Exlusive interview with Anna De Bekkar — a talented model, owner fashion brand Bekkárde, she not only showcases pieces of clothing on the catwalks, but most importantly - unveils her character, transforms herself into an icon so that during the haute couture show you instantly realise: you are not simply looking at a model, you are about to discover a personality, in which both inner and outer traits are essential. We look at the picture and understand - it is beautiful, it is holistic and it is worthy.
Was there a moment during the photoshoot when you felt a complete connection with the concept and mood of the collection?
Yes — there was a very specific moment when everything suddenly felt completely aligned. While working with Nikolay Krasnikov and the super professional team of “Slava Zaitsev” Fashion House, I felt that the atmosphere on set became almost cinematic. The styling, the movement of the garments, the lighting, and the emotional direction all came together naturally. I never work in front of the camera in a static way – that’s absolutely unacceptable for me. Before a shoot, I completely immerse myself in the original atmosphere created by the author, which I sense in every fiber of my being, as I can’t do it any other way. I have to experience the entire process of bringing the creation to life, from beginning to end, and only when I feel ready do I step into the frame—that’s when the story begins! I have my own methodologies and special techniques, or rather, a system I’ve developed over the years that I carefully maintain and use successfully, of course. I believe that every professional model and photomodel has their own personal working style that they stick to in this regard.
What turned out to be the most inspiring part of working on this image?
The most inspiring part was the emotional depth behind the visual beauty. Haute couture is never only about clothing — it carries history, craftsmanship, and emotion. I was especially inspired by how every detail of the image was treated with intention, from silhouette to expression. Working in such an artistic environment encouraged me to explore a more intuitive and vulnerable side of myself in front of the camera together with absolute understanding of the Creator’s thoughts:
“At that moment,I felt like I was at my lowest point as a creative being. My emotions were tearing me apart: either give up, or, mustering the last of my willpower, go completely nuts. Now I understand that it was this very fall, this abyss, that became the source of my strength, my invisible shield. The other path beckoned, promising oblivion, an escape from this agonizing struggle. But I chose differently. I returned home and, like a cornered animal, tore into the new collection. I lived by the phrase Vvacheslav Mikhailovich Zaitsev had told me”…citation of N. Krasnikov about this dress.
I felt this soul and heart deeply, this state and emotions. I let this nerve pass through me and understood how I should show and what I should show in Nikolai Krasnikov’s masterpiece
What message or atmosphere did you want to convey through this editorial? What do you think viewers feel first when they see these images?
We wanted to create an atmosphere of elegance, mystery, and inner strength. The editorial was not about perfection in a traditional sense — it was about presence and individuality. I think the first thing viewers feel is a certain emotional tension mixed with beauty: something soft, but also powerful. Ideally, the images invite people to pause for a moment and feel something beyond fashion itself.
How does haute couture fashion influence your inner state, both as a model and as a person? Have there been any looks that stayed with you emotionally even after the shoot was over?
Haute couture changes the way you carry yourself. When you wear pieces created with such precision and artistic vision, you naturally become more aware of movement, posture, and emotion.
As a model, it pushes me to express subtle feelings rather than only external beauty.
As a person, it reminds me how powerful creativity and craftsmanship can be.There have definitely been looks that stayed with me emotionally after the shoot. Some garments create an almost transformative feeling — you do not simply wear them, you experience them. Certain silhouettes and textures from Nikolay Krasnikov for the “Slava Zaitsev “Fashion House’s collection left a very deep emotional impression on me because they felt timeless and intensely expressive.
“Nikolay Krasnikov does not create “high” fashion — rather, he presents a subtle cultural cross-section within a particular historical legacy. Without attempting to create a collection “from the hand of himself,” he integrates this heritage into a broader historical context, at times leaving room for interpretation. And he views all of it through the prism of his own aesthetic ideals. His lookbooks often resemble couture editorials for the American Vogue styled by Grace Coddington, while the very manner of presentation takes us back to a time when the lookbook itself was still something new, and when the studio-shoot format was meant to literally hold the viewer’s attention”… citation of ” Slava Zaitsev ” FH
What helps you maintain naturalness and emotional depth in front of the camera, even when you are tired or under stress?
For me, authenticity comes from emotional focus rather than physical perfection. Before shooting, I try to connect with the mood, music, styling, and overall narrative of the project. Instead of thinking about the camera, I think about the feeling I want to communicate. Trust within the creative team is also extremely important. When you work with professionals like Nikolay Krasnikov and all the Team of “Slava Zaitsev” FH , you feel supported creatively, and that allows real emotion to appear naturally. Even during long or difficult shooting days, sincerity is what keeps the image alive.
International top-model Anna De Bekkar @annadebekkar
Fashion House “Slava Zaitsev” @slavazaitsew
General Director Ekaterina Romashkina
@rrrrmawka
Creative Director Nikolay Krasnikov @nikolaikrasnikov_st @nikolaykrasnikov
Design: Galina Kryuchkova
Hats Lia Gureeva: @liaqureeva
Photographer b/s @bondarev.am (http://bondarev.am/)
Style: @_nikolaevaanya_ @vikushavi @kravchenko_701
Muah: @dilva_etoile @rmokroguzov @alena.bastrukova.beauty
Masha Kudriavtseva @mari_kudri
