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TV presenter and journalist Olena Frolyak has become the ambassador of the Age Expert L'Oréal Paris line in Ukraine. On this occasion, Olena gave an interview to Ukrainian Vogue
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Petite, lively, and extremely well-groomed Olena Frolyak appears in the editorial office of Vogue UA – and it seems that the space becomes even sunnier. The working day has just begun, but Olena has already managed to walk her dog, Nora, a golden retriever, prepare breakfast, have breakfast, get to the city center – with styling and beautiful makeup – and is ready to continue conquering the world.
“Olena embodies professionalism, maturity and inner strength,” L'Oréal Paris says. “Her many years of career in journalism and television have shaped the image of a woman who combines confidence, intelligence and natural femininity.”
This is not a compliment, but a statement. Since 2000, Olena has remained the permanent host of the “Facts” program on ICTV. Since 2008, she has headed the entire information service of the channel. A four-time winner of the “Teletriumph” award (an absolute record in the Ukrainian television industry), an honored journalist of Ukraine, and the first ambassador of the environmental direction of the UN Global Compact in Ukraine, Olena was born in Kazakhstan. Her childhood and youth were spent in the Hutsul region, in Kosovo. “Dad could not live without his homeland – and he constantly said that we would move there anyway.”
Olena decided to connect her life with journalism. She worked on television in Frankivsk, later she went on an internship at CNN, from there to the BBC, and only after that her classmate and friend Mykola Kniazhytskyi “lured” her to the UT-2 channel (“after the casting,” Frolyak recalls with a laugh). When I ask what 33 years on television taught her, she does not hesitate: “Discipline, respect for the viewer, self-criticism. Respect for time. This is important, because even seconds are valuable in the news. When you understand their value, you will not waste days, hours, weeks on nonsense.”
“How did you feel when L'Oréal Paris invited you to collaborate?” I ask. “It was very nice,” Olena smiles. “But I somehow thought that there would be a competition and I would never be chosen, because now there are so many young, beautiful women who are advanced in digital, popular on social networks.” At this moment I feel deja vu: all the L'Oréal Paris ambassadors, from Katya Silchenko to Gillian Anderson and Eva Longoria, told me about the same thing.
About self-confidence
We recall the famous L'Oreal Paris slogan “Because you are worth it.” Olena admits that she did not always feel her own worth. “For example, I entered Lviv University twice – at that time it seemed to me that some mega-people should study in Kyiv,” admits one of the most famous media faces of the country. Only after her journalism teacher, the editor of the Kosiv district newspaper, said: “Go to Kyiv,” did she dare – and entered very easily, brilliantly passing only two of the three required exams.
“There is a proverb – “Audacity is the second happiness,” – laughs Olena. – And indeed, self-confident people often compensate for the lack of education, experience, intelligence exclusively with pressure, like the President of the United States. Meanwhile, educated, intelligent people often have complexes and think: “I'm not good enough, I'll probably stand on the page.” But the truth is that, having faith in yourself, you can move mountains.”
On the power of small steps
“You know, women often tell themselves: “I can't,” “I'm not worth it,” says Olena. “But we are incredibly disciplined by nature – if a woman starts a cycle, she completes it.” So the main thing, she believes, is not to be afraid. Her favorite quote is “The fear of taking risks can become the biggest risk in your life” by Shimon Peres.
Olena is an adherent of the philosophy “It's better to do and regret it than the other way around.” “Even if there are fifteen closed doors in front of you, you will definitely walk in at the sixteenth,” she says. “It's definitely worth trying something new. Life is short, and the biggest mistake is to succumb to inner hate or discouragement. Believe in yourself, knock on all the doors and don't listen to anyone. You will definitely be able to do it.”
I think when you tell yourself: “You are worthy, you can do it, everything will work out,” it stimulates, pushes, motivates. It removes the shackles
About relationships with appearance
“Sexuality is intelligence,” Frolyak quotes Angelina Jolie's famous phrase. In journalism, they were always told: “You don't have to be beautiful in the frame, but educated.” But it's also important to like yourself – “I would be lying if I said that I don't care about my appearance. Of course, I want to look good. Grooming is attention to yourself.” Olena looks at herself meticulously: she evaluates her posture, gestures, and facial expressions. And that's why she doesn't like to watch her own broadcasts in the recording – self-criticism gets in the way.
“I'll never forget a random photo of Quentin Tarantino taken somewhere in New York. He went out to get coffee – in a cashmere coat just over his pajamas, in worn-out slippers,” Frolyak admires this level of Zen. She herself once allowed herself to ride her bicycle to a village shop as it was – in a T-shirt and shorts – to get ingredients for borscht. Of course, it was then that a woman who recognized her approached her. Frolyak was taken aback – and promised herself to always look good, even if it was just a trip to the store. “Of course, I don't have to be in a frill, but at least my T-shirt and shorts have to be impeccable.” So, if she goes on business, she definitely puts herself in order – she considers it part of her responsibility to the channel. “After all, someone will definitely come up to her: 'Has no one told you that you look like Olena Frolyak?'”
About family beauty secrets
If you look at three generations of women in Olena's family, everyone, from grandmother to granddaughter, has the same noble appearance. “My mother took care of herself all her life, she never went to a beautician or a hairdresser. She is 80, and she will never go out to her roses without a hairstyle and light makeup.”
