One of the most exciting collaborations of recent times came about as part of a Women’s Day campaign with Karmen Pedaru. This was not just a typical fashion shoot or collaboration post, but a short film built around the iconic morning scene from American Psycho, bringing together beauty, routines, discipline, and humor. The project spoke to me immediately from the very first moment because it brought together so many layers that genuinely feel true to who I am.
When Karmen approached me with the collaboration, she already had a plan to create our version of that iconic American Psycho morning routine scene. I was immediately excited by the idea because it felt so inspiring and intriguing. The whole preparation process gave me so much excitement and motivation. Both the original American Psycho and the version done by Margot Robbie were incredibly inspiring to me, and my mind started working right away. It felt like something so much bigger than simply playing the role of an influencer showing an outfit.
This was easy for me to do. Everything felt logical. At the same time, I truly believe in routines and consistency. In order to create change in anything, whether it is shaping the body, improving the condition of the skin, or anything else, it does not happen overnight. It requires regularity and consistent action. Some of my goals have often been so extreme that reaching them has required extreme consistency and discipline. My dreams and goals often seem exciting and impossible, and that is exactly why I like them.
My interpretation of the character
People have often thought of me as a little crazy because I set myself goals that seem impossible to many. I cannot say I ever felt like I was playing someone else. Everything I showed felt natural to me. Perhaps with small exaggerations, but still true. My interpretation differs from both the original and Margot Robbie’s version in the sense that, because I am a skincare expert, my tips and advice carry a different level of credibility. In the clip, I tried to share real and valuable information and beauty tips with the viewer.
If the original message suggested that no one really knows or understands that person because everything is just an outer shell, then that is definitely not the case with me. I am not afraid to show who I am. My outer presence reflects my true self.
I am absolutely different from the original character in that sense. Words like cold, icy, and harsh do not describe me at all. At the same time, the clip should also be taken with humor. I am capable of laughing at myself, and I do not take everything too seriously all the time. For example, watching myself practice hip movement in pyjamas in front of the camera still makes me laugh from the heart every time, and it puts me in a good mood for a long time. It is a little ridiculous to watch, in the best way.
What draws me in with this format is also the aesthetic side of it. First of all, I have always liked Margot Robbie. The whole clip was genuinely beautiful, every element is pleasing to the eye. I love aesthetics and beauty. At the same time, I also love laughing at myself and having fun. One of the greatest pleasures is to laugh from the heart. It is such a good feeling when something is fun.
While delivering that text, I did feel that in some way it spoke to my own public image as well. I enjoyed delivering it, and what was said is, in many ways, like a mantra for me.
Routines, discipline, and consistency
The overall message of the clip is very clear to me: in order to achieve something, you need routines and, at times, a kind of consistency that differs from what most people consider normal. You need faith in yourself and in your dream, and then the work begins. Nothing is impossible. If you can picture it in your mind, then you can also do it. But before the result, a great deal of work has to be done. Maintaining a youthful appearance, body shape, and skin quality is not simply a gift from God. Of course genes play a role, but today 70 to 80 percent of both our appearance and our health is influenced by our own choices. In that sense, the clip was a very precise description and explanation for the viewer: routine may seem almost psychopathic, but it is what leads to results.
This way of thinking is not just a message from the clip or an aesthetic role for me. I actually live it in my everyday life. One of the clearest examples of that is my current journey into ballroom dance. Ballroom dance speaks to me deeply because it is a childhood dream of mine. Competitive dance captivated me from childhood, yet I was never able to pursue it as a child or in my early youth. So I am doing it now. I am also drawn to it because it is so difficult and complex. Before I started, I had no idea how technically demanding it actually is.
My real-life routine is also extremely important to me, especially my morning routine. In the mornings, I give skincare more attention than at any other time of day because it gives my skin a good feeling for the whole day. Compared to the video, my real life is different because I cannot think only of myself. I also have to make sure my children follow their own morning routine, get up, get dressed, eat, and brush their teeth. So my morning routine is fragmented, even though it consists of the same steps. Naturally, children bring a fair amount of chaos into life, so I adjust my routine according to the situation. My training times can vary from very early mornings to late evenings, and I still have to adapt a lot around the children. But I do complete the goal I have set for the day. My morning beauty rituals give my skin a good feeling for the whole day, and I also share one of my favorite beauty rituals in the video.
