On Instagram, Zhanna Badoeva’s life seems impeccable. She always smiles, leisurely enjoys coffee in some cute Italian cafe, just enjoys the day because it is already beautiful in itself... And few people take into account that behind all this lies her crazy work schedule. Making a program about travel is a hellishly difficult task, although when watching it it seems quite the opposite.
On August 16, the premiere of the program “Another Life” will take place on Inter, where every Sunday Zhanna Badoeva introduces viewers to the lives of people in different countries. So we started the conversation with travel and, of course, discussed other passions in life.
“I got so carried away with cleaning that I threw out half the house.”
— Zhanna, what is it like, “Another Life”?
— The basis of the “Another Life” program is not information about attractions or recommendations for accommodation and leisure, but an honest story about the everyday life of residents in different cities and countries: about what unites us all, and where there are obvious differences from Ukrainian ones realities. I am absolutely sure that everyone is interested in knowing how other people live. What they prefer to eat for breakfast, how their homes are furnished, what kind of education they receive, how much they earn, how they spend their free time.
Each country has many interesting nuances, and the life of local people opens up from an unexpected side. These are different concepts, a different understanding of life, a different way of thinking, a different view on raising children, everyday life, the relationship between husband and wife, on the attitude towards retirement and even death. In principle, all the same things that Ukrainians face every day happen to other people around the world. But the view on everything can be completely opposite. And this is probably precisely why our program is valuable.
—Where do they live worse than us?
- In fact, having traveled to many countries, I can say with confidence that there is no place better or worse. There are completely different points of understanding. There is no such thing as worse or better. Somewhere, perhaps, wages are lower, but food prices are lower. Somewhere the laws regarding divorce seem better than in Ukraine, but at the same time the taxes are such that it is easier to get a divorce and not pay anything.
Everything is very different and very individual. Therefore, each person has his own good and his own bad. And it’s probably not worth generalizing.
—Are you already a real Italian?
— If you look at it from the point of view that for breakfast I drink coffee and eat brioche, then yes. But to be a real Italian, you need to be born one.
—Can you, for example, have a fluent discussion in Italian?
- No, it’s still difficult for me. But in a restaurant I’m like a duck to water - I can freely communicate with the waiters.
— Do you like Italian life - it’s a different world, a different mentality, rules?
“I’m absolutely comfortable.” I like everything here - the food, the culture, the weather. I love Italy madly. This is my home, my family.
— Are there Italian passions in your family?
- Certainly! For example, today, for some unknown reason, I decided to do some spring cleaning and throw away unnecessary things. I like to do the cleaning so that no one disturbs me, so that everyone is busy with something else. So while Vasily and Lolita were doing their own thing, I got so carried away that I threw out half the house! But they noticed it. And serious passions flared up. We seriously fought for half a day for almost every discarded item.
— How is the situation in Italy now, what restrictions remain due to quarantine?
— We were at sea yesterday, everything was calm on the beach. There are no passions. There is talk about a second wave. But people were either tired or accepted this situation. Therefore, in principle, everything is quiet and calm.
The fact is that August in Italy is vacation time, when almost everyone closes and goes on vacation. We thought that due to this situation no one would go on vacation, but they were mistaken. Everyone went on vacation - resting.
“I trust Vasily”
— Very interesting queries about you are displayed on Google: children, Instagram, photos, pregnant, height, son, shoes, nationality. Let's go through them one by one. Lola is 15 now, are you friends or still like mother and daughter? Or is it some kind of mix?
- We are, of course, mother and daughter. But we have a very trusting relationship. I can tell her some of my secrets, and she can tell hers. Maybe not completely, but I think it’s not necessary at all - she has her own friends, I have mine.
And I really appreciate her sense of humor. In this, of course, we are very similar. We can joke even when others might be offended. Understand each other. This is the most important thing.
— Do you manage your own social networks? Where is this time in your schedule?
— I always manage Instagram myself. Other social networks - there are managers who take almost everything from my Instagram. It doesn't take me much time. I post one, maximum two posts a day on Instagram. And then the second one is if some event happens. A couple of days ago we were in Verona at a classical music festival, and I shared this event, this was the second post of the day.
