On the eve of the Eurovision final, I called my Irish friend and asked who she was going to vote for. “Of course, for Conchita! Great joke and so fresh!” - came the answer. I agree about the joke; the shocking trick of the Austrian Tom Neuwirth, who performed under the pseudonym Conchita Wurst, was awarded the main prize of the competition - a crystal microphone. And as for freshness... Last September in the “Let's Get Married!” program. Among the bride’s friends, I already saw the black-bearded Conchita, only the presenter Larisa Guzeeva called her not Tom, but... Pavel. “So many people have already told me about this, Andrei,” Pavel Petel laughs, “but then I appeared on television for the first and only time. Yes, of course, TV is a great force, but the future still lies with the Internet.” To fend off comparisons with the Eurovision 2014 winner, Pasha even published a block of photographs online, captioning them “She’s not me!” (“She’s not me!”). But actually, he’s a little offended, because Petel considers the image of a diva with a goatee to be his know-how, and one that dates back many years. I don’t dissuade him, but I tell him about the French-American artist Marcel Duchamp. In 1919, he added a mustache and goatee to a postcard depicting La Gioconda, thereby giving the Mona Lisa his own features. We also recall the scene from the film “Election Day”, where Vladimir and Sergei Kristovsky, in the image a la Conchita Wurst, lure the electorate to the polling stations. Yes, and Mikhail Galustyan at the dawn of his career, portraying the girl Gadya Khrenova in KVN and Alla Pugacheva in Ice Age, also contributed to the formation of Conchita.
“There are a lot of polar opinions now,” continues Pavel. – As a person of club culture, I consider such a performance to be burlesque, I am Dita Von Teese, only with a beard. Now there is a new kind of pop art when men stand on heels. I checked it many times: you put on a pink tight-fitting jumpsuit, get on your bike, take a photo, and literally within a minute 20,000 people have already liked your selfie. Because it's cool. Isn't it fun to see a pumped-up bearded man 185 cm tall and weighing 110 kg on twenty-centimeter cables? People are very uptight in many ways. Even dancers in clubs have complexes. I started as a DJ and always tried to create a show out of my set - I dressed provocatively, built decorations, invited beautiful half-naked girls to perform. He called on the people: “Relax!”
Despite the fact that today Pavel can post a video where he is injected with fillers and Botox, this 33-year-old brutal handsome man also has complexes, and he does not hide them. “I experienced enormous stress when, as a child, my parents left me alone for the whole day. I thought: “Nightmare! They abandoned me! He opened the door and ran out into the street. Since then, I carry a soft toy with me everywhere – you stroke it and calm down.”
Having received education as a journalist, Pavel Petel worked in many ways - as a DJ, promoter, designer, coach, artist. He receives the largest number of “electronic” orders on March 8th. Many guys want him to congratulate their girls on the Spring Festival. Pavel’s main followers on social networks are, of course, women. They are the first to evaluate his style in videos, comment on his outfits in video parodies of “Office Romance 2.” Pavel's recent debut as an actor also did not go unnoticed by his army of fans. “In the TNT series I played the role of Joseph Stalin,” surprises Petel. “During filming, I had to give up my beard and shave every day. But soon I will change my image again, I want to be different.”
Photos: Lyuba Kozorezova
Interview: Margarita Virova
About happiness and comfort
In fact, I have one topic - happiness. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg: a prosperous personal life, financial condition, security - all this is necessary for us to feel good. Nowadays, whenever I post shabby chic photos, people often say that it relaxes them. I felt that my physical and psychological state could really be controlled by creating the right atmosphere at home or at work. Few people think about this, but it works.
If we create a calming environment with the help of decor - it could be Scandinavian minimalism, country, whatever - it will be easier for us to control our internal state and cope with anxieties. A good habit is the ability to concentrate on beauty. Even if I am somewhere where I don't like anything, I will still find a beautiful point, look at it and feel great. A lit candle is enough for me to feel comfort.
