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SEPTEMBER 2012 -
SEXY X2
MAGAZINE -
17
a full-time graduate student, I cannot
pursue a full-time career in modeling
at this time, so I enjoy modeling as a
part-time job and hobbie.
What seduces you about psychol-
ogy?
I can’t really put my finger on it… I
was into psychology since my junior
year in high school. I actually read
my AP Psych textbook way beyond
the assigned chapters. I just found it
so interesting, it blew my mind! By
college time, I knew I wanted to be
a psych major. My classes were cap-
tivating as I learned about the many
different ways a mind can work.
People can be so different and so
intriguing. So I guess I was seduced
by the diversity of it. I never want
to be bored with my job, and with a
career in psychology, I don’t think I
ever will.
You finished your master and now
going for a doctorate. What is the
career goal?
I want to work in different settings.
I would like to see what it’s like to
work in a hospital. I have already
worked in an outpatient clinic and
loved it. I want to work with people
one-on-one and in group settings. I
feel that different people benefit from
different kinds of treatment. I do
want to look into that in my research,
and perhaps I can teach at a universi-
ty someday. My final goal would be
to run my own clinic, which would
provide comprehensive testing for
our clients and would match them
with specialized treatment plans and
professional therapists. Often, people
get put on psychotropic medications
too soon or enter the wrong kind of
therapy for their type of problem. I
want to provide individualized treat-
ment plans that cater to each person
and their unique needs.
You look in very good shape. Do
have any exercise routine, some
kind of special diet?
My general rule is that I stay active.
I love food, so I hate to limit myself
completely. Of course, I try to eat a
lot of fruits and veggies. I stick to
organic, free-range meats. I try to
avoid red meat as much as possible,
but I do have an occasional burger or
steak. I LOVE LOVE LOVE sea-
food! And I like to have desserts as
a special treat. I cook many home-
made meals, but I also enjoy din-
ing out. But be aware: I am NOT a
cheap date! I love exotic restaurants,
especially Thai, Korean and French
cuisines.
To counterbalance my love for food,
I make sure to workout at least three
times per week. I like to vary my
workouts: I love taking dance class-
es, Pilates, boxing, and sometimes
I just hit the gym. I learned how to
read all my school stuff while on the
elliptical, so sometimes I just got to
multitask! I also love outdoor activi-
ties: hiking, swimming, and snow-
boarding in the winter. Guys, watch
out! I’m an expert snowboarder and
can kick your ass in a second!
What part of your body do you
find more attractive and why?
(She laughs) Great question. I would
say my butt. Since I was a little
girl, my family used to joke about
me having a big butt. I was always
proud of it. Now, my boyfriend loves
my butt. But I do a lot to keep it firm
and shapely. Screw being skinny: it’s
all about the curves!
The common men find it difficult
to think of a girlfriend or to marry
to a psychologist because they feel
that being analyzed continuously.
Is that’s how it is? Do you continu-
ally analyze your partner?
Yes and no. I try to keep my profes-
sional and personal lives separate, so
I never intentionally sit down with
my man to analyze him. But natu-
rally, when you live with someone,
you pick up on their habits, patterns
and behaviors. Since I cannot help
my psychologically curious nature, I
often find myself speculating on his
thoughts, personality traits, and cop-
ing strategies. It helps me understand
him. We have our differences, as do
all couples, but my psychological
training helps me approach him with
more empathy and curiosity.
What do you think of Sigmund
Freud?
Freud was a great pioneer in the field
of psychology. If it wasn’t for him,
people may never have started talk-
ing about sexual drives, unconscious
thoughts and the significance of
dreams. We owe him a lot for open-
ing the gateway to the human mind.
However, many of Freud’s methods
are now obsolete. He did not ap-
proach psychology with the same
scientific rigor that we do today,
therefore some of his theories have
been proven wrong. Nevertheless,
I still admire Freud for his courage
and brilliance.
Tell us about your life. Where were
you born? Where did you grow
up?
I was born in Moscow, Russia.
My mother had me while she was
finishing her masters, so much of my
childhood I spent with my grandpar-
ents or being babysat by my mom’s
college buddies. From an early age,
I was very close with my mom, my
dad and the rest of my family. When