One On One With The Stunning Model Turned Pop Singer Kristina Menissov

Kristina Menissov began her career as a model in Los Angeles back in 2017. Since then she has worked with several famous designers such as Robert Cavalli, Michael Ngo, Michael Costello, and Jovani Dresses. She has also graced the runway in Los Angeles Fashion Week and Miami Swim Week, not to mention starring in Tyga’s “IBIZA” music video, modeling for Chris Applebaum’s YouTube Channel, and appearing in Model’s Talk. A former Italian-trained Opera Singer, Kristina has parlayed her modeling career into a blossoming singing career. She recently signed with the famed music producer Andrew Lane who is known for such superstars as the Backstreet Boys and Irene Cara. Her first single, “Taking Over LA” was released last summer to rave reviews. She will soon be releasing another hit single with Italian DJ Marzia D’orlando entitled “Breakout.” When not working, Kristina loves playing the piano and spending time with her 4-year-old son.

StarCentral Magazine recently caught up with Kristina to discuss her journey in the industry and here’s what went down:

How did you get started in the music industry? How were you actually ‘discovered’?

I was so lucky to meet a great and talented music producer Andrew Lane, he is the one who believed in me and still guides me and we are preparing many more hits together.

What do you like most about singing?

When I am on the stage and performing I feel alive. When I sing at the studio or practicing at home it’s like a meditation to me. I connect with myself. I breathe the right way. And everything becomes so bright and beautiful.

Designer: Grayscale
MUA: Golzar Camilla Arvin

Can you tell us about your song Breakout?

It’s an EDM song with the Italian DJ Marzia Dorlando. When we were writing this song with her it was after our conversation about how much we want to have our breakout moment. That we are ready for it. So all those thoughts inspired us to create. And we love our creation.

What sort of person is going to love this song?

Someone who loves EDM music, someone who loves to dance, and if you need to hear that message that’s it’s time to do that next step you should check it out.

What inspires you to be creative?

It could be everything, I am feeling happy? I’m gonna write a song. I am feeling sad or depressed, I am gonna write a sad song. The way I feel today will inspire me to do so.

Is there anything special that you do to get into a creative mindset?

When I don’t feel like doing anything or creating anything but I have a deadline or an urgent need. I say this: you don’t have to be inspired to be functional. And creativity comes when you start doing something.

What message, if any, do you try to put into your work?

I want to inspire people. That’s definitely what the “BREAKOUT” song was about. On my first single “Taking Over LA” I wanted to show the realistic moments of all the models that live here. So my message is: inspire to create and don’t forget to have fun.

What has been the most memorable experience of your career so far?

Making my first music video “Taking Over LA” I did almost everything myself, starting from location scouting and production ending with styling my outfits. I had a great videographer Maxim Puchkov and amazing and talented HMUA Tetiana Kazak. It was so fun to learn how to do it all. But I hope in the future I can have more help and a bigger budget to have the whole team.

Photographer: Carlos Larrazabar
MUA: Rita Janikyan

Do you ever find yourself unable to express your creativity to the fullest? What kinds of things inhibit you?

I have ups and downs just like all of us. Some days I would have an idea and without even properly thinking about it I would criticize it so much and put it aside without even giving it a chance.

So answering your second question I would say that the biggest things that inhibit my art are my insecurities and self-judgment mentality.

Who is your greatest influence?

I can’t really think of one specific person who would be a role model for myself, but I definitely had quite a few examples of who I don’t want to end up like, so I tried to do everything the opposite of what I’ve seen they did.

Do you feel that you chose your “passion,” or did it choose you?

I feel like we’ve chosen each other. Since I was a little girl looking so different growing up in Kazakhstan so everyone would always say that this is what I should be doing, so I grew up and chose to do it.

If you hadn’t chosen your field, what would your alternate field have been?

I would’ve been an attorney and fight for human rights.