About care
I don’t know how to do makeup and have never even applied foundation myself in my life. Before meeting my director, I was a typical man from a provincial town with dry elbows, rashes and dandruff - it turns out that if you want, you can work with it. When I was young, when I had acne, my mother took me to a beauty clinic. The doctor said that I should buy a lot of products from him for a lot of money, undergo procedures - none of this helped. Unfortunately, in small towns there is no culture in which parents can calmly tell their children that they can take care of themselves and how to do it.
Now I have a simple three-step care; I have very oily skin, thanks to which, by the way, I didn’t have a single wrinkle for a long time. Morning and evening, I wash my face, exfoliate my skin, and apply moisturizer. With body skin, everything is also simple: I apply butter, I love thick, oily textures.
About searching for images
Without realizing it, I created new cultural projects and changed fashion. I have had many different stages in my life, this is pure postmodernism. After some time, I realized from Instagram that many people were following me - from Jeremy Scott to the editors of Russian magazines, some imitated me. I can’t say that I took everything from space: like, for example, Andy Warhol, I was inspired by the world around me. I just have my own opinion.
When I was a graphic designer, I would look at an image and ask, “How do they do that gradient?” How can I do the same? They told me that this is not a gradient - it’s just the light falling that way. The world that I perceive does not exist, but I see it and imitate what I see. This is how unusual images were born: a combination of masculinity and femininity, a combination of heels, makeup and a beard. By the way, it came about very simply: I needed to apply makeup, and since I wasn’t too serious about the project, I didn’t want to shave off my beard for the sake of it. I was often compared to Conchita Wurst back then, but this is different: she has a feminine style, and my image was masculine - I was a man with makeup before it became common.
For me it was art, entertainment, something fun and kind. Nevertheless, I do everything for people, and if those around me don’t want to accept it, then I won’t try. Today, men become the faces of world-famous cosmetic brands, but when I started, the world was not yet ready for this - my image changed because I ran into a wall of misunderstanding. They weren’t ready for my heels until Lady Gaga appeared. The world was shocked by the beard and makeup, and then someone else promoted the look.
About self-care
It all depends on what you want, your capabilities and condition. I'm working out now and I have a goal to lose weight. When I stopped staying in shape thanks to sports drugs, I had to change my lifestyle. First I lost weight, then I gained a lot of weight, and I needed to rebuild something to be in good shape without such support. When I wake up, I immediately drink two glasses of warm, still water. Then I eat, I try to do it often and in small portions. I don't use a car or take the subway. I often walk, from VDNKh to Moscow State University - this is normal for me, I love an active lifestyle. I go to the gym two to three times a week. I don’t sunbathe in the sun or in a solarium - once upon a time everything was different. And, of course, I try to maintain a good mood.
I repeat that there is no good physical health apart from a good psychological state. So that you don’t get sick, so that you have the strength to do your favorite things, you need to feel calm and stop rushing somewhere. There are always some temptations before us. When I decided to open a hygge store, they began to compare me with my competitors, as if this should make me worry. But I started a business not for the sake of the pursuit of profit, but for the sake of being happy - and for this I cannot do what is unpleasant to me. My philosophy is that we are all one. I will never grow old, because I will look at young people and rejoice: if we are all one, then why should anyone envy?
It all started when we just saw a couple of photos. More precisely, one. There, a young man then unknown to us, was dressed in something pink and shiny, dashingly showing off his beautiful body, an intricate wig and cool cables. Of course, we became wildly interested! Surely, you are already intrigued, which means it’s time to start the beginning of this crazy story.
Pavel Petel is known as one of the top three Internet personalities of RUNet, a 9gag star, a participant in the NAKED DJs SHOW project and an active user of various social networks, including his owntumblr , which received wide publicity both in Russia and in the West.
Pavel as singer Lana del Rey.
Pavel on the same stage with Scissor Sisters during their recent performance in Moscow.
We talked to Pavel and asked him to comment on 8 of his photographs.
Paul talks about himself
#1
I was originally trained as a journalist, but soon became interested in graphic design and worked as a freelancer for some time. Then I started performing in nightclubs as a DJ. I always created a show out of my DJ set: I dressed provocatively, built special decorations, invited naked dancers and all that.
