I think protecting your family and giving to them is so important. It’s the most important achievement.

I learnt early to have little expectation so I protected myself from ever feeling greatly disappointed.

Russian women are very friendly with makeup, almost too friendly sometimes.

But when my grandmother saw me plucking [my eyebrows] she said: 'Don't. You will regret it. One day you will wake up with no eyebrows and think how stupid you were. Your eyebrows are the most beautiful thing about you.'

When you are at the bottom, you find beauty in such little things, and goodness in such little gestures. When I compare any struggle today to ones that I may have had in my childhood, there is nothing that can bring me down.

When I remember my life in Russia it is in totally dark colours.

I don't want to have strong arms, like you get from Pilates or yoga. But dancing arms become your best accessory. And it's great for your core muscles.