“The guys poked their fingers and argued with me”: Tonya Rybkina, a model with Sturge-Weber syndrome, on complexes and attitudes to makeup

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” – no matter how often this phrase sounds in various contexts, its meaning remains the same. There are no limits. It cannot be called objective, because each person sees in his own way. Therefore, “What is beauty for you?” There will be as many people as there are people on the planet. Noticing, seeing in people around us, is a skill that we want to develop not only in ourselves but also in our readers. Therefore, today we invite you to be the same “observer” as us for a few minutes.

Tonya Rybkina was born with an unusually rare condition called Sturge-Weber Syndrome. Its main manifestation is a vascular nevus on the face, which is often called a “wine” or birthmark. Now Tonya is 20 years old, she is a model, a freshman in the Faculty of Psychology, needlework and loves the look of she. We talked to her about when she decided to become a model, how people around her reacted to the stain, and why she never put on foundation.

About the birthmark

I’ve been told since I was a child that I was special, that I was “marked by God”. But I remember how pissed off the kids were when they pointed their fingers and argued in front of me. I might even fight someone because of it. But then it’s all gone. At some point, I realized my feature was cool.

Someone told me my stain is style. It was good, I liked it.

Now people are more calm, trying not to pay attention. Moreover, you get used to yourself over time and you don’t even notice if someone is looking at you. Age also plays a role. For example, if a child sees a stain, he will most likely point with his finger, be interested in what it is. But an adult doesn’t care.

In general, when you communicate for a long time with a person who does not have a red mole, but an ordinary but large size, this mole becomes transparent, you just do not notice it. You usually forget that there is a blemish on the face.

about makeup

I was called three times for makeup and that was enough. When I first went to Gohar Avetisyan. Of course, it gave me an even tone and smeared the stain with foundation. Then I was invited by another makeup artist. We talked to her about makeup and for some reason I was sure we could do without foundation. But no, that also blurred everything. And this trip to the makeup artist was decisive.

I didn’t like that the stain was covered instead of underlined. That’s why I examine the make-up artist more carefully before going to her.

I’m bad with foundation and concealer. I just don’t use it, I don’t like it. I see no reason to cover it with foundation when even the usual part of the face is spotless. Sheer or tinted brow gel, pink lip tint, sometimes mascara is my max.

About how I started modeling

When I was 14, I was invited to a wedding. There was a photographer there who said I had a great look and needed a model. And before that, I thought about modeling, but agencies weren’t popular. Especially for models with non-standard appearance. It just started to develop. Then I found a popular modeling school, my mom and I went there and we were asked to take a hundred thousand credits for training. Naturally we refused and forgot for a while.

“Alium” (modeling agency for people with special needs. note. ed.) I found by chance. Then I tried to go to Lumpen, where there are also extraordinary models. But they rejected me. Then Lina Dembikova, the stylist of the Reloaded program on TNT, invited me and another model, Yulia, who has a prosthetic arm, to her shoot. We spoke with Yulia, she said she applied to an agency and was accepted. I came to Alium too.

It was not just a modeling agency, it was a whole family – kind, sympathetic. I felt very comfortable there. People, models are kind, understanding. Each had their own story.

Basically, we’ve all shot for promising clothing brands. For example, Lina Dembikova’s hoodie brand, OVDXA brand, vintage upcycle brand. I worked at Alium for about two years. In the autumn of last year, the project ceased its activities.

About the complexes

Actually, I’m not the best adviser in this regard because that’s why I’ve never struggled with complexes. People impose complexes on themselves, compare themselves with someone, see someone as an example to follow. If you don’t like something and you can change it, improve yourself.

Complexes are like a mood, whether imposed by oneself or by someone else. Now we choose to be cheerful or sad, to be shy about something or not to be shy.