Sleep is important. But I do not need many hours of it. I have never been someone who can sleep until noon. I am a morning person, and ideally I would be training by 7 a.m. and then continue on to work. Still, if I get less than six hours of sleep, both physical and mental fatigue begin to appear. That in turn increases my appetite, because the body tries to compensate by getting more energy from food. But that does not really help. Several days of too little sleep begin to affect my mood and can even create a depression-like state. So I consider it very important that a person gets the amount of sleep that is right for them. For some it is six hours, for others eleven. And because I have young children, I remember very well those nights of highly interrupted sleep. But children grow, and now I am already able to sleep more deeply again.
Of course the sleeping environment matters too. The quality of the bed, and especially the mattress, is extremely important. I am also very demanding when it comes to blankets and pillows.
I love discipline, although sometimes I also give myself a break from it. It is probably part of my character, but I am sure the way I was raised has also played a role. I like obligations and having something to be responsible for. I like tempo and activity. When life becomes quieter, I often find it hard to cope with myself. I need constant goals to move toward.
Campaign message
With skincare, the main issue is hydration. The skin needs to be moisturized because both with aging and due to the environment we live in, the skin loses moisture, and during the winter heating season it can become almost dusty from dryness. As a skincare freak, I care about all of my skin, not just my face, and after moisturizing the body it feels so good to know that silk pyjamas help lock that moisture into the skin rather than absorb it. The feeling of silk on the skin is indescribable, and I love that at the same time my skin can still breathe. Karmen’s mulberry silk is truly the cherry on top here.
In the campaign, silk is also connected to dreaming and creating goals. It is impossible to dream when you are stressed, angry, or bitter. Ideas and dreams come to me when I feel good. Life today is very stressful, and you have to be resourceful enough to create a favorable environment for yourself, because everyday worries often want to bury all the good things underneath them. At that point, I believe you have to consciously activate a self-rescue mechanism. That is what I call it. I allow myself something good, I take care of my body, I pamper my skin, I put on something comfortable, or I go to dance practice.
The phrase “dreams require execution” means a great deal to me. I am a big dreamer, and my dreams have no limits. I also believe in the power of thought, but beautiful manifestation alone is not enough. You have to contribute your own effort to making your dreams real, and thought does have a supportive force. Still, you have to do the work yourself. I cannot think that I will manifest and then wake up the next morning with my dance steps magically learned.
The collaboration process and working with Karmen Pedaru
When Karmen reached out to me regarding the collaboration, I was happily surprised. Karmen is definitely an example of an intelligent, successful, and determined woman. Her international recognition has definitely not come to her from nothing, it has taken a great deal of work. It was a compliment to me that Karmen wanted to see me wearing her creations. I believe we inspire each other mutually. Beyond her outward beauty, she is also a very beautiful person inside, with strong values.
The moment we started discussing the project, a great energy appeared, and we were filled with excited anticipation. It is wonderful to create together with Karmen. All agreements work, and on top of that we are both perfectionists. From the very beginning, our wish was for the final result to be executed at the highest possible professional level. By coincidence, our entire team consisted only of women. I would call them superwomen, each of whom did her part brilliantly. The whole vibe on set was incredibly good. There was focus and excitement in the air, and at the same time a great synergy emerged.
What inspires me in Karmen’s work is that the prints of her pyjamas are her own artwork. She is such a creative person. The inspiration often comes from films. I also love the luxury and quality of the products. And the colors. With just a couple of sets, you can already create so many different combinations. The tops and trousers offer so many mix-and-match versions that you never get bored. And it is also amazing to know the story behind those prints and how Karmen draws and develops the motifs herself.
This project was very different from my previous collaborations. The fact that we were creating a short film already made it feel special. On top of that, we were building our own version of two iconic references, which made the whole process even more exciting and challenging. I love creating, and in this collaboration I was able to step into an acting role, which was a first for me. I kept thinking about whether and how I would pull it off. In a certain sense, even following in the direction of Margot Robbie’s version was a challenge of its own. What I definitely did not want was to come across as a poor imitation
of her.
The shoot day itself lasted nearly twelve hours. We started with hair and makeup, and after that the action began. Our adrenaline was so high that we forgot to eat! We did not feel hunger, because everyone was active, positive, excited, and happy. There was constant laughter. It was complete therapy in the middle of a cold February. That role stayed with me. Whenever I think about skipping training, I immediately remember the clip and think to myself: you said it yourself, now go and do the work.
Most of all, I hope people take inspiration from this project. Maybe one useful thought. Maybe a small push to change something. I am always looking for inspiration myself. If I had to sum up this collaboration in one thought, it would be very simple: I JUST LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT IT!!!!
I wish life offered more projects with this kind of energy, and more people like this around me. Days like these give me the strength to keep moving forward and to keep becoming better.