Wikipedia

Valeria Lukyanova

Valeria Valeryevna Lukyanova (Ukrainian: Валерія Валеріївна Лук'янова; Russian: Валерия Валерьевна Лукьянова; born 1992) is a Ukrainian model[2][3][4] best known for her resemblance to a Barbie doll.[5] She currently lives in Mexico. To enhance the Barbie effect Lukyanova uses makeup and contact lenses over her naturally green/gray/blue eyes. She has stated that she has had breast implants, but that the rest of her body is natural and slender due to daily gym workouts and a particular diet.[6]

Valeria Lukyanova
Lukyanova in November 2012
Born
Valeria Valeryevna Lukyanova

(1992-06-21) June 21, 1992 (age 32)
Tiraspol, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union[1] (now Transnistria)
CitizenshipUkraine
Occupations
  • Model
  • entertainer
Years active2001–present
Spouse
Dmitry Shkrabov
​
(m. 2013)​
Modeling information
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Hair colorBlonde

Early life

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Lukyanova was born 1992, in Tiraspol, in what was then part of Moldavian SSR in the Soviet Union.[7] She is of Russian origin.[2][3] Her mother, Irina, worked for the military sector and her father was a construction worker, who also was a part-time disc jockey.[8] Lukyanova lived in Odesa, Ukraine from age 16 until 2014, when she moved to Moscow.[9]

Modeling career

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In 2007, Lukyanova won the worldwide beauty contest "Miss Diamond Crown of the World".[10][11] The beauty pageant was open to any woman, had about 300 contestants, and had no rule forbidding plastic surgery or body modification.[12][13] She subsequently had multiple photo sessions and interviews published in Russian media, including erotic photos.[14][15][16][17] Lukyanova developed a worldwide following for her Barbie doll-like appearance after she posted photos and videos of herself on the web.[18] She gained notoriety after reports of her "almost inhuman beauty" surfaced online.[citation needed] The first notable coverage of her from outside Russia was on the Jezebel blog, followed by a photo session in V by Sebastian Faena.[18] The media described her as being like a living Barbie doll.[19][20][21]

There has been scepticism of Lukyanova. ABC News suggested that Lukyanova was a hoax aided by image editing software.[19] Diane Levin regarded Lukyanova as an example of the negative effects of media objectification.[22][23] To counter the image editing accusations, Lukyanova posted videos on YouTube and appeared on Russia-1[24] and Channel One Russia[25] TV channels. Lukyanova admitted to having breast augmentation but no other plastic surgery,[24][26][27] and denies that she had ribs removed to make her waist smaller.[28][29] Lukyanova blamed people unconnected to her for altering photos of her younger self in a malicious attempt to imply she had received body modifications.[23]

In 2013, Lukyanova was the subject of an episode of Vice's My Life Online documentary series entitled Space Barbie.[20][30] In 2013 she participated in the documentary movie The Phase, which was released on YouTube in 7 languages.[31]

In 2015, Lukyanova participated in Dosso Dossi's fashion show as a model.[32][33]

Music, acting, and spirituality

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Lukyanova is an instructor at the School of Out-of-Body Travel,[19] described as "an international school in which our instructors show students how to leave their physical body and travel in their spiritual body."[19] Her spiritual name is Amatue.[19][20]

She is a composer, an opera singer, and has recorded two albums of new-age music, Sun in the Eyes and 2013 using the name Amatue.[34] she wrote a book, Astral Travel Amatue, about her astral trips which she made available in 2012 as an RTF file to download for free from her website.

She had her debut starring role in a feature film in The Doll (2017), a horror movie directed and written by Susannah O’Brien. The film, which also includes Mindy Robinson and Ron Jeremy, revolves around Lukyanova's character, an escort made from doll parts created by a doctor to recruit others to kill, and the two men who requested her.[35][36] The movie presented at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017.[37]

Personal life

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She is of Russian origin.[2][3] She has a bachelor's degree in architecture from Odesa State Academy of Constructions and Architecture.[21][24]

She is married to Ukrainian businessman Dmitry Shkrabov, her childhood friend.[26][38] However, Lukyanova said that she does not want to have children or a "family lifestyle."[39]

Lukyanova is a strict raw vegetarian, living on a liquid diet.[24] She said that her weight was 45 kg (100 lb) in 2012.[29] In 2014, she stated she was training herself to live off only light and air and converting to breatharianism, a cult with the central belief that food and possibly water are not necessary for survival.[40] However, she later stopped this experiment, stating: "I still would like to do breatharianism someday. But right now, I am far from it, and I do not know when I will do it".[41]

In 2014, because of the war in Donbas, Lukyanova moved from Odesa to Moscow.[42][43][44]

Attacks

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In 2014, Lukyanova reported to police that she was punched and strangled by two men outside her home, after receiving anonymous threats for over the past two years. She was hospitalized and released a week later.[45]