— Why can you get banned from social networks?
- For insults, swearing immediately gets a bath and I don’t even understand.
— How did you turn businessman Vasily into a television producer? Whose idea was this?
- There is no need to make anyone out of him. He himself does what he wants and knows what is best for him. Producing is the same business. He runs it the same way he did before, but now it's not just about shoes, but also about TV production.
— What is it like to work with your husband? And even with your son? Isn’t it difficult to reprimand your own people if something goes wrong?
— We don’t work with our son. It happened once, in Milan, because Boris lives there. He is too busy, works remotely and does video editing, so in principle we do not come into close contact at work. And with Vasily, work scandals happen on the site all the time.
We have an international film crew, everyone lives in different countries and cities - in Kyiv, Barcelona, London. And if previously everyone came to filming from all over the world, now, due to the situation with coronavirus, the guys cannot fly to filming, and for now Vasily and I are filming everything together. He now works as my operator! And since there is no one else on the site but us, all the joy and anger go towards each other. But since we understand that we are in the same boat, we don’t quarrel for a long time. We had a fight, made up after 5 minutes and moved on.
— I now remember your quote from a post on Instagram: “I used to sometimes think: why does he love me? I can act like a fool." So why do you and Vasily love each other?
“It’s difficult to explain in human language that I love him for this or that. Because I love him precisely because what about him at the same time really infuriates me. But there are probably some other points here. I trust him very much - and this is very valuable when you understand that a person will not let you down and will be on your side, no matter what you do. No matter what stupid thing I do, he won’t come and say “you’re such a fool”! He will analyze everything and still stand for me. His support is very important to me.
— Does constant travel take a toll on your personal life? Or since you are now working together, there is nothing to be sad about?
— We have no personal life (laughs). There is only work. Even when we come home, there is still very little time. But since this is a common cause and it takes up almost 90% of my life and his life, it suits both of us. Thank God that we are doing the same thing, because if he worked without me, I would go crazy. This would be impossible.
Zhanna Badoeva: “The most global quarrel with my husband lasted 15 minutes”
Zhanna Badoeva and Vasily Melnichin
— On September 8, the second season of the travel show “The Lives of Others” was released. Did you expect the project to become so successful?
We wanted the project “The Lives of Others” to be interesting to the viewer, because first of all it was interesting to us, as creators. The show resonated with the viewer, which means the program can be considered interesting. We made every effort to make this happen.
— Will there be any changes or surprises in the new season?
Each episode of “The Lives of Others” is full of surprises. In our program we expose facts that no one could even think about. Did you, for example, know that in Cuba they still give out food for free using special books called librettos? Did you know that in Seoul you will not be hired if the employer discovers a scar on your knee or some other flaw? And if in Tokyo a person decides to commit suicide, then all relatives are punished. Each of our episodes makes an impression on the viewer, because almost all the facts cause surprise and you involuntarily ask the question - how can this even be?
— Were you worried that the viewer would compare “The Lives of Others” with the show “Heads and Tails”? In your opinion, is such a comparison justified?
These programs are completely different, and they were compared because I am the presenter in both. “The Lives of Others” talks about how people live in different countries - where they give birth, how they study, where they go to work, what taxes, salaries, laws they have, how they meet their old age. Our show penetrates behind the tourist facade, we show the life that an ordinary local resident lives, without embellishment, as it really is.
— What difficulties did you encounter before launching the project?
Our program is not only entertaining, but also educational. In each issue we must provide new, interesting information. We have to penetrate and film in maternity hospitals, schools, apartments of local residents, hospitals, kindergartens and come to their work. And they are not always ready to let us in. I remember how we tried for a very long time to get permission to film in the Israeli army. The shooting was approved for us, we woke up at 5 a.m. to go to the shooting range, and at 7 a.m. the answer came that we were still forced to refuse to shoot. And to persuade an ordinary foreigner to let you into your home is a whole special operation. But we have an excellent team that knows how to convince.
Zhanna is the author of a program that shows ordinary people in other countries
— Did any situations arise during filming in which you had to risk your life?