Olena's daughter Natalka was invited by scouts to try her hand at modeling in Ireland, but Covid prevented that. 27-year-old Natalka loves naturalness (“Although I am convinced that naturalness and well-groomedness are not synonyms!”, – remarks strict Frolyak) and leads a busy life: she works three jobs, volunteers a lot, goes to charity events, and donates endlessly. “She is just crazy!” – her mother smiles lovingly.
About diet and activity
Energetic, lively Olena is not genetically predisposed to being overweight: her mother is slim, her father has been involved in sports all his life: he ran, swam in open water until late autumn, did strength training, dragging stones on the river. Olena eats in small portions, prefers fish, but admits that she loves fresh bread with butter – “sometimes – at night,” she laughs.
Before the war, the journalist played tennis, but the coach was evacuated to Slovakia when the full-scale invasion began – and there he died of a heart attack. Olena swims well: “head down, glasses, cap, everything as it should be.” With the war, she began to do it less often, and her skin does not react very well to chlorinated water. “I probably won't swim all 30 pools, but I still love the water.”
She walks her dog a lot, cooks, and in season, does agro-fitness in her own garden. And only then does she settle down on the couch with a book or a TV series.
About the women's support circle
Among the L'Oréal Paris ambassadors, she is inspired by Gillian Anderson. “I've watched the episode in The Crown where she comes to the Queen and reads a poem several times. It's incredible.”
She adores her own friends and draws inspiration from them as well. “I always notice something new on my friends, I always say: “How beautiful you are!” I love when women are well-dressed, when everything is picked out. I always ask: “Where did you buy that? Where did you get such a beautiful bag?” She likes to meet with her friends for a glass of wine, discuss men, children, things, work.” However, she does not do this often: “People are exhausted by war – we are all chronically tired and stressed.”
About recovery and time for yourself
She loves cinema, follows the Oscars and tries to watch all the nominated films before the awards ceremony. She went to see Jim Jarmusch's “Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister” in the morning – she says there were only two people in the hall. She also highly recommends the film “Twice Born” with Penelope Cruz about the war in the Balkans. “It's a touching and completely unthinkable drama that only life can spin.”
About the relationship with age
Frolyak notices the changes that occur with age. But most of all, she is afraid of doing something that will change her beyond recognition. “I am scared of faces that seem to be fastened with buttons on the back of the head. A chiseled forehead that hangs over the eyelids, hyperbolized cheekbones and lips…” The journalist is for natural aging. She says that she once had a consultation with a plastic surgeon, but in the end she came to the conclusion that it is important to accept yourself. “I sincerely admire women who work hard on their appearance,” she admits. “But it is a huge job. Some are ready for it. But I am not.”
Olena tries not to read the comments under her YouTube videos. Sometimes there is something like this: “Frolyak has aged.” “Seriously?” the host asks sarcastically. “Listen, I'm 58 this year. What should I look like? Yes, I don't visit a beautician every day. The question is, would I want to.” She always feels sorry for the time. “I would rather go for a walk, lie on the couch, read a book,” she says. However, discipline wins: on her nails – a flawless burgundy coating with light flashes of gold sparkles.
She says that she easily imagines herself as a stylish grandmother in the Alps: “I sit, drink an aperitif, read a lot… I won't smoke – health is more expensive, but I will savor life to the fullest! And although I already dream of this peace, for some reason there is only more work. It would seem that it is time to slow down, but the pace is only increasing. And that is great. Because as long as there are plans, prospects and the same desire to “open the door” – we live to the fullest.
About your favorite L'Oréal Paris products that deserve a place in every makeup bag
L'Oréal Paris emphasizes that age is not a limitation, but experience, status and a new stage of confidence. The idea of the “Age Expert 55+” campaign is to support women at every stage of life, to help them maintain a well-groomed appearance of their skin and a sense of comfort. Olena admits that she has not yet had time to try all the brand's products, but she loves them for their quality and affordability. Among her favorites are the following.
L'Oréal Paris anti-aging night cream for facial skin “Age Expert 55+”.
Anti-aging eye cream “Wick Expert 55+”, L'Oréal Paris
Anti-aging serum “Age Expert with Collagen”, L'Oréal Paris
L'Oréal Paris Infaillible 36H Infaillible Makeup Setting Spray – comes in handy in the studio, where I sometimes spend six hours.
I love mascara, I always use it, I've tried many different ones. Panorama mascara L'Oréal Paris Million Lashes Panorama Black is just the bomb.
About favorite books
“Agel's Memory Concert”, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt
Every novella is heartbreaking. There is mysticism, detective stories, and beautiful plots.
“Foxley the Horse”, Roald Dahl
Dahl, known as a children's writer (“Matilda”, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”). wrote a lot of adult prose. I sat over this book of short stories and laughed to myself. Very cool.
“The Shell Seekers”, Rosamund Pilcher
A family saga by a British writer about how each person is born with their own character. The events take place in London, from World War II to the 80s. A modern but very accurate story, very well written, with a wonderful sense of humor.
“Hamnet” by Maggie O'Farrell
A historical novel by a Northern Irish writer and historian about Shakespeare's wife.
“Marriage Portrait”, Maggie O'Farrell
I also recommend “The Wedding Portrait” by Maggie O'Farrell, by the same author. She studied the Medici family, the Italian kings, and published an incomparable book.
“A Little Life”, Ganya Yanagihara
This is a book that hasn't let go for many years.
“To Paradise”, Ganya Yanagihara
A dystopia, where one part of the trilogy takes place in the USA in the mid-21st century. Products are sold by card, citizens are not allowed to travel abroad, all the best things are left in Europe. I'm afraid that's where everything is heading.