Alexandra Raeva

Style, elegance and a touch of extravagance could describe the image of Alexandra Raeva. There’s no way not to know her from the air of BTV and “Slavi`s Show”, in which she was a back vocalist for whole six years. She completed her university studies for interior design, advertising and also an opera singing. She is a daughter of the actors Ilya Raev and Natalya Bardskaya but the acting couldn’t tempt Alex. So she took her own course… After quitting the show and hiding from the media attention, she appeared again only few months ago – more charming and beautiful than ever and full of surprises. Currently she’s establishing with her cousin their own fashion brand Aggata. After 8 stores in the county they recently opened a brand store in Sofia as well.  

Tell me about the fashion brand, which you are currently involved in?
We’re developing the “Aggata” brand for three years now. It took us one year to prepare the presentation in Sofia. The brand is established seven years ago by Malena Raeva (my cousin) but we needed time and the right concept to develop a brand we could officially put on the market. The concept of “Aggata” combines our overall vision of the modern woman. Our goal is to offer to our clients various types of wear for different occasions, as well as the right accessories for them, the right handbag and we even develop a shoe line. We’re happy that since the grand opening of our store in Sofia people are showing big interest in our merchandise. That’s the right time to say that there are “Aggata” stores not only in Sofia but also in Varna, Plovdiv, Rousse, Shumen, Veliko Tarnovo, Dupnica. In November there’s going be an opening in Blagoevgrad.
 
What’s the clothing line?
We’re offering casual, elegant and business wear and also an exclusive limited line of evening dresses.

And how about yourself – do you feel influenced by the fashion trends?
In general I follow some of the fashion trends but I can’t say I’m their slave. I would never wear something that doesn’t look good on me, no matter how modern it is.

What’s happening with your career in music? You’re making some songs of your own lately?
Musical career is a too strong expression especially when we talk about a career in Bulgaria. It’s extremely difficult to make money from your own music here and that’s why I decided to do it for my own pleasure. I’m currently working with Yasen Kozev from Bulgaro who is a very good composer and a DJ. We’re making a modern noncommercial music (chill out) and luckily people like it a lot. But right now my I’m putting all my energy in “Aggata”.

Do you miss “Slavi’s show”?
I have many nice moments and memories of the show but I couldn’t say that I miss it. When I left I consciously knew that’s the right time to do it and to turn a new leaf.

What are your relations with your now ex – colleagues from the show?
They’re perfect. Unfortunately we’re all very busy and we don’t have the opportunity to see each other more often. They have a very busy schedule and  on the other hand I don’t even have any time left just to sit and relax by having a cup of coffee with someone. These days I’m spending all of my spare time with Dessy who’s making a short visit in Bulgaria.

You like to change your image often, especially the color of your hair. Are you planning another change in your appearance any time soon?
I already made a change because until recently I was blond. I’m shocking my hairdresser all the time. Last time when I declared that after New Year’s Eve I will get a very short hair cut – a-line bob and blond locks, my hairdresser said: “Are you out of your mind? We’ve been trying to turn blond into red for so long and now you want to change it. How are we going to turn red into blond when you change your mind again?” I love to experiment with my hair, I like changes and it’s myself I’m doing it for, not to cause the other’s attention.

By using which cosmetic procedures do you like to indulge yourself?
I feel great after a full body massage. I enjoy indulging myself with  Spa and cosmetic procedures but unfortunately I don’t have much time left for such things.

How do you keep yourself in good shape?
I work out in the gym but lately not as often as before. Recently I became enthusiastic about horse riding. And during the winter I always go skiing and now I get ready for quite a season.

Is there anything that you don’t have the time for?
There’s no time left for me to travel for pleasure which is partly compensated by the fact that I travel a lot for business.

Which is your favorite place? Where would you be glad to come back?
I like Brussels and Amsterdam but I can’t only pick one place because  everywhere I go I find something exciting and beautiful. Besides you perceive a place that you’re just visiting for a while (no matter for business or pleasure) in a completely different way than the place where your roots are.

Speaking of roots, how much did the Russian culture influenced you?
It influenced me a lot on a subconscious level. It may sound too emotional to say: “I carry it in me” but it’s really like that. If a person has different nationalities in him, that influences over his perception of the world. We know that Russians are very sensitive and emotional and that was a great influence on me. Thank God my father is a Bulgarian because either way, if I was a pure Russian, I would have been too emotional and there wouldn’t have been a bit sense and pragmatism in me. The combination of a Bulgarian man and a Russian woman is a good one.

How much did the popularity of your parents helped or troubled you?
The good thing is that I don’t do anything related to their profession. Yes, they’re close but for sure it had a bigger impact on my sister who is an actress so it helped or troubled her more than me. I’m a very independent person since I was a child. It helped me in personal plan because I got many advices from my mother and my father regarding my on-stage appearance, what should be the behavior of a person that became popular in some way and mostly how to overcome the popularity. The other good thing is that I got very early to that machine  - “Slavi’s Show” where I had the chance to work with a person that kept my feet on the ground. I’m talking about Slavi, he’s really managing to show how you could look like a spoiled primadonna sometimes and how ridiculous that actually is in Bulgaria and that you could act like a normal person instead. After all you’re nothing more than the other people, they’re just showing you on the TV more often.

Do you like to go to shopping tours often?
It may sound strange but I actually don’t. I do it twice per year. I used to love shopping before. There was a time when I was turning everything I earned into handbags, shoes and clothes. That was because before I started working I didn’t have the financial opportunity. But now I don’t have nor time and nor any desire to do it. Besides I already have my own brand which allows me to create my own line of clothes that I could wear. If I decide to go shopping, I go to Milan twice per year. I underline that I do this not because I have the financial opportunity but because it comes cheaper for me to shop there than to spend money like water here every day. I don’t like that waste of time and walking on the streets and people’s staring and comments bother me.

Favorite accessory?
Shoes. There’re my weakness. I’m a follower of the idea that the shoes as well as the handbags change the appearance a great deal. I also like nice watches.

In general, what’s a day of Alex Raeva like?
My day usually starts at 9 in the morning. I make a breakfast to Ozzy, my dog, I take him out for a walk and I take up my tasks related to the store and “Aggata” afterwards. I often travel to the country side because of our stores there. I also find time to work with Yasen on our music projects. I usually spend my evening in the company of close friends, we go some place to have a glass of wine.

In a personal plan, do you have a man beside you?
Yes, I have.

What a man should be like so he could win your heart and keep you with him?
Altogether I have a difficult and strong personality, I like to struggle and achieve my goals by myself which is not something that would please everyone. In Bulgaria most men are thinking that the woman should stay home, stand by them, be a good housewife – of course there’s nothing wrong with that. I could be all this but with the right person. The man beside me should be a very strong person which could also be a bit risky because each one might try to prevail over the other. I want the person I’m with to give me comfort and peace and I could do the same for him. To me, that’s even more important than the sparkles we feel when we’re in love. After all love fades away sooner or later, replaced by other valuable feelings like a respect and understanding.

Will you surprise us with something new in the near future?
Expect the unexpected (laughs).