“I realized that limits exist only in our head”

INTERVIEW WITH ANNA BZHEDUGOVA
- model, actress, journalist.

Anna was born and raised in Moscow, in the family of an economist and architect. All my life I dreamed of becoming an actress, but my father, who graduated from MGIMO, did not share his creative endeavors. At the same time, from childhood she was engaged in vocals, attended theater circles, dances, always wrote compositions, kept diaries, was a creative child, because her mother is an architect. When she was 13 years old, she first flew to Los Angeles for acting classes that she found on the Internet herself. It was the New York Film Academy. The first work was in the SNC magazine, then the editor-in-chief was Ksenia Sobchak, and then the work in Vogue magazine followed.

GP: Anna, you worked for a very famous media outlet. What is it like to work under the direction of Victoria Davydova in one of the reputable glossy magazines - Vogue? How did you get into this industry?

ANNA: I graduated from the Faculty of International Journalism at MGIMO. Already during my studies, I began to look for an opportunity to practice in magazines. At the age of 16, I did an internship at the SNC magazine, then Ksenia Sobchak was the editor-in-chief. I sat at home and searched the Internet for phone numbers and contacts of various editorial offices after the first course. I just introduced myself, told where I studied and was interested in the opportunity to practice. I worked as a producer in a PR agency, wrote for various publications, especially loved fashion. There was such a fashion time website, I wrote articles for them. She didn’t waste time in vain - she collected her portfolio, was interested in the fashion industry. When I graduated from the university, I did not focus on working in glossy magazines.  

Based on my experience, I applied for various positions, looked for work in banks, and in construction, I was looking for the position of an assistant manager. Later, a friend of mine who worked at Condé Nast talked about her promotion and offered to recommend me for her position. I decided to look for possible vacancies in this publishing house. There were two of them - an editorial assistant for Vogue magazine and GQ. The next day I got a call and was offered a job at Vouge, it was a month after I graduated. I went through three stages of the interview, first with HR, then with the editor. I was very worried before the interview with Victoria Davydova: I thought about what to wear, studied the latest issues of the magazine. The interview itself went quickly. She asked why I had to leave SNC and what my hobbies were. I had to leave SNC because of my studies at MGIMO, and my hobby was horse riding. I was ready to attend to the personal needs of a person. I was warned that in a year I could count on any position in the publishing house if I held out.  

The standards of Victoria Davydova are very high, as are the standards of Condé Nast in general. In my opinion, this is the strongest media company in Russia, producing the best magazines. The level of dedication and professionalism that was required was extremely high, even for junior positions. Vika taught me a lot. In terms of self-organization, discipline, organization of the work of the team. She is a very strict and demanding leader who sometimes wants the impossible. At such moments, the most creative ideas are really born. I started out as a personal assistant, but soon other responsibilities were added. I ran the Instagram for Vogue magazine. With Vika, I claimed everything - from the picture to the signature. I rewrote everything several dozen times, argued with the chief editor. Sometimes, in order to find the right shot, I spent hours looking for old archive footage of the magazine to put them on Instagram. I read a lot, for example, Olga Mikhailovskaya. The scope of what I did was really huge. I realized that limits exist only in our head, when you work to the fullest, you get invaluable experience. I began to communicate with major advertisers, Western brands and planned Victoria's schedule on all trips, got to know all Russian designers, secular society, photographers, models and agents. Of course, being a part of this world is a special privilege. For this I am truly grateful.

GP: Why did you finally decide to leave Vogue, you had prospects, as far as we know, you were expected to be promoted, few managed to hold out under the leadership of Victoria Davydova?

ANNA: At some point, everything was fine, I felt development, I was already learning how to make layouts, I started writing more, I went to the courses of Lesya Mikhailovskaya, who wrote critical fashion reviews for Vogue. I was praised, I showed great promise. But there was one thing - this is my childhood dream of becoming an actress. I knew every new issue of the magazine from cover to cover, most of all I was always attracted by articles about art and cinema. I thought what if it was about me? Until I worked in the industry for 10 years and I had the last chance to try, I decided to do it. I was inspired by an article about Steven Spielberg's daughter, where she talked about how she studied at an acting school in New York. With this article, the process of fulfilling my dream began. I found this school, the Lee Strasberg school, I entered there. I came to my dad, we talked, and he gave me the go-ahead. I was very afraid to inform Vika about her departure, we worked together as a team, I heard from many people that such a relationship with an assistant is very rare for her. Vika supported me. She herself in her youth wanted to be an actress, even starred in some TV series. Vika also admitted that she had already discussed my promotion with other management, at that moment it seemed to me that in her heart she was happy for me.

GP: What key role did your work in glossy play in your further choice? Have you learned any valuable lesson for yourself?

