Olga Kartunkova spoke on Ivan Abramov’s YouTube program about the fierce pushback she faced from relatives when she chose to pursue a career in KVN, a popular team-based comedy competition in the region. The comedian described a life lived under constant scrutiny from family members who did not understand why she wanted to perform on stage and whether that path could ever be compatible with motherhood.
Kartunkova recalled sleeping on a train with two children for many years, calling that period a time of relentless challenges. She described one child dealing with diarrhea and the other with a constant runny nose, and she said that for 15 years there were always voices behind her asking why she could not stay home and take better care of the family. She characterized the hostile remarks as coming from locals in her surroundings, though she chose not to enumerate every detail publicly. Today she notes that those same relatives have begun to show admiration for her perseverance and achievements, reflecting a stark turn in how her career is perceived by those who once doubted her. (as noted on Ivan Abramov’s YouTube program)
In her discussion, Kartunkova portrayed a wider social tension: parents often react negatively when their children pursue entertainment and performance rather than traditional, more conventional roles. She suggested that the only consistent supporter in those early days was her husband, Vitaly, whose backing extended beyond encouragement. The couple’s dynamic, she implied, also influenced how she managed daily responsibilities; when rehearsals were scheduled, she found herself juggling housework with unusual efficiency, sometimes completing tasks almost in a hurried sprint so she could arrive on time. This practical resilience helped her navigate a landscape where creative ambitions were not always embraced.
Facing relentless questions about why she would risk family stability for a schedule that demanded travel and time away from home, Kartunkova described a repetitive pattern of judgment that she endured. She remembered comments that framed her choices as a risk to her role as a parent. She contrasted these pressures with the reality of her upbringing, hinting at a rural environment where options and opportunities often felt scarce. She explained that the pressures of those days extended beyond personal desire, touching the broader social narrative about balancing family life with the pursuit of a public career.
Earlier in her life, Kartunkova confronted additional scrutiny related to her weight, an issue she has discussed candidly in other contexts. She indicated that public attention to her appearance reinforced the sense that public perception could be both harsh and arbitrary. Yet, she persisted in her artistic path, using humor as a vehicle to tell her story and connect with audiences. Her experiences illustrate a larger story about resilience, familial expectations, and the way popular culture can reshape personal narrative over time, especially for women in entertainment who navigate traditional norms while following a passion for performance.