Raised in New York City from the age of twelve, she grew up surrounded by the artists, performers, and cultural outsiders who shaped the city’s creative heartbeat. At twenty‑one, she stepped into Russian Samovar — the historic restaurant co‑founded by Roman Kaplan, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Joseph Brodsky — and quickly became its driving force, welcoming generations of actors, musicians, writers, and New Yorkers from every walk of life.

Her life and activism are captured in the acclaimed documentary Mama Vlada, released eight months ago, and her newly published memoir Чемодан‑Вокзал‑Самовар reflects on her family history, her immigration journey, and the extraordinary community built around Russian Samovar.

Beyond Samovar, she continues to shape New York’s culinary landscape through her restaurants — Dumplings & Crepes, Pasta Bistro 52, and Burger Bliss NYC — while honoring the legacy of her iconic LGBTQ+ nightclub, Vlada’s Lounge, a beloved sanctuary in Hell’s Kitchen whose spirit still lives on in the people it brought together.