Meet Irena Kukh

Irena, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Ever since I was a child, life has thrown challenges at me. I had many tragic events in the family. My parents acted normal, so I never took to heart any death in the family, robbery, shooting, fighting, or unfortunate experiences like being lost in the woods, getting hospitalized from cat carried infection or being locked up on the rooftop of the 5 story building over night. Later when I grew up, I lost my mom, and I lost connection with my dad. And I was still okay. I learned to address any bad situation, and always to find a message behind it. I would come out stronger, wiser, and fuller of life. My resilience is my power to achieve anything I wish in life.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am Scorpio sun, and Aries moon. Just kidding, but maybe not. It would already tell a lot about me to some people.

I was born and raised in northern part of Russia, in small town on the border with European country Estonia.

I have been always creative, as far as I remember myself. I designed my own clothes and shoes. I made clay sculptures. I wrote poetry and short fiction stories. When I was 13, I learned how to use VHC video camera. My friend recorded me pretending to be in the music videos and leading my own mini reality show about my daily life. That was year 2002, way before YouTube or Instagram were created! Slowly we transitioned to dressing up in different characters and taking pictures. That was when I fell in love with modeling.

Twenty years later, I am in a different country, but I still love modeling and art. I think they cannot exist without each other, and I take every project from artistic and creative point of view. I love working with like-minded individuals and creating art of any kind. I artify everything I do in my daily life, including raising my two little boys, which is now essential part of my life. I am always open to meet new people, new opportunities, connections, collaborations, and creative projects.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Always follow your passion! Do everything with love.
Enjoy your routine and small daily activities.

Life, after all, is made out of small daily activities. If we don’t enjoy all of it, what are we going to remember in the end?

Three qualities that impacted my journey.

Creativity
Mindfulness
Relationship-building skills

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Mediate and spend time in nature. I find peace and insights in my daily meditations.
Nature always gives me fresh outlook on life or any current issues.