Iryna Sheik constantly says that she is from Russia. Christie Ponomar explained why famous fashion houses work with Russian women

The world-famous Ukrainian model Kristy Ponomar, who has collaborated with luxury fashion houses such as Saint Laurent, Prada, Givenchy, Valentino, and many others, explained that Russian models are still hired for their shows not by the brands themselves, but by agencies. They find girls, including in Russia, bring them abroad, and take them to auditions where they don't have to specify their citizenship. However, this scheme certainly doesn't apply to Iryna Sheik, a supermodel from the Cheliabinsk region. Famous designers invite her to their shows personally, even though the Russian has never condemned her country's aggression and the war in Ukraine.

Ponomar notes that Sheik remains one of the most successful models of all seasons. Designers ignore the fact that she is proud of her origins and in no way contributes to ending the war in the heart of Europe. Kristy Ponomar spoke about the inside of a model's kitchen in an interview with Oleksii Sukhanov for his YouTube channel.

"Almost no one refused to work with Russian models. They are still doing shows. One of the most successful models of all the seasons is Irina Shayk, who in every interview does not forget to say that she is from Russia. Although she has been living in America for 25 years. But she does not forget to say that she is actually "Russian," the Ukrainian runway star is indignant.

Ponomar is saddened by this fact, but she realizes that, unfortunately, it is almost impossible to influence this process and change anything. As we have already mentioned, Russian models are chosen for their shows not by brands but by agencies. That is, even if the fashion house itself has a principled position on this issue, it may not know about the involvement of Russian women in its shows.

"This is a very complicated issue. Because it's not the brands that hire these girls that are to blame, but the agencies that bring these girls from Russia and then show them to the brands. They have no way of checking where you are from. It can be Masha from Russia, and the website will say that it is Mary from Moldova. They won't check your passport at the casting. The problem is that agencies still hire girls from Russia. They sign contracts with them, get them visas, bring them abroad and then send them to casting calls for brands. They may ask where you are from, but no one will ask your citizenship or ask for your passport," said Kristy.

Sheik is a separate category. It's beneficial for brands to invite her to their shows because she is a well-known and influential name in the industry, so no one cares about her citizenship, let alone her position, or rather lack thereof.

Ponomar explains: "Sheik is no longer invited through an agency, but as a star, because she is one of those top models who is on par with Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, and others. She gained her popularity in the 90s, she lived in Hollywood for 25 years, and she hangs out with all the designers. They treat her like a friend. She is not perceived as someone who does something bad for them. She often participates in her friends' shows... When this designer is sitting with his girlfriend Irina somewhere in Los Angeles, drinking their Prosecco and talking about how she will walk in his shows, and then they will go on vacation together, he doesn't think about the fact that a bomb landed in Kyiv today. He thinks that he will invite her, she is a celebrity, she has many millions of followers, everyone will post that she was at his show, his sales will increase because of this, it's a very cool idea, it's also cool and fun to go to the sea with her."

As for Ponomar, she regularly crosses paths with colleagues from the terrorist country while working abroad. She assures us that she does not maintain any communication with them.

"No one is immune to this. I don't choose my models. You work with the ones you have. We do not communicate. I am principled in this matter. Some girls try to communicate somehow. But I'm not interested. I don't know what I'm going to talk to them about," the Ukrainian star said.

As a reminder, the Russian recently took part in a photoshoot for Vogue magazine with fashion legends, wearing a Ukrainian-made sconce. The situation caused dissatisfaction and outrage among Ukrainians, as Sheik did not deny Russia or condemn its aggression, but only once in early March 2022 called for help for Ukraine.

Earlier, the model posted a photo with the letter "Z" on social media, which she later deleted due to hate speech. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian brand Zhilyova Lingerie gave an official comment on the scandalous situation.

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