Julia Vins of Russia has 325,000 followers on social media thanks to her girly doll-like facial features and an extraordinary, muscle-popping body
This stunning self-titled “Muscle Barbie” would leave even Ken red-faced at the squat rack. At just 20-years-old, Julia has broken records at the World Powerlifting Congress, squatting 215kg, bench pressing 120kg and dead-lifting 190kg.
Julia, of Engels in the Saratov region of Russia, told the UK Mirror newspaper: “I was going to the gym just to get fit for a year when I turned 15, but I didn’t know anything about weights so I just found the biggest guy in the gym and repeated exercises after him….For me it’s very cool to now be a role model. Many young girls in Russia make a big mistake and use steroids, which changes their voice and face….
“I’m proof to everyone that you can be cute and lift big weights at the same time without using steroids. I don’t show my strength on the street though. Many men say to me, ‘With your face you could be a model, why have you disfigured your body?’ But often, these comments are made by men who are not happy with their lives and own achievements so I don’t care about their opinion.
She said that women are not treated respectfully in Russia and that men still think that the only function of the woman is cooking and cleaning the house.
“When I have traveled in Europe and Asia, I have noticed that people are more respectful to me and even if they don’t like what I do, they still respect my choice.The feminine body is a strange concept, because so many men have it too, I think what is more important in someone’s personality…I know a lot of women with a feminine body, but they behave disgustingly and it doesn’t attract men at all.”
The pro-powerlifter said it has been far from easy to reject society’s expectations of her in Russia to become fully independent as an athlete so young.
She said: “I have been living separately from my parents for a long time although in Russia children rarely live separately from their parents at such a young age- many people continue to do it after their 30….
“In Russia there are a lot of stereotypes, such as everyone should have a university degree but I left my university for the sake of my career and I’m very happy that I did.
“I was afraid to make the mistake of people who spend a lot of time for getting education and then they don’t work in the relevant profession….
“My parents did not support my idea but sometimes, in order to build a happy life, you need to sacrifice all that you have.
“Besides, I need to keep my daily regimen and diet, it’s much easier to do it while living apart from my parents.”