Political views

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Lukyanova caused controversy when she expressed support of Russia during the war in Donbas. She wrote, after posing in the Crimea region: "Do not give up! fight! Our grandfathers fought with bare hands against the fascists! Do not disgrace the honour of the Great Warrior! Be aware that Russia is always with you!"[46][47]

According a 2014 article on GQ, she claimed that race-mixing caused "degeneration" and said that race-mixing was the reason why there are presumably less beautiful women today. About her own looks, she said, "I have white skin; I am a Nordic type - perhaps a little Eastern Baltic, but closer to Nordic."[48][49][50] She also claimed that a girl born to a Russian mother and an Armenian father would need to go through plastic surgery to reduce the size of her nose.[51][better source needed]

In 2022, she criticised the sanctions imposed on Russia as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian War and said that those sanctions would hurt models who couldn't compete in international organisations.[52]

Nicknames

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Throughout her career, she has received various nicknames referring to her Barbie-like appearance. She has most commonly been referred to as "The Human Barbie".[53][6][54]

In Russian-speaking media, she's often been referred to as "The Russian Barbie,"[55][56][57][58] "The Ukrainian Barbie,"[59][60][61] and "The Odesa Barbie."[62][63][64][65]

Lukyanova, has expressed anger at the nickname of "Human Barbie", as she feels that it's "a little degrading and insulting" but that she's used to it now as it's the image her fans "requested" so she has to "comply with it because it's become part of my aesthetic image, but I don't like it".[66]

Discography

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Albums

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  • 2009: Sun in the Eyes
  • 2013: 2013

Single appearances

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Music videos

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  • 2010: "Venus"[67]
  • 2011: "Endless eternity"[68]

Bibliography

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  • Astral Travel Amatue (2012)

