In a city as dazzling and dynamic as Lisbon, I meet people who fascinate me everywhere—when going out at night, walking down the street or even in my studio. Their beauty, their attitude, their way of being sparks my senses and my spirit. In honor of the people who inspire me and make life more brilliant for all, this series is my labour of love to mark the moments.
This moment is all about Maryana Tsyutsyk.
Photography Joana Linda
Creative direction ZOOT beauty editor Antonia Rosa with Clarins
Hair Helena Vaz Pereira at Griffe Hair Style with Wella Profissionals
Styling Vladimir Frol
Model and muse Maryana Tsyutsyk at Just Models
Interview by Monica Lopes
Special thanks to Kompas United for behind the scenes footage.
I want the reader to understand that we are only happy when we love people and what we do. In the end what matters is the love we put into everything we do. This is my main message through my work.
— Antonia Rosa
25 year old Maryana Tsyutsyk is not your everyday model. Her classic yet unconvential fresh beauty strikes us deep. Her family is from Lviv district, which is in the western part of Ukraine, but she lived in Portugal nearly her whole life.“I’ve been living in Portugal for 19 years now with my parents, brother and my cat Mars. My parents came to Portugal when I was two to make a better living for us. They established themselves here and brought us four years after first arriving. I entered the school system in the 2nd grade and my teacher thought me 1st grade subjects in the first half of the year. I first arrived with my brother by bus when my mom came to get us and I only plan to go back for visiting family and vacation, not to live permanently, as I lived most of my life in Portugal.”
Maryana is currently writing her thesis to become a dentist. Meanwhile, working as a bartender at Lux Frágil, as a hostess/promoter and as model since she was 15. She is vegetarian and I loves animals, especially cats. “I have an 8 year old cat named Mars after the planet, the candy bar and the god of war. I love listening to all kinds of music but my favorite bands are The Strokes and the Arctic Monkeys.”
Antonia explains to us:” I really like Maryana´s beauty and talking to her. She is a very interesting and fighting personality. Though she is living in the peacefull city of Lisbon she is experiencing the horror of war in Ukraine. We want to pay tribute to this courage in the images we create.”
ZOOT: Has there been a moment over the past year that you felt most proud to be a Ukrainian?
Maryana: It was over a year ago, in the beginning of the war, when a russian warship tried to take Zmiinyi Island in the Black Sea and warned them to surrender otherwise they would be hit, via radio transmission and the people there, being surrounded, didn’t give in and responded with “Russian warship, go f*ck yourself.
ZOOT: How does it feel to be in Portugal with the war still waging? What was your experience of the early days of the war?
Maryana: Being in Portugal makes me feel a bit hypocritical, as I am not going through what they are. I am living my normal life when there are people out there dying for my country.
Throughout the war I tried to spread accurate information on what was happening in Ukraine with my friends and followers, as a lot of fake news were surfacing.
ZOOT: Can you tell us a bit more about your experience of the early days of the war? Where were you when it started?
Maryana: At home with my family in Lisbon. I found about the invasion when my mom woke me up to inform me at 7am on the day it happened and I was distraught. Not knowing if your family is okay and not being able to contact them was terrifying. I remember I went to uni that morning and I spent the whole day anxiously crying. The following weeks and months were the same as I cried every time I saw a new post with new victims and new attacks.
The dragon I draw on the wall represents the strength that the Ukrainian people need to have in this present.
— Antonia Rosa
ZOOT: What are the most significant ways in which it has affected your daily life and the lives of your family and friends?
Maryana: It affected us more in the beginning of the war, as it was all a shock and we didn’t know if our loved ones were safe. Unfortunately, as time passes on, you get kind of numb to it, as we’re not living it. That’s why I think we should keep talking about it and spreading correct information.
ZOOT: How are your family and friends and your artistic community still in Ukraine doing?
Maryana: Thankfully, my family and friends are from Lviv district, which is in the western part of Ukraine, so they are mostly safe. My godfather and cousin were drafted for the war but they’re doing okay. Some have left the country so they could be safe.
ZOOT: How does it feel to be in Portugal right now, away from home? What does your community look and feel like for you now?
Maryana: We (my parents and brother) were supposed to go to Ukraine when Covid hit and then we were meant to go last year. I miss my country very much and I can’t wait to return and see it as beautiful as I remember after we win this war.
Antonia Rosa who lived in Lisbon since she was 19 originally is from Paris, she explains why painting the poem “Mignonne” on Maryana´s face: “This is the favorite poem from my mother…everyday she told me this story about love, nature, impermanence and carpe diem: About the importance of living fully in the present moment, to seize the day and to make the most of our time on earth before our own beauty fades and we too are swept away by the inexorable march of time.”
“Mignonne, allons voir si la rose” by Pierre de Ronsard, written July 1545
ZOOT: What has changed in your life since 24 February 2022?
Maryana: I definitely became more appreciative of the life that I have and more aware that I’m very lucky to be in Portugal, which is a safe country.
ZOOT: What has been the scariest moment for you so far?
Maryana: My mom traveled to Ukraine in July to help our family and on the second day there she made a videocall from inside the closet because the air alert sirens were wailing and that was hell.
ZOOT: People outside of Ukraine have been surprised by how passionately President Zelenskiy is defending and leading the country in the midst of the violence. Was there any moment you were surprised by your country?
Maryana: I can’t say that I was surprised because I know what my people are made of. Ukrainians are very strong and don’t give up easily.
ZOOT: What can the international art community do to help Ukrainian people?
Maryana: I think the best way anyone can help, the art community included, is to spread the word and keep talking about it as it is still ongoing and we are still losing lives, and also raise funds to help the people and animals in the affected areas and the refugees that had to flee for safety.
ZOOT: How do you recommend to keep the rest of the world engaged in what’s happening in Ukraine? How can we all help?
Maryana: As said above, I think spreading the word and keep talking about it on the news/social media is the way to go. Donating to help rebuild people’s lives and never forget what’s going on in Ukraine and in other parts of the world like Palestine.
ZOOT: What do you imagine your life will be like when the war is over? What’s the first thing you will do then?
Maryana: When the war is over, me and my parents and brother will go to Ukraine to visit our family and to help out in what we can. I wish that the Ukrainian people will be able to put the traumas of war, sirens and attacks behind them and live their lives to the fullest, as that’s what they deserve.
FASHION REFERENCES
ANDRE OPTICAS @andreopticas
For eyewear of
BALENCIAGA @balenciaga
DAVII @daviiofficiel
FIORIRE JEWELLERY @fiorire.jewellery
NEW BLACK CONCEPT STORE @newblackconceptstore
PE DE CHUMBO @pedechumbo_oficial
SHOWPRESS PR @showpress.pressoffice
Representing
ALVES GONÇALVES @m.alves.goncalves
CARLOS GIL @carlos_gil_designer
STIVALI @stivali_lisboa
For
JACQUEMUS @jacquemus
BOTTEGA VENETA
MACH & MACH @machandmach
WOLFORD @wolford
Edited by Andrea Probosch
To boot…
View the behind-the-scenes by Kompas United here.
Check out Antonia’s reverie: Part I, all about the inimitable Ivvi Romão, Part II featuring the enchanting Bia Caboz and Part III all about the mesmerizing Vera Telles.
View more of Maryana in our colab editorial with Ukrainian brand Amoami here.
