First and foremost, Darya was very confident and brave in her vulnerability.  Shooting with her was a very natural process and she was very candid about her story. She moved to Canada around 2019 to pursue her dreams of working in cinema and attended film school through the pandemic. She carries an air of stoicism that is often associated with Russia and the Eastern Bloc in general; but exudes a friendly warmth and a desire for creative outlet. There were some difficult times at home and sometimes the only outlet was through self-harm, as evidenced by the scarring she wears today. Pressure for young women to adhere to societal beauty standards was also a factor. Using it as an emotional release during tougher times was a part of growing up even though the pain of the actual act was seemingly nonexistent after a time. One particularly deep cut exposed the fat layer and triggered some alarms that helped her to re-evaluate; though the act itself and the process of healing was an innately private experience. Over time, Darya left her self-destructive behaviour in the past and is embracing life and all it can bring.

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More to come in this story.

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To see some of her creative work, check out her Instagram here.