VICE FASHION - MAIL-ORDER BRIDES
The real Russia is in provincial cities and towns like Tver, where we found these girls. They are all members of a local bridal agency (tverromance.com) and would like to marry you. There’s no guarantee you’ll hit it off but the bright side is, unlike American women, they could give a shit about a sense of humor. Oh yeah, all of the clothes here are fakes we bought at a giant outdoor clothing bazaar called Cherkizovskii Market which is why we didn’t bother to credit anything.
PHOTOS BY: Alexei Rezoff
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Natasha
Age: 28
Occupation: Director of
tverromance.com |
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So you speak English, right? Yes, I was an exchange student in the U.S. for 14 months when I was 16 and 17. I was in Long Island and Salt Lake City.
Are there any national differences? American guys tend to be older men who want really young girls, like a 40-year-old wanting to marry an 18-year-old.
I can understand that. Yes, but it can cause problems, of course, because they’re at different stages. Dutch men or German men, for example, want to marry women closer to their age. Like if the man’s 30, he wants a woman who’s about 25, so that they have a lot more in common. |
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Natasha
Age: 21
Occupation: I work in a cafe. |
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What’s your ideal man like? What matters most is that he’s good, open, and honest.
Why are you interested in a foreign man? It’s hard to find a real gentleman in Tver. They’re all rude.
What’s your favorite song? Anything by the group Bad Boys Blue. |
Natasha
Age: 27
Occupation: Right now I’m just relaxing. |
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You’re unemployed then. What are you by education? I’m a designer by education and I’ve worked as an interpreter in Japanese.
Japanese? Is it a hard language? Nah, it’s not that hard.
Do you know how to make Japanese food? Of course I can. It’s no problem.
Like sushi? Well no, you need special technology for that. |
Natasha
Age: 29
Occupation: Tax inspector |
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Wow, a tax inspector! Isn’t that dangerous in Russia? Not for me.
Are Russians really paying their taxes? That’s a secret.
What’s your ideal man? He’s responsible. The only thing I don’t want is a Muslim man. I don’t like their religion.
You mean because of how the fundamentalists treat women? No, they treat women fine. I just don’t want a Muslim, that’s all. |
Marina
Age: 35
Occupation: I sell women’s clothes at two malls. |
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Do you want kids? I already have a 13-year-old, but I’m not against having another.
Why not a Tver husband? Our men are spoiled. Foreigners are more gentle and respectful to women. Our men are rude.
What’s the best dish that you cook? It’s called Okorochok Baunti. You take chicken feet, remove the skin, and fry it with onions and mushrooms and then add cheese. It’s really good. |
Yulia
Age: 19
Occupation: Hair stylist, fingernail designer, and pop singer |
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What’s the coolest fingernail-painting design you’ve done? I painted rose flowers that bloom out of the nails.
What’s your ideal man like? He’s nice and he pays attention to me. He’s honest and he doesn’t have bad habits. About 25 to 27 years old. Tall. I don’t like blondes as much as redheads or brunettes. Although if he’s handsome, that’s OK. The main thing is I don’t want an Arab.
Do you want kids now? I’d like to open up my own salon first. Then I’d like to have two kids, minimum. Very minimum.
Why can’t you find a good man here in Tver? Too many Tver guys are drunks or junkies. |
Dina
Age: 28
Occupation: Artist, teacher, and psychologist. I teach art and psychology to people from age 4 to 40. |
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Are you a feminist? It’s OK in moderation. Not too much though. Sometimes I’ve fought for women’s rights.
What right? The right to get equal pay.
Any luck? Not a lot.
Which nationality would you like to hook up with? I think Dutch or English. Not as much American, though. I hear that Americans are too much like Russians. |
Anya
Age: 21
Occupation: Studying sociology with a specialty in making documentaries on management issues |
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Why are you looking for a foreign man? I just want to get to know a wider selection of men. I have no problem with Russian guys. I just want to know more.
How important is money? It’s not all that important. He should at least know how to have enough to take care of me and our kids.
How many kids do you want? Two.
Do you know how to cook? Of course. Like any Russian girl I know how to cook, to clean, and to serve. |
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