Elizaveta Gyrdymova, known by her stage name Monetochka, has long been a focal point in contemporary Russian pop culture and music circles. In a candid exchange with the YouTube channel Tender Editor, she opened up about her personal connection to her birthplace, Yekaterinburg, and how a playful local nickname has traveled with her beyond national borders. She describes the city with a wink and a smile, saying that Yekaterinburg is tied in her mind to mayonnaise, a culinary shorthand she uses to capture the city’s distinctive character. This quirky association has become something of a talking point for fans and media alike, illustrating how hometown memories can take on symbolic flavors even when life moves in unexpected directions. The essence of her remark centers not on the condiment itself, but on what it represents: a tangible link to a place that shaped her early experiences and aspirations. [Tender Editor interview]
In the interview, Monetochka went a step further, calling Yekaterinburg the capital of mayonnaise. She suggested that the product embodies the city’s flavor and spirit, a metaphor that resonates with listeners who know her work and her background. For her, mayonnaise stands for more than taste; it embodies a hometown pride that sticks with you regardless of where life takes you. Even though she has relocated, she reveals that she still keeps a jar from her native city in her refrigerator, a small ritual that preserves a sense of place amid constant travel and evolving artistry. [Tender Editor interview]
When asked about life after moving abroad, Gyrdymova noted that she does not miss Yekaterinburg in a negative sense, but rather in a positive light. The memories stay with her, softened by time, and they coexist with the new rhythms of her life in Vilnius. She sees parallels between the Lithuanian capital and her hometown in certain aspects, a reflection on how places can echo one another in atmosphere, people, and everyday moments. The artist emphasizes that the connections to her past remain meaningful, even as her career and family life expand in new surroundings. [Tender Editor interview]
She spoke warmly about the people of Yekaterinburg—teachers, classmates, neighbors—whom she remembers as part of a unique social fabric. Monetochka highlighted the community spirit she associates with her early environment, suggesting that these are the kinds of relationships that leave an enduring imprint on a person’s sense of identity. Her reflection underscores how formative experiences in school and neighborhood life can shape an artist’s worldview, values, and creative voice. [Tender Editor interview]
The singer also reflected on the emotional texture of life after relocation, admitting that moving away from Russia brought a sense of longing for the feeling of everyone living in one place. That sentiment, she explained, is about collective belonging and shared daily life—the kinds of experiences that create a sense of belonging that travels with a person, even when the physical geography changes. The discussion reveals how migration stories often involve a mixture of nostalgia, adaptation, and a redefined sense of home, shaped by new cultures and new families. [Tender Editor interview]
On a personal front, Monetochka and her husband, producer Viktor Isaev, expanded their family with a move to Lithuania in the wake of geopolitical events, a decision that many public figures faced as the situation unfolded. The couple welcomed a daughter named Nina on August 17, 2022, and continued to grow their family, with a second child, a son, arriving in January 2024. These milestones mark a quieter, intimate side of a life that is often in the public eye, reminding followers that behind every artist there are ordinary moments of joy and continuation. [Tender Editor interview]
Earlier conversations with other public figures, such as Mikhail Krug’s son, have likewise touched on the pressures and challenges of performance in reality television environments like New Star Factory. These discussions collectively illuminate how artists navigate criticism, personal expectations, and public perception when their craft intersects with media platforms that demand constant visibility. [Tender Editor interview]