Our first distinguished guest from Russia this time! We wouldn't mind welcoming other models from that country!
1) What can you share with us about growing up in Moscow?
I was born in quite an usual family, my dad was a professor, Doctor of Philosophy, and he lectured at the university, and my mom worked for the government of Moscow.
Unfortunately, I've lost my dad very early, he died when I was 5, and I am very grateful to mom for that she could alone bring me up and give me much more than most of my contemporaries received. From childhood I was engaged in ballet, then national dance, I really adored dancing! At the age of six, I entered musical school, piano class.
I remember that in my childhood my best friends were books, and it has generated all my tastes. I prefer classical literature, without dividing on foreign or domestic writers. Maybe that seems strange, but I had a lot of problems in relations with contemporaries, especially with girls, cause there was no shortage in boys' attention.
I always paid much attention to my image, and till now I am certainly classy. In my daily clothes choice, I prefer a womanly image as much as possible. I love dresses, high heels, stockings with arrows, hats, gloves. I have a special weakness for theatre and ballet, I appreciate old school and hardly accept theatrical innovations. Maybe you're imaging me now like such a conservative "bluestocking", that's not true, I LOVE dancing and having fun, and you can often meet me in night clubs, performing, or just enjoying the party. Also, I have a cat, the Canadian sphinx of lilac colour named Warlock, and I adore him! And of course, as well as many Russians, I love caviar, winter and Tchaikovsky.
2) Can you tell us a bit about how did you started becoming a model? What made you decide to be involved in fetish/alternative themes?
When I was 16 I entered an actor's faculty with a great hope that this work would bring me happiness and satisfaction. But it turned out to go exactly not like I planned. You know, without make-up and my favourite fetish attributes I look like a schoolgirl, and of course at sixteen I looked much younger. Besides, I have soft enough features, a bit childish voice, open look, therefore I suited "ingenue" roles perfectly.
This option didn't make me happy at all, cause I hoped to transform myself in theatre! I wanted to act a part of vamp woman, or to suffer and worry like a real heroine. And I dreamed to connect in the art my dance expericence, actor skills and show, with sexuality and coquetry increasing in me.
So, in that time of a dissatisfaction and disappointment I saw my first fetish photos and videos of performances to date in my life. Probably, I was too fast with the decision, but in a couple of months I left my theatrical university with only one dream in my head - to become a fetish model. At first it was very hard for me because I had neither the clothes, nor photographers who wanted to work in this style, and I had to "beat a path" all by myself. During the last years the industry has grown and now there are a lot of new persons but when I only began to work, I had only one example - Dita Von Teese. Now I understand that it was a right choice.
3) What artists were (and still are) you main inspirations?
Strangely enough, I don't have certain "ideals" or "idols", in my interpretation it's a collective image. I think, it's always easier to be guided by someone, while making decisions or being defined in your style, image. I'm not lucky in that sense, because to be guided by "a collective image" is even more hard, than simply to make the decision by yourself! Probably I can say I'm inspired by theatrical performances, ballet, paintings and literature. I prefer classics, but I can exactly single out one of our contemporaries. Genius - this is Milorad Pavic. Certainly, you can hardly say that all these amazing works of art find direct reflection in my works, but, nevertheless, they influence me a lot and form my inward balance.
4) Did you finish your studies? Is there something that you’d like to specialize in?
No, I'm still studying. My speciality is PR, and I'm very glad that after searching for so long I finally found the profession that suits me quite right. I've left school without attending classes and entered my first univercity at 15, it was psychology faculty. The next year I entered theatrical university and continued to study in two high schools simultaneously, because I managed to arranged that small swindle with documents.
But it was too difficult, in general it's impossible to combine anything else with studying on actor's faculty, therefore the next year I transfered to PR and I'm glad now. However, before my father tragically died, he had expressed the desire that I would study in Sorbonne, like he did. Therefore I don't lose hope that maybe one day I'll be able to execute his precept.
5) Do you have to go to the gym a lot to be able to put on all these tiny corsets? :D
Oh, yes! All my childhood and as a youth I was engaged in dancing, up to 17 years. Then there was a big break in sports, though I had a show and our rehearsals were good trainings, but then I closed it and recently I understood that my body can't wait anymore and I continued exercises. Undoubtedly, body loses its attraction very fast without sports, besides I really love physical activity, therefore sports is really a pleasure for me. However, gym exercises are exactly not for me. I prefer aerobics, dancing, pilates or strip-plastique.
