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The Human Barbie: The Bizarre World of Valeria Lukyanova

By Medina Syla

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16 May 2024

Human Barbie

Meet Valeria Valeryevna Lukyanova, the model best known for her striking resemblance to a real-life Barbie doll. Born in 1985 in Tiraspol, Moldova (then part of the Soviet Union), Valeria now lives in Mexico and has made a name for herself worldwide as the “Human Barbie.”

Human Barbie
©️ valeria_lukyanova21 / Instagram

To achieve her iconic Barbie-like look, Lukyanova uses makeup and contact lenses to enhance her naturally green/gray/blue eyes. She admitted to getting breast implants but insists the rest of her slender body is all-natural, thanks to a strict diet and daily gym workouts.

Human Barbie Doll: Everything You Need to Know

Early Life and Career

Valeria’s roots trace back to her hometown of Tiraspol, where her mother worked in the military sector and her father juggled construction work and DJing. At 16, she moved to Odesa, Ukraine, and later won the worldwide beauty pageant “Miss Diamond Crown of the World” in 2007. With no rules against plastic surgery or body modification, Valeria’s unique look helped her stand out among 300 contestants.

Human Barbie
©️ valeria_lukyanova21 / Instagram

Her popularity soared as her doll-like photos went viral online, leading to worldwide recognition for her “almost inhuman beauty.” The first non-Russian media outlet to feature her was the Jezebel blog, followed by a photo session with Sebastian Faena in V magazine. Despite skepticism about image editing, Valeria posted videos on YouTube and appeared on Russian TV to prove her look was real.

Controversies and Criticism

Valeria’s fame has not been without controversy. Some accused her of using image editing software to manipulate her appearance. Others, like Diane Levin, cited her as an example of the harmful effects of media objectification. Valeria responded by revealing videos of herself and denying rumors that she had ribs removed to make her waist smaller.

Her controversial statements didn’t stop there. In a 2014 interview, she expressed racist views, claiming that race-mixing caused “degeneration. And that women of mixed race would need plastic surgery to be beautiful.

In 2014, she was attacked outside her home by two men, leading to hospitalization. The attack was reportedly linked to anonymous threats she’d received for two years. She also made headlines by expressing support for Russia during the war in Donbas, urging Ukrainians to “fight like our grandfathers did.”

Beyond Barbie: Music, Acting, and Spirituality

Valeria isn’t just a model; she’s also an opera singer, composer, and spiritual instructor. Using her spiritual name, Amatue, she recorded two New Age music albums: “Sun in the Eyes” and “2013.” She wrote a book, “Astral Travel Amatue,” about her experiences with astral travel.

In 2017, she made her feature film debut in “The Doll,” a horror movie directed by Susannah O’Brien, where she played an escort created from doll parts.

Personal Life and Lifestyle

Valeria holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Odesa State Academy of Construction and Architecture. She is married to her childhood friend, Ukrainian businessman Dmitry Shkrabov, but has no plans to have children “

Human Barbie
©️ valeria_lukyanova21 / Instagram

A strict raw vegetarian, Valeria lived on a liquid diet and breatharianism (living on air alone) before stopping the practice.

Valeria rejects the “Barbie” label. Now preferring the name “Amatue,” like a moniker derived from a dream. Her self-shot videos offer us glimpses into her world, where reality blurs with illusion.

Despite her controversies and extreme views, Valeria Lukyanova remains drawing attention worldwide for her resemblance to a Barbie doll. Whether you love or hate her, there’s no denying she has crafted a unique identity that has left a lasting impression.

You might also like to read: The “Barbie” Cast Transformed Into Barbie Dolls

Medina Syla

I couldn't help but wonder...

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