Karina Igorevna Smolova née Istomina (Russian: Карина Игоревна Смолова (Истомина), born April 20, 1994) is a Russian DJ, blogger, podcaster, leading Instagram influencer,[1] and ex-model.
Karina Smolova | |
|---|---|
 Istomina in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Karina Igorevna Istomina |
| Born | 20 April 1994 Moscow, Russia |
| Genres | Funk, disco, new school hip hop, new wave, techno, pop, R&B, house, soul, lofi, EDM |
| Occupation(s) | DJ, blogger, YouTuber, podcaster, model (formerly), PR manager (formerly) |
| Years active | 2009—2016 (modelling) 2015—present (music) 2019—present (blogging) |
| Website | instagram |
Biography
editKarina Istomina was born in Moscow, Russia. She started her modelling career at the age of 15 and soon moved to New York City.[2] She graduated from Higher School of Economics (Faculty of Media Communications) in 2016. She has also worked as a PR manager for Russian synthpop band Tesla Boy for a year.[3]
As of 2021, Istomina is one of the most famous DJs in Moscow.[4] She was the only Russian music blogger cooperating with Apple Music, for which she prepares exclusive playlists.[5] In December 2019, Karina Istomina and Xenia Dukalis released the album Trendy Snakes (Russian: Подкомодные змеи, Podkomodnye zmei) in the genre of female alternative rap under the label ASC.[6]
From 2019 to 2021 she was a co-host of the Girlfriends (Russian: Подруги, Podrugi) show on the YouTube channel Gentle Editor (Russian: Нежный редактор, Nezhny redaktor) together with Tatiana Mingalimova, Xenia Dukalis and Tatiana Starikova, where they have been discussing feminism, self-esteem, bullying, sex and other topics with experts and guest stars.[7]
In February 2021, Istomina started a new show on TikTok the Musical Thursday (Russian: Музыкальный четверг, Muzykal'ny chetverg).[8] In April 2021, Istomina launched the YouTube project It's easier to Cope (Russian: Справиться проще, Spravitsya proshe), dedicated to mental health problems.[9]
In March 2022, Russia moved to block access to Instagram and thereby a major source of income for influencers including Istomina. She reacted saying, "To be honest with you, I am absolutely devastated that I am losing my page. I ran my profile for over 10 years. Most likely I will have to find new sources of income, will have to rediscover myself."[10]
Personal life
editIn 2021, Istomina publicly announced her drug addiction, craving for self-harm and mental problems.[11]
In June 2023 Istomina married a striker for Dynamo Moscow and the Russian national football team Fyodor Smolov.[12] On the 15th of November of the same year the couple had a daughter named Laura.
Filmography
editNotes
edit- ^ Chitrakorn, Kati (2021-08-09). "Meet the "genuinfluencers" who don't want to sell you anything". Vogue Business. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
Munroe Bergdorf, Chriselle Lim, Frankie Bridge and Karina Istomina of Diamond April are among the top 10 names with genuinfluence that [influencer marketing firm] Lefty believe luxury brands should watch.
- ^ Dasha Krasnova. "Карина Истомина: "Я не социопат, но у меня маниакальная депрессия"" [Karina Istomina: 'I'm not a sociopath, but I have manic depression']. www.ellegirl.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ^ "Полный шкаф: модель и диджей Карина Истомина о любимых образах" [Full wardrobe: model and DJ Karina Istomina on her most favourite outfits]. Cosmopolitan (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ^ Lana Nisnevich. "Плейлист на выходные: Карина Истомина" [A playlist for weekend by Karina Istomina]. www.elle.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ^ "Карина Истомина рекомендует" [Karina Istomina recommends]. Apple Music (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ^ "Карина Истомина и Ксения Дукалис — о рэп-альбоме, шоу "Подруги" и хейте" [Karina Istomina and Xenia Dukalis on their rap album, the 'Girlfriends' show and hate]. Afisha (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ^ "YouTube-шоу "Подруги" закроется" [YouTube show 'Girlfriends' will close]. The Village (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ "TikTok запустит музыкальное шоу с Кариной Истоминой. Первый гость — Илья Лагутенко" [TikTok launches a music show with Karina Istomina. The first guest is Ilya Lagutenko]. The Village (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ^ "Карина Истомина запустила YouTube-канал о ментальном здоровье" [Karina Istomina launched a YouTube channel about mental health]. The-Flow.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ^ Sauer, Pjotr (2022-03-14). "'This is my life': Russian influencers take stock after Instagram access blocked". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
- ^ ""Самый частый комментарий: "Когда ты наконец сторчишься и умрешь?""" ['The most frequent comment is: "When will you finally fiend and die?"']. Kholod (in Russian). 2021-03-01. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ^ "Смолов женился на диджее и блогере Карине Истоминой" [Smolov married DJ and blogger Karina Istomina]. Sports.ru. 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2023-09-06.