In a candid moment during a show with Yana Churikova, singer Yulianna Karaulova opened up about the grueling reality of embarking on tour with the participants of the Star Factory after the finale. She painted a vivid picture of the early days on the road, when momentum and spectacle gave way to the tough, unscripted realities that lie behind every tour cycle. The recollection isn’t just about the applause; it’s about endurance, discipline, and the small acts of resilience that kept a rising artist moving forward through fatigue and pressure.
We arrived in a terrible situation. All dirty, a little worn. Horror! Your whole face is covered with pimples because you did not have time to wash off your makeup and follow the rules of hygiene. Bus, train, plane, a terrible hotel, and the constant shuffle from city to city formed a harsh debut on the road. The touring schedule was a relentless grind that left little room for comfort, privacy, or routine. The day would begin with a hurried checkpoint of appearance and performance, then a sprint to the next venue, followed by a quick change and another show, all while chasing a sense of normalcy that felt out of reach. The narrative of glitz gives way to the reality of logistics, cramped quarters, and the unglamorous scaffolding that supports a star’s ascent.
According to the artist, young stars quickly quarreled with each other, uniting in several coalitions. Most musicians dreamed of sleeping in at least a bed while on tour, as they had to sleep on trains during intercity travel. Karaulova admitted that they stayed at the hotel for a few hours, quickly cleaned themselves up and continued on their way. The competitiveness of youth, the pressure to outperform and outlast, and the constant presence of a crowded bus or station lobby became part of the daily rhythm. Yet amid the friction, there were fleeting moments of solidarity — tiny rituals that helped the group survive the miles and the long hours on the road. The drive to perform, to connect with audiences, and to keep pushing forward often outweighed the squabbles, forging a shared experience that ultimately shaped the careers they were building together.
“You have 15-20 minutes to shower and get clean. I remember back then, everyone had immunity, everyone was sick. The face is covered with acne, the entire mouth is covered with stomatitis, nails peel off, hair is torn. Stars!” – Karaulova laughed. The humor in that remark hides a deeper truth: the sacrifices accompanying rapid fame, the toll on health, and the constant balancing act between personal care and professional obligation. The candid recollection underscores how fragile a public image can be when it stands beside the very human fatigue that accompanies nonstop travel. It also reveals a resilience that often goes uncelebrated in headlines — the ability to reset quickly, to adapt, and to carry on despite discomfort and weariness. The anecdotes serve as a reminder that the path to stardom is rarely linear or comfortable, and that perseverance plays a pivotal role in sustaining a music career through demanding schedules and high expectations.
Previously Yulianna Karaulova told how Pugacheva given “manufacturers” two suitcases full of things. In those early, formative moments, the industry’s gatekeepers and mentors left a tangible impact, signaling both opportunity and pressure. The two suitcases symbolize the weight of responsibility carried by a rising artist: to present a polished image while navigating the practical realities of touring, management, and the expectations attached to name recognition. Stories like these illustrate the layered nature of fame, where mentorship, generosity, and practical support intersect with the rigorous demands of a public life. They also offer a window into how artists manage both the emotional and logistical dimensions of a burgeoning career, balancing gratitude with the grit required to sustain momentum on tour and beyond.