Confident
with Playboy Africa March 2025 cover star Wanda Obukhanich / wanda.obukhanich
Team Photographer & Creative Amer Mahamad /@shootmeamer
Lighting assistant Jeffery Zamora/ jeffery_zamora15
Stylist Dima Neo / @dimaneu
Hair Alexander Raos / @raosalexander
Makeup Irina Kuzmina / @zolotoira
Wanda Tell us something interesting about yourself people would not originally know about you: I am 53 years old and have experienced so many wonderful things. I have two daughters and my own business in dentistry, ophthalmology, and aesthetic medicine. Photographers and magazine editors discovered me only 10 years ago when I was a little bit fuller and a lot older! It’s been an incredible journey, but now I feel more confident than I did 30 years ago, and it shows that times are changing drastically and now it’s important to show the world that age is a tentative story. Inner state and well-being are far more valuable than youth.
Which three words describe you the best: Element. Magic. Life.
Who is your celebrity crush? Brad Pitt without any doubt! He is just irresistible and charming. However besides his striking blue eyes, signature blonde hair, and good looks, he’s an incredibly talented actor who is capable of playing any type of character.
Describe your perfect man: He would be a person of fine quality, with a blend of intellectual and emotional intelligence with an exceptionally sharp sense of humor. He would also be calm, kind, and caring with an enormous heart filled with love and joy for life and adventures. This would be reflected in the way he treats his partner like a queen, as he understands and respects the importance of loyalty and communication in a relationship. However, he wouldn’t be a weak man either, he would make me feel safe and deeply loved.
What inspires you? The world. Travel. Learning about the cultures and traditions of different countries. The beauty of nature and architecture. Aesthetics in every detail.
What do you do for fun? I love spending time with my friends interestingly, many of my closest friends are men. I also enjoy traveling and unwinding in a traditional Russian banya.
What’s the most cringe pickup line you’ve ever got? I tried to recall such moments, but apparently, I’ve been lucky! Every new acquaintance I’ve had has been pleasant and comfortable.
What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your career as a model? Not just in modeling but in business as well, trust is key. Having confidence in people and the process is essential. It’s not always easy, but it’s the foundation of success. Trust the world, trust people, trust God, trust the events that unfold, and most importantly, trust yourself.
Tell us a bit about your most embarrassing moment. It was a long time ago when I couldn’t speak English at all and I was visiting Italy for the first time in my life as a tourist. While on an excursion in Venice, I fell behind from the group I was with and got lost. For several hours, I was relentlessly trying to explain that I didn’t understand how to find my group, communicating in a mix of Russian and Ukrainian, not making any sense at all; and to make matters worse, I couldn’t even remember the name of the town and the hotel where I was staying in. Luckily, I was eventually found scared and very hungry.
What are you most looking forward to doing this year? Discovering new places through travel, lots of love, laughter, and pleasant experiences.
Do you have a dream project or campaign you’d love to be a part of one day? Perhaps another shoot for your publication? For the time being, I am allowing destiny to decide what the future holds for me but I would love to involve in traveling extensively across Africa and its breathtaking locations more it’s an incredibly beautiful and diverse continent and I would love to immerse myself inits different cultures and share those experiences with the world.
Are there any new projects or events that you’re working on and could you tell us a bit about that? A year ago, I purchased a plantation of essential roses on the Black Sea coast. These roses produce tons of petals that can be turned into oil, floral water, drinks, sweets, cosmetics, and much more. My dream is to build a retreat center amidst this boundless field of roses offering unique programs for both the body and soul.
Lastly, What is your life motto? Or a quote that means a lot to you?If we and our loved ones are alive and well, we can achieve anything. There is no limit to our success or our joy We ourselves are capable of creating better versions of our lives.