My T-shirt designs are much cooler than SUPREME, and I am much more expressive than Lady Gaga!
- My favorite outfit is jersey shorts and a T-shirt. In fact, I prefer comfortable men's sportswear.But to attract attention, of course, I wear something extraordinary; I really love bright designer suits.
Mature fashionistas straightened their backs! Damn, I feel so good!
I think that it would a bearded, pumped-up man of 110 kg, 185 cm tall and wearing a 20 cm cable - this is grandiose, incredibly fun and very, very sexy!
I'm sure tumblr readers will think this is footage from Nicki Minaj's new video!
- My goal is to expand my consciousness as much as possible and bring something new into this world, to create my own pop art.
I always dreamed of having light hair, but before this shoot, my partner in NAKED DJs Ostrikov suggested a black wig, assuring that it suits me better. Did he deceive me...
- I love Russia. This is a very rich and strong country where everyone can realize themselves. But I dream of being close and collaborating with my friends in the USA. I plan to move to New York for further professional victories.
You're a cool guy and you even liked me, but you don't look anything like the dog from the GIVENCHY print, which means we're not on the same path, my friend.
Pavel was born in the Ukrainian city of Dnepropetrovsk. He carefully hides his date of birth, as well as any information about his family and loved ones. It is known that he has an older brother who was often ill as a child, so little Pasha was deprived of parental attention. His family was not rich, so the boy did not grow up spoiled.
Pavel's childhood was the same as that of most children. Judging by his childhood photographs, he was an ordinary boy who loved to play football and pull girls' pigtails. Pasha studied at a regular school. Nothing is known about his grades and academic performance. According to him, he was often alone and liked to fantasize. While visiting his grandmother in the village, he created entire worlds in his imagination. The pasha embodied his fantasies in games that he himself invented.
In his vivid fantasies, Pasha imagined how he would conquer this world. He imagined that he would become a prince or king who would shine with his splendor throughout the world. At the very least, if not a king, then a truck driver, the boy thought.
Having matured a little, Pasha began to get involved in electronic music. In high school and after graduation, he tried himself as a DJ. He did this well. Over time, Pavel’s DJ talent was appreciated not only by his friends and acquaintances, but also by a wider circle of listeners. He performed in various clubs and was registered on the website of professional DJs in Dnepropetrovsk. Then his appearance was not so remarkable, and it was difficult to discern a future star in an ordinary young man. Pavel tried himself in the entertainment business. He worked in a restaurant, then in a casino. Over time, Pavel's ambitions grew, and his hometown became too small for him.
Fame
In 2010, Pavel moved to Moscow. At this time, he actively began to engage in physical training to keep himself in shape for show business. Pavel began his career in the capital in show business, performing shocking numbers.
Pavel's emancipation and acting skills paved the way for him in the Moscow crowd. Bodybuilding also benefited me. Now Pavel is in excellent physical shape. This contrasts greatly with his demeanor and outfits, which are more appropriate for a drag show. Pavel positions himself as an art model, artist, porn star and designer. The artist admits that he is such a perfectionist that this can be considered a deviation. He constantly works on himself, striving for an unattainable ideal.
Despite his stage image, Pavel is not a scandalous person at all. His main goal is to give people his talent, and not to catch hype. The sight of enthusiastic fans gives him strength and inspiration for creativity.
In addition to acting abilities, Pavel has a talent for writing, because he is a journalist by training. Someday the celebrity plans to try his hand at writing children's literature.
Personal
Pavel carefully hides his personal life. He separates his stage image from his real self, and wants to leave his personal world inviolable.
Now Pavel lives and works in Moscow. Behind the scenes, Pavel is transformed from a burlesque star and a freak into an ordinary attractive guy.
From photographs leaked online, it is known that Pavel has a little daughter, about whose mother there is no information. Despite the image, Paul claims to be traditional.
Pavel does not follow the lives of domestic celebrities and showmen, but foreign musicians and actors have always aroused his interest.
- instagram.com/petelhouse
