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.'

I completely admire my mother for raising a child with cerebral palsy at home.

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

I believe in reincarnation of the soul.

Finding out I was pretty was a very nice realisation.

I live a very different life now, with incredible privileges, but looking back I realise that growing up in Russia gave me tools that other people don't necessarily have - such as the will to push that bit further, to make things happen, to succeed.

Keeping up with everything I do requires some sacrifices, but once and a while I need to take some time to myself.