No, The Lives of Others is not a show about taking risks. It is important for us to obtain information that is hidden from the eyes of tourists and surprise the viewer with interesting, unusual facts from the life of residents of a particular country. This is what we are trying to extract from them.
— If you were offered to return to “Heads and Tails,” would you agree?
I left Eagle and Tails a long time ago. I starred in the anniversary season and in several episodes dedicated to Russia when I had time for it. I couldn’t refuse the fans who cut off my social networks and asked me to come back. But for me this show has already passed the stage, I did everything I wanted in it. Now I am doing a project that is very interesting to me, I am passionate about it, it inspires me. In life, I don’t like to return to where I left, especially if it’s not interesting to me.
— Isn’t your husband jealous of your profession? You spend a lot of time filming...
No, my husband is not jealous of me, especially since he is the producer of our project, and we are doing it together. We are both very excited about The Lives of Others. And besides, Vasily is very proud that I am in my place and I love my job. He enjoys my business trips, because when I return home after filming, I only want to be at home and I’m not drawn anywhere, and he really likes it.
— What was your most serious conflict? Do you often quarrel?
Perhaps the most serious conflict we had was when he bought the wrong products in the supermarket that I asked for. I remember that it was the most global quarrel that lasted about fifteen minutes. To be honest, I don’t even remember why we might have a serious fight.
Badoeva states that she is no longer interested in the “Heads and Tails” program
— Have you ever thought about divorce?
No, this hasn't happened yet.
— Are you and your husband planning children?
At the moment we are not thinking about it. It seems to me that I have already realized myself as a mother. But, never say never.
— In one of your interviews, you said that you parted with Boris’s father as enemies. How did you manage to make peace?
After a while, the grievances passed and we forgave each other. Everything is very simple. I always say that divorce is a reason for people to start living their lives without holding grudges and forgetting about disappointments. So it happened and we succeeded, everyone began to live their own lives and everything fell into place.
— You were able to maintain a good relationship with Alan Badoev. Do you communicate often now? Do you turn to Alan for advice on your personal life?
We communicate very well, but I don’t turn to him for advice in my personal life, I’m already quite old.
TV presenter with her husband and daughter Lolita
- Why did you keep the surname Alan?
The bureaucratic process in Italy is to blame. Changing your last name here is too much hassle. And then I’ve been living with this surname for so long that it seems to me that I was born with it. Although my maiden name is very beautiful, and I would love to take it.
— Where do your children study? Boris is already an adult, how is his personal life?
Boris does editing and works, he lives separately from us and everything is fine with his personal life. Lolita is in her last year of high school in Italy.
Zhanna Badoeva: “If my husband and I succeed, we’ll give birth”
— Three years ago you released your own brand of shoes. How is this business developing now? Does it make a profit?
The fact is that when we launched the show “The Lives of Others,” all our energy went into this project and work on my shoe brand had to be frozen. It was necessary to focus on one thing and the choice fell in favor of our new TV show. But I hope that soon we will be able to find the time and energy and start working on shoes, releasing a new collection, especially since during the existence of our brand we have already formed a pool of fans of my shoes, they are looking forward to new collections. Yes, I am too.
— I can’t help but ask about the recent conflict with Natella Krapivina. Natella accused you of taking credit for the creation of the “Heads and Tails” project. Why was there such a misunderstanding? Did you talk to Natella after that?
Everything I wanted to say about this, I have already said. Why and why she recorded this video are not questions for me. At the moment we are not communicating; each of us is busy with our own projects.
Photo: personal archive
“I’m constantly getting better and losing weight”
— You said that you always need people nearby from whom you are charged, you want to dare, create, you want to share everything with them. Are there such people near you?
- Certainly! I have such a privilege that I have surrounded myself with people that I feel comfortable with. I am not forced to communicate with those people with whom I am uncomfortable. Therefore, my family, my friends, my dogs are the circle that gives me strength.
— Do you often visit Ukraine? Who do you meet first when you arrive? What places do you visit?
