We are all connected. What is happening in Ukraine affects us all. Almost a month after Vladimir Putin’s invasion, the country is remarkably resisting its bully. Much of the world is on Ukraine’s side, even ordinary Russians themselves. As we condemn the Kremlin offensive, let’s not blame the Russians but the people in power.
The first Ukrainian who captivated me was Tatiana Gutsu, the gravity-defying gymnast who represented the unified team at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Ever since then, I have been fascinated by the people of this ancient and former Soviet republic. My favorite Ukrainian-born humans are model actresses Mila Kunis, Olga Kurylenko and Milla Jovovich, Miss Universe 2002 Justine Pasek;
Oscar-winning actor Jack Palance (born Volodymyr Palahniuk), Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek’s iconic Spock), rising idol Oleg Zagorodnii (Firebird); models Coco Rocha and Daria Werbowy; football star Andriy Shevchenko (Ballon d’Or 2004); Olympic champions such as figure skater Oksana Bauil, rhythmic gymnast Oleksandra Tymoshenko, gymnasts Olesya Dudnik and Lilia Podkopayeva, and the most decorated Olympian until Michael Phelps – gymnast Larysa Latynina.
Taissa Farmiga, who plays a Consuelo Vanderbilt-like role in The Gilded Age, has supported her parents’ country. His sister, Vera, quoted fellow actor and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: “Life will prevail over death, light will prevail over darkness”. The Oscar-nominated actress added, “In the face of a brutal Russian invasion, Zelensky’s acts of courage inspired his people and galvanized democracies around the world.”
- MILLA’S LAMENT: Milla Jovocich (Kyiv-born Milica Bogdanovna Jovovich), who can kick any Russian invader’s ass on her Instagram account, expressed the sentiment of any freedom-loving individual: “I have the heartbroken and stunned trying to process the events of this week in my birthplace, Ukraine. My country and my people bombed. Hidden friends and family. My blood and my roots come from both Russia and Ukraine. I’m torn in two as I watch the horror unfold, the country destroyed, the families displaced, their whole lives lying in charred fragments around them. I remember the war in my father’s homeland, the former Yugoslavia, and the stories my family tell of the trauma and terror they experienced. War. Always war. Leaders who cannot bring peace. The endless juggernaut of imperialism. And always, the people pay in bloodshed and tears.
- PAGEANTS OBJECTIVE: Whenever I could, I always looked for beauty queens from Ukraine when they were in the country. The ones I met are Miss Universe Ukraine 2016 Alena Spodynyuk, Miss Universe Ukraine 2014 (and Miss Universe 2nd Runner-Up) Diana Garkusha; Anastasia Sukh, Miss Earth Ukraine 2013, and Diana Mironenko, Miss Earth Ukraine 2017. Garkusha, Olesya Stefanko (first runner-up of Miss Universe) and many others condemned the invasion of their country.
- FASHION RELIEF: On their websites and Instagram accounts, global brands announced their urgent response to the Ukraine crisis. Most have closed their stores or suspended retail and e-commerce operations in Russia. According to The Cut, Adidas has suspended its partnership with the Russian Football Union. Armani Group donates €500,000 to UNHCR. The Body Shop North America donated $50,000 to UNHCR. Chanel donated approximately $2.18 million to relief funds. The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation donated $1 million.
Gucci donated $500,000 to UNHCR. L’Oréal donates more than 5 million euros to UN agencies. Louis Vuitton donated approximately $1.09 million to UNICEF. Shiseido has donated one million euros to the United Nations Refugee Agency. Skims donates to World Central Kitchen. Unilever is donating essential products from its brands worth 5 million euros. Valentino donates €500,000 to UNHCR.
Sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber have pledged to donate some or all of the money earned during fashion weeks this season to support Ukrainian organizations. During New York Fashion Week, kyiv-based designer Svitlana Bevza threw up the Ukrainian flag to close her show. In Paris, the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode urged fashionistas to “live the parades of the days to come with solemnity, and in reflection of these dark hours”.
The most poignant and open display of solidarity was that of Balenciaga’s creative director, Demna Gvasalia, who grew up in Soviet-occupied Georgia, dedicating the show “to fearlessness, resistance and victory love and peace”.
Here, fashion director Jackie C. Aquino posted a powerful photo he took with models who performed online with the girl in the center a Ukrainian.
“It’s our own little way to show our support. It was led by Ukrainian model Arthur Tselishchev, who made the masks in the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag,” he said. here for years. Three days after he returned here, Russia invaded. It is worth noting that Russian models are also pictured.
- MILA’S MISSION: Mila Kunis (Chernivtsi-born Milena Markovna Kunis) with her husband, actor Ashton Kutcher, is one of the first Ukrainian-born celebrities to raise money for the war effort. As posted on his Instagram
(@mila_kunis_official) she asked for help by www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with-ukraineand they raised $30 million in two weeks.
“Our work is not done, which is why we are raising the target to $40 million. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the outpouring of love that has taken place through this campaign has the maximum impact on those in need. Funds have already been and will continue to flow to Flexport.org and Airbnb.org, so they can act now,” Mila said. “As funding continues to pour in, we will treat every dollar as if it came out of pocket, with respect and honor for the work that went into earning it, the loving intention by which it was given and the desire for it to be maximized for positive outcomes for others.
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