Darya Kalkova stands at the crossroads of intellect and artistry, combining a solid academic background with the charisma of media icon. Known for her minimalist elegance and sharp mind, she proves that depth and sophistication can captivate audiences just as much as glamour.
Darya, you have a rare combination — a solid background in sociology, experience in project management, and a career as a TV presenter. Today, many presenters focus mainly on their appearance, while you emphasise the value of intellect and erudition. Do you believe the audience truly expects depth from television, rather than just entertainment?
I think the audience doesn’t really expect anything specific. They want everything at once: entertainment, a reason to reflect, exclusive information, and an emotional connection — all within just 25 minutes of a morning show. I would say that those who can’t juggle the emotions of the viewer don’t stay in television for long.
In one of your interviews, you said that a career can be built like a project. What did your “Kalkova Project” look like at the very beginning, and what would you change if you were to start now?
“The Kalkova Project” began with self-acceptance, belief in myself, and the desire to achieve my goals. I would say I am still on this path and have no intention of stopping. If I could give advice to my past self, I would tell myself to work harder and not worry about small things. Didn’t pass an audition? Find two more. That’s how my project continues to grow — built on self-confidence, professional skills, accumulated experience, and a touch of luck.
Your Fashion TV Award for achievements in television is international recognition. What does this award mean to you: a beautiful page in your biography or motivation to raise the bar even higher?
Have they recognised me? Perhaps. Have they truly known me? Not all of them, and not entirely. I definitely have things to show and stories to tell the audience. Sometimes even the producers are surprised by my creative ideas, which come to me during filming. Things don’t always go according to plan — something new always emerges. So, with the audience’s permission, I will continue to work, to captivate, and to entertain them.
Your viewers note your minimalist style and your ability to look elegant without unnecessary pomp. In your opinion, does fashion dictate the rules to television, or does television shape fashion?
In my view, they work together and shape one another. Both are slightly distorted reflections of our reality. Sometimes they respond differently, sometimes they don’t understand each other, sometimes they are in harmony — just like people in our own lives.
Television increasingly competes with bloggers and online platforms. What qualities of a TV presenter cannot be replaced even by the most successful influencer?
The number of wounds and scars acquired along the way. As strange as it may sound, these sharp strokes in one’s biography later turn into irreplaceable skills: teamwork, the ability to find a way out of any situation, and to create a story from any event. But bloggers also have qualities worth learning from — multitasking, versatility across genres, and, above all, attentiveness to the viewer. That is something TV presenters often lack.
Model: @daryakolk
Makeup Artist: @makeup_kis
Stylist: @dashakova_style
Photographer: @irinaa_okuneva
PR Agent: @pr.gramotnaya.uliana
Your creativity is beyond templates, it’s high-level artistry. What is the main message you want to convey to people through your brand Zhania Studio? Do you have a symbol that you weave into your works as your personal “code”?
Through Zhania Studio, I want to remind people how important it is to feel good within themselves and to care for their inner state. Life, with all its challenges, always unfolds for our benefit—even the difficult moments carry hidden blessings.
I’ve personally done a lot of inner work to stay in harmony with myself, and I want my brand to share that same message: you are already enough. You don’t need to push yourself too hard or prove anything. There is incredible happiness simply in being alive. I believe that when people encounter art infused with creative energy, it transforms them. That’s what I want to bring into the world.