ANNA: My work in glossy magazines really brought confidence that everything impossible is possible. Those standards of work and self-discipline, those stories of designers and people, industry workers, gave me the understanding that with full dedication and willingness to devote time, to learn, to accept new things, to develop, everything is possible. Knowing personally those people who radically changed their lives and reached impossible heights out of nothing, I became confident in myself and my choice. I realized it's real.

GP: You had small roles in films, tell us about them? Do you have a desire to develop in this area, or did modeling conquer you?

ANNA: While I had only small roles in films, I managed to work more as a model. I will not say that I prefer any one industry, I believe that these two types of activity are very interconnected. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to prove myself as a model. I would like to develop myself further as an actress, having studied for a long time with various teachers in Hollywood. The last was Bernard Hiller, his client was the Russian actor Kostya Ronin, who starred in the TV series The Americans and in the movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. I do not limit myself, so I want to develop. As a person who has worked in glossy for so long, I will always consider this my passion. I continue to follow trends and shows, the whole fashion world and will always be a part of it.

GP: Tell us about your childhood and the influence of your parents on your choice of profession. Is it possible to say that you have always tried to prove to your parents that you are good in this or that business? As far as we know, your dad has always been unhappy with your incriminations and results?

ANNA: I can't say that my Dad was always unhappy with my choice. From his point of view, the most important thing in my upbringing has always been education and knowledge of foreign languages. He grew up in a not very wealthy family and his ticket to life was the French language, which he learned himself, from books. He joined the army to enter a prestigious institute, he needed a recommendation for admission to MGIMO. He was accepted without connections and patronage. He always wanted to show us the world and educate us. Intelligence, in his opinion, is more important than creative manifestations. My mother took me to the mugs, she is an architect, a creative person. And the Pope proceeded from his experience. Having lived to the age of 23, I realized that it was not enough to understand a narrow profile. It is important to be able to maintain a dialogue, to know foreign languages, to understand politics, economics and culture. If all my life I developed only acting talent, this would not be enough. In many ways, I am grateful to my parents, especially for the things that are shaping me now.

GP: You received the title of Miss Russian Los Angeles 2019. Tell us about the preparation for the competition, how did you become a participant and what happened after winning?

ANNA: I passed the casting along with other girls. It was necessary to record a video about yourself, then the casting took place live. Then they began to put numbers and exits to the podium in different images. One was a burlesque look, a swimsuit and tunic look, a talent show look, and Q&A. At the final exit, we danced to the song of Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga.

Immediately after the victory, I was struck by the number of gifts, attention, interviews, red carpet and congratulations. After that, I flew to Moscow and immediately went to the Spring-Summer fashion show at the Central Department Store. I met all my colleagues there who also congratulated me. I went on a Caribbean cruise, which I won in a competition, and took my mother with me. Upon her return to Los Angeles, she began attending charity events. Then I found out that there would be a Miss Russian USA contest for girls in all states. The host will be Ksenia Sobchak, I worked with her in glossy magazines and would like to work again, so I'm going to the competition.

GP: Have you already signed a contract with some famous modeling agency?

ANNA: I signed a contract with a modeling agency in Los Angeles. The agent contacted me. Now I am working on finding a representation in a larger agency both in Russia and in the USA. I'm putting together a portfolio to move on to this stage.

GP: In your opinion, is there any difference between the modeling business in Russia and abroad?

ANNA: I don't see a huge difference, it's just that the market in Russia is smaller. There are more offers in the USA, and my goal is to have a job in Russia, the USA, and Europe. The main thing is not where, but with whom you work.

There are many talented and creative people in Russia, take at least the Central Department Store and their shootings, new designers, there are many prospects for development in the industry.

GP: What helps you relax after a hard day, where do you draw inspiration from?

ANNA: Sport helps to relax, I am an active person in life. I love nature very much, my mother and I often go to Sochi when I come to Russia. We love hiking in Krasnaya Polyana. We go to the bathhouse, plunge into the ice vat, swim, go to waterfalls, cut bacon with bread and have a picnic. Unity with nature is my way to relaxation. On a daily basis - this is Pilates, reading, a warm bath, tea and cocoa. I draw inspiration from everything that surrounds me. In the family, in relatives and friends, in people from the creative industry. Recently I watched an interview with photographer Timofey Kolesnikov, about how, having arrived from Salekhard, he first came to Moscow, and then to New York and became famous there. In such biographies of creative people, in nature, culture and art, I also draw inspiration.

GP: Tell us about your future professional plans.

ANNA: My plans are to sign a contract with a major modeling agency, to work all over the world. Now one of the main tasks is to find a model agent who could represent me globally. Also development in the film world, hope shooting is just around the corner. I will continue to go to auditions and study, let's see where it takes me.

Thank you for the interview and we wish you the achievement of your goals, 

GORPROEKT team.

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