Activism through Music
with this month’s cover star Inessa Lee / @inessalee_
Photographer Justin Anderson, Dina Nazarova / @j_a_images @dinny_photographer
MUA Lin Razo / @lin_artistryy
———————————————————————————————————————————
Such an absolute honor to have you on Playboy: Can you give us a bit of a background on your career as a model and where it all started? I started as a high school student in Ukraine. I saw the announcement in the newspaper kiosk: one of the fashion magazines was looking for fresh faces. I mailed out my headshots and got selected. Becoming a cover girl for one of the most popular female magazines in the country was an overnight success. Soon, I was represented by “KARIN MMG” – the most prestigious modeling agency in Ukraine. Participation in the charity project “Models Around the World” brought me to the United States.
What’s a project or goal you’re currently working on that you’re really excited about? What is at the top of your list to achieve the most in 2026? Currently, I am doing charity work through music. My recent single “Love Gun” turned out to be a success due to the social media initiative “Love Gun for Peace”. Many influencers joined our dance flashmob promoting peace messages across the globe. All the proceeds from the song are donated to charities by IFERS Music Publishing, the award-winning non-profit organization co-founded by Quincy Jones. I’m excited to help more orphans in Kenya. In 2026, I’m planning to launch a cyberbullying hotline where people can text for free and receive a counselor’s help. My personal experience of cyber harassment shows that one needs to have support during haters’ attacks. A former Broadway performer was mocking my music career together with her friends on social media, so I had to prove them wrong. They said, “Nobody cares about your songs; you’ll always stay a cosplay blogger. It’s time to end this misery, etc.” I bet those haters were surprised to see my song made it to the top charts in UK and Japan. But if I did what they wanted me to do to myself, no one would have heard “Love Gun,” and I wouldn’t get over 2 million plays on Spotify. Now I’m grateful to those haters for stimulating my career growth this year.
What does it mean for you to be seen as a strong, intelligent, ambitious woman? I’m that vintage girl with an old-fashioned patriarchal mindset. In my opinion, a woman doesn’t need to be strong; she’d rather have a strong man by her side to support her aspirations. Is Betty Boop intelligent? She’s more like life smart – that’s what really matters. But having a good education is a must for every girl. Being ambitious is not necessary either, because women are not born to build empires and make money for the family. We are here to nourish our men and adorn this world with our beauty. Boop-Ooop-a-Doop.
What would you say makes you stand out in the industry? My music always contains a social message, and I use art to fight for justice. In “Dynamite” music video, I am the protector of abused women, in “I am not I” I’m fighting the devil himself, whereas “Love Gun” turned out to be the anti-bullying campaign. So I’m not just an artist but a social activist in the first place.
What are some of your biggest passions? Charity, music, and fashion. I also like traveling and praying in the old temples. Peregrinatio est vitae – life is a pilgrimage. I love embracing every aspect of life while traveling, that’s why I’m bicoastal: I love it all, from Nevada desert to Florida beaches.
If you weren’t in the entertainment world, what career would you love to explore? I’d become a holistic doctor. I’ve been studying oriental medicine since I was 7. My mom bought Ayurveda book that I couldn’t stop reading. In Los Angeles, I met some experts in alternative medicine, and I’ve learnt a lot from them. A bit of advice for Playboy readers: always start your day with a glass of warm water, end it with a foot soak, and wear your socks all day long. This will keep your immune system strong.
3 ultimate deal breakers when it comes to men? Lack of personal hygiene, education, and manners. Lol.
We are taking you out on your ultimate date, and we really want to knock this one out of the ballpark. What would that entail? He must surprise me. Perhaps, it could be a cake shaped as Betty Boop’s head or blue roses – I love those. Originality, creativity, and romance would be a winning combo.
What are some of the things that attract you to a man? Intelligence and power. I appreciate gentlemen with refined taste, a good sense of humor, and a reserved conversation manner. Action speaks louder than any words.
You have one last chance to do something you have always wanted to do, with no limits on anything. What are you doing? I don’t believe in one last chance: there’s no such thing as we create our chances every day. Otherwise, I’d preach Equalism theory to students and lead them to a better future where everyone has an equal chance to live in abundance.
That said, what advice would you give to all the women out there when it comes to love and relationships? Always put yourself in the first place in a relationship, no matter how much you love the other person. Let your man be your “prince charming” and do everything for you, not the other way around. At the same time, you need to inspire him, be gentle and nourishing so that he can create great things. In my country, we say “a man is a head; a woman is a neck”.
Where can our readers catch up with you and stay updated with your work? On Instagram and TikTok @inessalee_.
We are so happy to have gotten to know you a little bit! Any last words out there for our readers? Thank you! It’s my honor to appear on Playboy’s cover! Live in the present moment, enjoy your life here and now. Don’t allow haters to bring you down. Stay calm, focused, and laugh it off, and life will smile back at you big time.
