“Mom was shocked at my concert!”: Margarita Rodina, who gave birth to three children, from “Women’s Stand-Up” about her personal life 03/14/2023, 13:00

Margarita radically changed her life at the age of 37 – when she became interested in stand-up. She is proud to be the oldest member of Women’s Stand-up. The artist proved that even at the age of 40+ young people can be admired with “hot” jokes.

Vlast got married for the first time when she was still very young. In this marriage, a son Alexander was born, he is now 24 years old. From her second husband, Margarita gave birth to a daughter, Polina, 19 years ago. And from her third husband, she is raising an 8-year-old son, Yegor.

Now the TV star is free. She claims her family is crammed into a one-room apartment in Moscow, along with her grandfather and cats. The family gave an exclusive interview to a VOICE journalist.

– Show “Women’s stand-up” has been on the TNT channel for three years. The project existed for several years before appearing on the television screen. Margarita, how do you and your colleagues celebrate the birthday of the project and when?

– We met for the first time in September 2017, when they gave us offices with a sign “Women’s stand-up” and they said: “Creature!” We don’t officially celebrate birthdays, we congratulate each other in the work chat and are surprised – wow, we’ve been here that long? Yes, we are cool!

– In your numbers, you often state your age – 43 years old, you talk about ageism (age discrimination), which is why you are not employed. Tell us how you worked before starting your stand-up career. And do you do anything else besides Women’s Stand-Up?

– Now it is the main work “Women’s stand-up”, it cannot be combined with any other. Until recently, we had a working schedule of 6/1 plus shows, tours. There is not enough time for a family, let alone another job. My professional career was long and interesting – after the 11th grade, I went to work at Kuntsevský dvůr in Moscow as a secretary, then it was various, mostly administrative jobs, I even grew up to become a sales director. All this, of course, with breaks for maternity leave. Before Women’s Stand-up, my last job was as a product analyst at a wedding dress company. My desire for a wedding has now become a little clearer – so many styles have yet to be released!

– How does ageism manifest itself in “Women’s stand-up”?

– Good question! (smiles) Everything is good with us, but how else in a team that deals with humor? For example, I even had a joke: the girls said “shall we have nachos? Rit, nachos are such chips. That said, it’s all on the level of jokes. “Rita, in your time there were no pictures, but rock art? Oh, the church bells are ringing, Rit, what holiday is this? The day has begun – and yet there is not a single postcard from Rita in the chat! There was a case when I ordered a skirt for work, left it in the office and went home – and the girls thought I went home without a skirt! For me, these are all reasons to laugh from the stage later. But I myself also exaggerate my age when I start – “ah, I clicked here” or “what are you eating so young? How How? Hamburger?” (Laughter)

– Why did you establish friendly relations with Saule Yusup?

– Saule and I went through difficult times of adaptation to “Women’s Stand-Up”, she supported me a lot and I supported her. Since then that support has continued, I know that if anything, she is there. And of course I was extremely happy to attend her wedding at her home in Varna. I still love Varya Shcherbakov very much, I communicate closely with Sasha Muratova. I really like Inga Stokolas. Yes, we have a pleasant relationship with all the girls, we just communicate with someone closer and more often, with someone less. (smiles)

– What tests do you personally provide for new artists who get into “Women’s stand-up”?

– I once joked in front of new girls: “Did you hear you have to get through 5-6 monologues or we all go home?” I saw their pale faces and greatly regretted my joke. I think this difficulty is mainly in gaining an audience, because the first lineup is the first and loved by the audience. You see the wariness when someone new comes on stage, people in the hall go, “hmm, who is that next? Let’s see what you can tell us.” But the new girls are doing a great job, they are very funny and many are already seen as an integral part of “Women’s stand-up”. But Varya also did not come immediately, about a year and a half after the start of the project. So everything is in the hands of the speaker!

– Your program went on air two months after Comedy Woman closed. Maria Kravchenko recently told me: “”Female stand-up” – it’s not a show. Comedy Woman – it was a show. We made a theater performance – a combination of dances, songs, humorous numbers, with bright costumes. AND “Female stand-up” “It’s more of a genre.” Many stand-up fans have the impression that Comedy Woman artists are hostile towards you. It is so? And is it true that none of them came to film your program?

