Larisa Angela Bakurova (Ukrainian: Лариса Анжела Бакурова, Chinese: 李瑞莎; pinyin: Lǐ Ruìshā, commonly shortened to 瑞莎, Ruìshā; born February 21, 1985) is a Ukrainian-born Taiwanese actress and model.

Larisa Bakurova
Bakurova in 2009
Born
Larisa Angela Bakurova[1]

(1985-02-21) February 21, 1985 (age 39)
NationalityUkrainian (till 2019)
Taiwanese (since 2019)
Alma materOdesa National Economics University
Occupation(s)Actress, model
Years active2001–present
Spouse
Mike Li
(m. 2015)
Children2
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese李瑞莎
Simplified Chinese李瑞莎
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLǐ Ruìshā

Bakurova is the first naturalized Taiwanese citizen of Ukrainian descent.[2]

Early life

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Bakurova started training for rhythmic gymnastics at age 3. At age 6, she entered Deriugins School in Kyiv. She has won numerous national competitions until she got injured at 16.

She won Miss Kyiv at the age of 18.

She graduated from Odesa National Economics University with a master's degree in economics.[3]

Career

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Besides her modeling engagements, she has appeared in supporting roles in the Taiwanese drama They Kiss Again and the film Don't Go Breaking My Heart. In 2012, Bakurova starred in the film Young Dudes directed by DJ Chen Yin-Jung.

In 2020, she started her own rhythmic gymnastics gym Rising Star RG in Taiwan.[4] Besides coaching, she would also invite professional rhythmic gymnasts such as Anna Bessonova to host workshops.

Since 2023, she led her female gymnastics team to Miss Valentine competition for junior female gymnasts.[5]

Personal Life

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In 2013, Bakurova obtained the Taiwan Permanent Resident Certificate and began the naturalization process.[6][7] She married a Taiwanese national in 2015 and gave birth to daughters in 2016 and in 2022.[8]

On January 24, 2019, Bakurova became the first naturalized Taiwanese citizen of Ukrainian descent, which required a long process to renounce her Ukrainian citizenship since Ukraine does not have a consulate in Taiwan.[9][10]

Filmography

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Television

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Year English title Mandarin title Role
2007 They Kiss Again 惡作劇2 Christine Robinson
2009 Knock Knock Loving You 敲敲愛上你 Guan Xi's girlfriend
Momo Love 桃花小妹 Ancient beauty
2015 The Crossing Hero 超級大英雄 Xu Fei

Film

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Year English title Mandarin title Role
2011 Don't Go Breaking My Heart 單身男女 Angelina
The Hole Herself
2012 Young Dudes 騷人 Adele

Music Video

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Year Artist Song
2004 Stanley Huang 我是你的誰 (Your Whom Am I?)
Show Luo 機器娃娃 (Robot Doll)
2005 Will Liu 心靈交戰 (Spiritual Battle)
2006 Samuel Tai 藍色貝殼 (The Shell in Blue Color)
Jay Chou 迷迭香 (Rosemary)
2008 Yoga Lin 病態 (Sickness")
Derrick Hoh 咬字 (Pronunciation)
2009 Andy Hui 如果,,,如果,,,(If...If...)
2011 Van Ness Wu 命定 (Meant to Be)
2012 Steve Chou 離開昨天 (Leaving Yesterday)

References

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  1. ^ Bartholomew, Ian (4 May 2012). "Pop Stop". Taipei Times. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  2. ^ "內政部:瑞莎已可拿身分證 歡迎成為正港臺灣人". 內政部全球資訊網-中文網 (in Chinese). 4 February 2021.
  3. ^ "大女人的小聰明 瑞莎 SMART WOMAN ON TOP__娛樂新聞_Yes娛樂". 2016-04-02. Archived from the original on 2016-04-02. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  4. ^ NOWnews今日新聞 (2019-08-26). "瑞莎無私為體操選手付出 還請到「烏克蘭第一」當教練 | 娛樂". NOWnews今日新聞 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  5. ^ "狂賀台灣之光!瑞莎領軍世界體操大賽勇奪3金2銀 苦飛30小時拿佳績惹淚". Yahoo Sports (in Chinese). 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  6. ^ 瑞莎揪全家脫離烏克蘭 申請歸化台灣人
  7. ^ "瑞莎心繫烏克蘭 憂心忡忡夜未眠". Archived from the original on 2014-03-09. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  8. ^ Chen, Chun-hua; Chen, Christie (18 April 2016). "MOI to help actress Bakurova obtain citizenship". Taipei Times. Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016. Alt URL
  9. ^ 瑞莎 烏克蘭歸化第1人 台灣身份證get暴哭. Archived 2019-04-24 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ 就是要當台灣人!瑞莎領身份證爆哭:一家人都同國籍很幸福
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