6) Would you ever consider cutting your hair very short… or even becoming blonde?
Generally I am rather afraid to say "never" because I've already been in such situations, when something that seemed to be so silly and foolish earlier, now appears to be the most desired and needed. So I won't promise, but meanwhile I precisely wouldn't like to be cut shortly or to be painted in blonde! I'm not against changes and especially love difficult hairdresses, but don't want anything radical now. The shortest hairstyle that I've ever had was a bob!
7) Is there a big fetish scene in Moscow (or in Russia in general)? Do you attend many of such gatherings?
In fact, our fetish scene is located in two central cities: Moscow and St.Petersburg. No big events, basically local parties with amateur performances, games and competitions. Usually it turns out to be the meeting of middle age persons on purpose simply to "walk" their latex suits and to have a look on ladies, to eat and drink and play some games. They do not invite any professional shows, maybe their financial position does not allow.
The industry is not developed, and we don't have an exact "fetish culture", therefore my shows can be more often seen in large night clubs of Moscow where organizers are more well-founded, and public is very greedy for such performances. Nevertheless, I hope very much that in the near future our local parties will grow in large-scale events, but it won't happen before the full-grown fetish culture is generated.
8) How many music instruments can you play?
I left musical school on a piano class, and it's the only one instrument which I can play well now. I have been taught playing the guitar, but I didn't practise for a long time, therefore I can doubtfully express anything convincing! Frankly speaking, guitar wasn't my passion at all, but playing piano is my love, and I try to play more, not to loose my skills.
9) Can you tell us about your work in the music videos that you featured in?
Certainly! Bands, in whose videos I've acted, play in gothic & industrial styles. I was 17 when I acted in my first music video, and it was one of the most well-known Russian industrial bands, thanks to what my career has received a prompt start. And till now I am very grateful to them because that time I couldn't even think that after that clip I would receive such success in Russia. The plot is quite original: roles of all musicians are played by girls (though all members of the band are men), and I played the role of the singer, therefore after this video's appearance a lot of people could not understand whether really the girl sings in a man's voice, or it there must be a catch.
One year later I took part in a video of the other well-known gothic band, it was quite gloomy and mystical, and I played a role of the sexy demonic nurse, btw in my youth I had been the fan of this band, that's why it was a real happiness for me to cooperate with them.
There was a third video, but only an episode, and I won't give it a lot of attention. I would not say that now I am very happy with these three works because with my current outlook, that all has nothing in common. However I regard these videos as necessary steps to the "present" me. Besides, in a certain way it has given me a considerable audience and I got to know some very interesting people.
10) How would you describe a typical Alina Stalina live performance?
Some time ago I had my own show, and we made performances mostly in fetish style. At that time it was an absolute novelty for Russia, and we had a big success. Then I took a break because nevertheless I felt that it was not exactly what I wanted to do. What I'm organising now, I can call the Russian vision of Burlesque. I've already given some performances in this genre, but I'm still working further on elements.
Assuredly, burlesque attracts me a lot, but first, I still cannot draw a parallel between it and full striptease, though mostly burlesque is understood like a kind of strip dance , and secondly, I don't want to say goodbye to my favourite Russian elements, which I use in my shoots, for example. That's why my vision on "Russian burlesque" includes a lot of distinctive features, beginning from elements of suits and finishing with music and dancing poses.
11) What do you do when it’s simply time to relax?
I can spend an evening with a good book and a cup of tea, I can afford myself to eat something tasty, then maybe take a bath and go to sleep. I'm exactly sure that if you are tired - the best medicine is sleep. But if I want to unbend, it depends on my mood to where I'm going tonight - it may be a theatre or ballet, or I can put on ultrashort latex dress and go to dance in night club. I'm quite versatile in this sense.
12) Did you get the chance to travel to exotic places? Would Montreal be considered very intriguing to discover to you? :D
I travelled only across Europe, to near countries: Poland, Czechia, Hungary and so on. And only tourist trips, so I never worked with foreigners before, only Russian photographers and fashion designers. Generally speaking I'm planning to visit France for a long time, and I'll come to Montreal with great pleasure, so call me, I will be glad!