– Stand-up is really a conversational genre, a project “Women’s Stand-Up” is for me a comedy show of the conversational genre. I think it’s the hardest genre out there, because you’re alone on stage, and what happens – you forget the lyrics, the audience doesn’t respond to the joke – there’s no one around to turn your attention and calm the situation down. It is impossible, to forget the words, to start dancing on the stage. It’s just you, your humor and the viewer – accept it! For me, these two projects are comedies in completely different versions. Both occupy their place and have their audience. As for the hostility – I have never encountered or heard any statement, to me it is all speculation “what to talk about”. I remember exactly that Káťa Varnava came to the first shooting. She then came up to me and praised the performance.

– Your children Alexander and Polina came to the filming “Women’s stand-up”. How did they rate your performance, what did they not like?

– Yegor comes to me most often. For a long time I had to take him with me on tour and concerts, now he has a nanny. But when he says something, he makes it clear: “Do not say this in your program.” (smiles) And I don’t talk. I ask the children, what can I say, sometimes they throw out the reasons themselves: “Mom, it was this, tell me!” They come and bring friends. I remember telling something about my son at a concert and he was sitting in the hall saying, “That’s me! It’s about me!” Sasha was recently recognized by a girl at his work from my photos on social networks, he was flattered. I know for sure that they are proud of me! And I am them – who else would give me such a full and fun life.

– Last fall, your mother came to your performance for the first time. Because of this, you were very nervous, you even forgot a few jokes. How does your mother perceive your work, especially jokes about sex?

— Oh, that is a very respectful subject for me. Mom refused to go to the show for a long time, saying that it was uncomfortable for her, that it wasn’t her. I even watched the first episodes without sound and was like: “You are so beautiful, you look good and thank God!” Then she looked, something she liked, something she didn’t. Jokes about sex – uuuuuu, not really! Nevertheless, we are mother and daughter, and the generations are different, it was not easy for her! But she supported me even at the beginning of the project, even though she didn’t believe and asked: “Maybe you can find something normal to do?” And now he supports – he takes Egor with him on my tour. After arriving at the concert, she was in shock! I use that word on purpose, just such a reaction – I said that I did not expect so many adults and intelligent viewers in the hall, so that everyone laughs, there are many married couples who like us very much. She said: “Rita, how much they applauded you!” She saw us differently! In addition, the atmosphere at concerts is always brighter and funnier than on TV.

– You said you want to do breast plastic surgery and also nose surgery. Managed?

– I’m kidding! (Laughter) Yes, I never liked my nose, but I accepted it – we live here. (smiles) I would like to improve my breasts after three children, but again – I learned to accept myself and I like myself. Now I lose weight – and the queen! I have a positive attitude towards plastics. In addition, age-related changes have learned to clean properly and easily – why not take advantage of this. When they say: “I never inject anything” – it’s just that your wrinkles haven’t grown yet! Most women dye their gray hair, but why are facial injections worse? If we are talking about the surgical knife, it is scary, but I am seriously thinking about plastic surgery around the eyes. But maybe I love it too.

– You say from the stage that you dream of solitude. Do you have many male fans, are they persistent?

– How I would like to brag now, but no, if they are fans, they are modest and unobtrusive. Very, very modest and unobtrusive! Even too much!

– Do you have a beloved man now? Do you want to get married again?

– No, I’m free. I’m not guessing. Recently I asked – am I ready for a relationship and … yes, I am ready, I do not deny any possibility of their development. When there is a person nearby, we decide with him in which format we will be comfortable. The only problem is time – I have a crazy schedule, I want to always devote myself to my children and friends, I have a window in my schedule for a date around October! Or come to the concert! (smiles)

– Two years ago, in March 2021, you said that you appeared in Cosmopolitan Russia magazine. You are one of those women who were the first readers of our magazine. Why were you interested in our publication, which was renamed VOICE a year ago?

— HLAS is a story about a woman. Her thoughts, feelings, style, sex, men, children, career – everything that makes up our essence is simply drawn on paper! Glad to be a part of it!

Maria Marková used to talk about herself, her daughter and men. “I don’t reject fans. They already recognize me in the registry office, “joked the artist.