Filmography

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  • The Phase (2013) – documentary movie
  • The Doll (2017)[69]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The weird world of Valeria Lukyanova". Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b c ""Одесская Барби" превратилась в провинциальную простушку и жалеет о пластических операциях". 15 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b c ""Украинская Барби" показала свою прежнюю внешность, когда она ела мясо, курила и пила алкоголь". Life.ru. 7 April 2021.
  4. ^ Soldak, Katya. "Deconstructing a Ukrainian Barbie". Forbes. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  5. ^ "LIVING DOLL". V Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  6. ^ a b Kuroski, John (2 January 2022). "The Surreal Transformation Of Valeria Lukyanova Into A 'Human Barbie'". All That's Interesting.
  7. ^ "Living Barbie Doll Valeria Lukyanova Reveals Her Spiritual Side". Huffington Post. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  8. ^ "Things to Know About The Private Life of Living Doll". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Valeria Lukyanova, the Human Barbie Doll". 7 April 2014.
  10. ^ "Одесская "Барби" Валерия Лукьянова: "Моя внешность — это упорный труд и хорошие гены"". fakty.ua.
  11. ^ "Valeria Lukyanova – winning a beauty contest". YouTube. 10 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Бриллиантовая корона 2007". 14 May 2007.
  13. ^ "Бриллиантовая корона» – всеукраинский конкурс красоты".
  14. ^ "Валерия Лукьянова". Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  15. ^ "Медицинский центр ПрофМедЛаб у метро 1905 года". profmedlab.ru.
  16. ^ "Популярная Барби Валерия Лукьянова снялась обнаженной для западного глянца (Popular "Barbie" Valeria Lukyanova co-starred for western glossies), archive.org". Archived from the original on 9 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Одесская Барби обнажилась". Komsomolskaya Pravda. Archived from the original on 20 September 2013.
  18. ^ a b "Living Doll". V Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  19. ^ a b c d e "Living Doll". V Magazine. Archived from the original on 30 March 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  20. ^ a b c Mosbergen, Dominique (29 July 2013). "Real-Life Barbie Documentary: Valeria Lukyanova, 'Living Barbie,' Featured By Vice (Video)". Huffington Post.
  21. ^ a b Soldak, Katya (5 June 2012). "Deconstructing a Ukrainian Barbie". Forbes.
  22. ^ Conley, Mikaela (23 April 2012). "The Real-Life Ukrainian Barbie Doll". ABC News.
  23. ^ a b Nemtsova, Anna (5 August 2013). "16 Questions for the Real-Life Barbie, Valeria Lukyanova". The Daily Beast. The Newsweek/Daily Beast Company.
  24. ^ a b c d "Живая Барби – Валерия Лукъянова". YouTube.
  25. ^ "Выпуск от 16 марта". Channel One Russia.
  26. ^ a b Nemtsova, Anna (5 August 2013). "16 Questions for the 'Real-Life Barbie,' Valeria Lukyanova". The Daily Beast.
  27. ^ "Living Barbie Doll Valeria Lukyanova Responds To Media Criticism". International Business Times. 26 April 2012.
  28. ^ "Valeria Lukyanova vs. yellow journalism". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  29. ^ a b "Девушка-Барби Валерия Лукьянова пыталась покончить с собой". sobesednik.ru.
  30. ^ "Space Barbie". Vice.
  31. ^ "Valeria Lukyanova in documentary "The Phase" on YouTube". YouTube.
  32. ^ "Dosso Dossi Fashion Show'da Candice Swanepoel yerine canlı Barbie Valeria Lukyanova". 17 December 2015.
  33. ^ "Валерия Лукьянова (Барби) в модном показе Dosso Dossi, видео".
  34. ^ "Living Barbie Doll Valeria Lukyanova Responds to Media Criticism [Photos]". International Business Times. 26 April 2012.
  35. ^ Sokol, Tony (10 November 2015). "Ukraine's Human Barbie To Play Evil Doll In Horror Movie". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on 11 July 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  36. ^ Walker, Danny (11 May 2016). "Human Barbie comes to life in trailer for brutal slasher movie - the creepiest thing you'll see today". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 13 June 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  37. ^ "The Doll Trailer: This Bloodthirsty Barbie Will Creep You Out". November 2017.
  38. ^ "Human Doll, Valeria Lukyanova, Reveals Married Life with Husband". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  39. ^ Idov, Michael (April 2014). "This Is Not a Barbie Doll. This Is an Actual Human Being". GQ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  40. ^ "'Human Barbie' wants to 'subsist on air and light alone'". The Independent. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  41. ^ "Valeria Lukyanova said: I am always unhappy about myself". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  42. ^ "Valeria Lukyanova | VK". vk.com.
  43. ^ "Valeria Lukyanova Finds Being Called "Human Barbie" Degrading". 8 June 2015.
  44. ^ "Одесская Барби увеличивает армию своих фанатов". КП в Украине | КП в Україні | KP in Ukraine.
  45. ^ "Human Barbie, Valeria Lukyanova, reportedly strangled outside of her home".
  46. ^ "Британцы обвинили одесскую Барби в сепаратизме". prawwwda.com. 4 August 2014.
  47. ^ "Украинская Барби не гнушается отдыхом в Крыму и поддерживает Путина". OBOZREVATEL NEWS. 1 August 2014.
  48. ^ Miller, Tracy (7 April 2014). "'Human Barbie' Valeria Lukyanova blames 'race-mixing' for plastic surgery popularity". nydailynews.com.
  49. ^ "Human Barbie Is A 'Racist Space Alien' Says GQ". HuffPost UK. 7 April 2014.
  50. ^ Gupta, Prachi (8 April 2014). "GQ: Human Barbie is a "racist space alien"". Salon.
  51. ^ Garcia, Megan (7 April 2014). "Valeria Lukyanova says kids bring out". www.christiantoday.com.
  52. ^ "Одесская Барби Лукьянова посмеялась над санкциями, сбежав в россию, а потом в США: "Пострадали кошки"". 4 April 2022.
  53. ^ Odhiambo, Helix (30 January 2020). "Mind-blowing Human Barbie before and after photos". Legit.ng - Nigeria news.
  54. ^ Mychaskiw, Marianne. "A Conversation with Human Barbie, Valeria Lukyanova". InStyle.
  55. ^ "Русская барби до и после. Украинская барби, валерия лукьянова, показала себя без кукольного макияжа и фотошопа. Сходство внешних данных с матерью". uofa.ru.
  56. ^ ""Русская Барби" Валерия Лукьянова предлагает приватные уроки по вебкамере". ВладТайм - самые независимые новости.
  57. ^ "Валерия Лукьянова - русская кукла Барби". Строительный портал: новости, статьи, обзоры.
  58. ^ ""Русская Барби" - Валерия Лукьянова, сразила наповал снимком с пляжа". znamenitka.ru.
  59. ^ "Фото: Украинская "Барби" Валерия Лукьянова". russian.people.com.cn.
  60. ^ Дурова, Дарья (17 June 2021). "Украинская Барби после обвинений в фотошопе и пластике поделилась детскими фото". OBOZREVATEL NEWS.
  61. ^ Гришин, Игорь (11 January 2022). "Украинская "Барби" призналась, что видит духов". novyny.live.
  62. ^ "Одесская Барби резко сдала и постарела: фото 36-летней Валерии Лукьяновой до и после". РБК-Украина.
  63. ^ ""Одесская Барби" Валерия Лукьянова: как сейчас выглядит девушка, решившая стать куклой (фото)". Телеграф. 26 May 2021.
  64. ^ ""Одесская барби" Валерия Лукьянова рассказала, что обладает сверхъестественными способностями". www.unian.net.
  65. ^ "Одесская Барби Валерия Лукьянова утверждает, что ее "завербовали массоны": "Сверхсила"". znaj.ua. 18 November 2021.
  66. ^ "Valeria Lukyanova Says Her 'Human Barbie' Nickname Is 'Degrading'". Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  67. ^ "Amatue - Venus". YouTube.
  68. ^ "Amatue - Бесконечная Вечность" – via vimeo.com.
  69. ^ "See 'Human Barbie' Valeria Lukyanova as The Doll". Horror Entertainment Magazine. 5 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
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