Driven by Ambition

with Ekaterina Astashenkova

Photography by Tasha Manaenkova – @tasha_manaenkova

Stylist: Alya Bitsyn – @bitsyn_alya

MUAH: Alexis Ismagilova – alexa_foxich

Produced by @valentinagurova

Ekaterina! What an absolute honour to have you grace our September cover! How excited were you to be the cover of Playboy? Hello, and it is a great honour for me to be the face of September cover! I admit this has been my dream for the last couple of years. I thought about it, was shy, but at the same time I was looking for an opportunity and the opportunity itself found me! I am very happy!

Modelling is a big part of your life, could you tell us what inspired you to start and what your journey has been like to get to this point? Well, okay! This is a very interesting and long story, but I will try to tell it briefly. In my family, my dad is very religious, and such interests have been forbidden to me since childhood. You know, the most forbidden fruit is ultimately the sweetest. I secretly dreamed of becoming a model and getting on the cover of Playboy. And at the age of 17, I won the competition of a model school in the city of Vladivostok for free education. I often heard criticism, but it was justified, I tried not to offend anyone, but to work harder on myself! It made me stronger on the way to the goal! I remember… the first photo sessions, the first portfolios… the makeup artists, stylists, photographers! I realized that it was definitely for me. I moved to Moscow, won the Top Model of the World 2018 Russia competition and reached the world final, where I became the winner in the Miss Globe 2018 nomination. Castings, photoshoots, frequent international photo projects and flights. I feel like a fish in water. I found myself. And now Playboy Australia. And you know, I’m sure there are still many interesting things ahead!

You look incredible, what are some of your favourite ways to work out? I am active! I walk about 20 thousand steps a day. I find it most comfortable to keep my figure in the right shape through proper nutrition. But I also love training. My favourites are total stretch, body pump, TRX and swimming.

Tell us something surprising about you? I love to conquer new heights! Both literally and figuratively. You know, there is a mountain in Russia, it is called Elbrus, its height is 5642 meters. I once climbed there in 6 days with a 30kg backpack, so far this is my biggest mountain tourism record, but I plan to climb Mount Kilimanjaro next year. Simply because it is higher than Elbrus. I like to overcome myself madly and broaden my horizons.

Describe yourself in one sentence? My boundaries are the whole world.

What makes you tick? I am driven by a kind heart and great ambition. I feel stronger when I can be useful to people who appreciate it, and with my ambitions, I cannot sit in one place for a long time, I always need a new achievement.

Thank you so much for sitting with us and letting us get to know a bit about you! Any last words for our readers out there? In such a difficult period for the whole world, I wish you to remain strong and healthy. And don’t forget beauty is in the eye of the beholder.