating a female community. I have girl-only chats. They share their secrets with me, I tell them about my experiences, and to the best of my ability I try to instill in them the confidence that each is worthy of being valued and respected.

If a girl writes to me and asks for some advice, I will always help. I may not answer right away, but I will try to help if I can by voice or text message. There was a case where a girl wanted to commit suicide and called me. We had a long talk with her and now, thank God, she’s fine.

Vanessa Vinogradova: I'm investing in building a women's community. - 2 - изображение

How do you find time to communicate with so many people?

All my relatives will confirm that I am super sociable. I manage to answer everywhere: communicate with people live, simultaneously answer in some group and conduct a million chats. I also set aside time on purpose so that no one touches me, and I communicate with my subscribers. 

Did you have any complexes that you overcame, and what advice do you have for girls not to acquire them in the course of life?

You know, almost all girls have complexes because of guys. I don’t have a bouffant shape and some people would say: You have small breasts or no ass. I was offended by such comments, but in time I realized that loving myself is the most important thing. Now I present myself in such a way that no one notices the so-called “shortcomings”. You have to act like a queen and people will treat you the same way. That’s what I tell the girls, too.

Vanessa Vinogradova: I'm investing in building a women's community. - 3 - изображение

Where do you draw inspiration from to share positivity and be in an energy resource?

If you watch my storis, my mornings start with me waking up at 11 and telling my subscribers the same phrase:

 “Didn’t do the vacuum, didn’t meditate, didn’t drink the match, but still remain your favorite blogger.”

It’s just that now everyone is meditating and it’s like being in some kind of Insta-sect. In general, I am always on the positive side and even if something happens to me, I share it, but I try to dose it and not let a bad mood into the feed. People have enough negativity in their daily lives without it. Plus, my boyfriend and I are always going somewhere, doing something, and this is also very inspiring for me.

Vanessa Vinogradova: I'm investing in building a women's community. - 4 - изображение

Are there topics that you try not to bring up on your blog?

I don’t touch the subject of politics. Until I was 18, I tried not to bring up the topic of sex, and now I try to do it very delicately, because most of my audience are very young girls. But there are chats with girls where we can discuss some things with each other without too many eyes.

What makes you happy and angry on Instagram?

“What pisses me off” is a topic for a separate article. I’m pissed off by people who grew up purely on the givens and don’t bring any value to their blog. I really don’t like cheap, dirty hype. I don’t like it when bloggers discuss and humiliate someone behind their back and then chat like nothing happened.

It’s good to see on Instagram when they’re raising money for treatment. I never flip through such posts, I try to skim at least a little bit. I like new acquaintances, new opportunities. There are so many cool people that I got to know through Instagram that I couldn’t just meet on the street.

How do you react to hate on the Internet?

I don’t respond to it and I don’t read it. My mother reads, my grandmother reads, and can even reply to someone. I’m fine with my self-esteem, so I don’t pay attention.

Tell us about your current projects and what are your plans for the future?

I have an SMM agency that is now on summer vacation and will resume operations in the fall. At the moment I am proud to have my photos on more than 70 billboards all over Kiev advertising Ocean Plaza. 

I want to be a millionaire by the fall, and I’m fast approaching that goal. I try to shoot more, publish more, develop more.

Vanessa Vinogradova: I'm investing in building a women's community. - 5 - изображение

How much time do you devote to self-care, are there any favorite beauty treatments?

Every day I massage my face with a cooling roller. I can do the facial exercises that Irina Shayk does. I apply different masks, but I try not to overdo it, because once I overdid it and got sprinkled.  I regularly go to the beautician when the time comes: to get a lip correction or facial cleansing. 

Top 3 beauty products you always have in your purse?

Lucas lip balm, Vivienne Sabo mascara and Maybelline eyebrow fixer.

What was your most striking experiment with appearance?

A year ago I cut off half the length of my hair. It was the first time in my life that I cut my hair so short, because before that I had only cut my ends flat, but I liked it.

How do you like to relax and spend your free time?

I love extreme vacations: at the age of 16 I jumped with a parachute, I love trips to the mountains. But sometimes I don’t mind just lying on the beach and not thinking about anything. 

How does Vanessa Vinogradova see herself in five years?

Five years later, I see myself in a spacious, bright apartment, sitting at the table with my young son and planning a vacation with my husband. I have 2 million subscribers and am being congratulated on my 25th birthday by my loyal subscribers who have been with me since the days of Ask.fm.

Vanessa Vinogradova: I'm investing in building a women's community. - 6 - изображение
______________________________________________________________________________________

Text: Nika Egorova
Photo: personal archive

 


Start typing and press Enter to search

Top