— The first thing I do is visit the dentist (laughs). But seriously, I don’t go to Kyiv very often. Again, because of my work. Because I drive, drive, drive, and when I have a 5-day break, I want to go home to my children and dogs. There is no desire to fly somewhere. Of course, my parents are in Kyiv. But sometimes it’s much easier for them to fly to me in Italy. Of course, the virus story complicated everything, and we haven’t seen each other for six months. But we are in touch and hope that as soon as everything is over, either we will fly to them, or they will fly to us.
— On Instagram you are such a positive, lively person, always a glowing woman. Is this always the case in real life? Do you also have sad days? How do you fight them?
— In real life, I am a boring, gray, angry and constantly screaming woman (laughs). And I don’t fight this, I just live like this. As I already said, I surrounded myself with my people - they all know me, and, in principle, they absolutely don’t care. They accepted my character.
— What will you never talk about publicly?
- About what I don’t want. About diseases. That is, if they ask me, I’ll tell you. But she herself - hardly. About some personal things, about death. But that's what I think now. I somehow have no desire to talk about this at all.
— Once you asked your subscribers how much money they needed to be happy. How much do you need?
- Still very relative. I consider myself an absolutely wealthy person. But I always don’t have enough money, I want more. I have enough of them, basically, for everything. But since I’m a terrible clothes maker, there are, of course, problems with this.
- What makes you happy?
- I can list for a long time. In fact, absolutely everything. This morning I woke up - it was so hot, I turned on the air conditioner, sat down, made myself coffee - everything, happy! I threw out the trash - happy. I went to the sea - happy. I went to Verona for a concert - happy. The dog is jumping - I'm happy. I bought a new dress and I’m ten times happier.
- Well, yes, you are a coffee lover. Where is the best coffee?
— The best coffee is in Italy. Not bad in Israel. And what really surprised me was in Cuba.
— How does Zhanna Badoeva manage not to gain weight on croissants?
- In fact, I constantly gain a lot of weight, then lose weight. But it’s unnoticeable because I choose the right clothes.
— How to impress a person who has seen almost the whole world with a family vacation?
- It's practically impossible. My vacation should be quiet, calm, with virtually no movement, I should have everything nearby. One hundred percent comfort and absolute silence!
TO THE POINT
From the KP archive
Zhanna Badoeva is 44. Born in Lithuania. She was the first female resident of Comedy Club Ukraine. In 2011, together with director and music video director Alan Badovey (at that time still her husband), she became the host of the show “Heads and Tails.” She left the project in 2012 after the third season.
Zhanna has two children: 24-year-old son Boris Kurachenko from her first marriage (however, Badoev raised him as his own and always called him his son) and 15-year-old Lolita Badoeva.
In 2014, she married businessman Vasily Melnichin. The couple and their children have been living in Italy since 2013.
Childhood and adolescence
Zhanna Badoeva with her parents
Director and TV presenter Zhanna Badoeva, nee Dolgopolskaya, was born into a family of engineers in the then Lithuanian SSR, in the city of Mazeikiai. Date of birth: 03/18/1976. The zodiac sign according to the Western European horoscope is Pisces. According to the eastern calendar, she is the Fire Dragon.
Since the star's nationality is kept secret, her fans and admirers are considering three possible options:
- Russian,
- Jewish,
- Ukrainian.
Zhanna Badoeva with a friend in childhood
The biography of the future host of the most popular projects began with a passion for music - her grandmother played the piano beautifully, and passed on her talent to her granddaughter. In addition, the girl was seriously involved in dancing as a child. She dreamed of becoming an artist.
However, under the influence of her parents, who wanted their daughter to follow in their footsteps, Zhanna entered the construction institute. By that time, the family was already living in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. But after graduating from the institute, the craving for creativity made itself felt, and the girl became a student at the directing department of the Institute of Film and Television named after. Karpenko-Kary.
At the same time, her first desire to become an actress was hindered by age restrictions when entering this faculty. However, for the first time after graduating from the institute, she worked at this faculty. Acting teacher Nina Vladimirovna Sharolopova noticed her outstanding acting talent.
It was she who contributed to the girl teaching here.
