In this story, we speak with Jenny Shcherbinina, a Russian entrepreneur and former professional model. Born and raised in the icy industrial city of Perm, near the Ural Mountains, Jenny left home at just 17 to pursue work in China. Her journey began not with glamour, but with grit. "My mom took half of her teacher's salary to prepare my luggage, food, medicine—everything I needed to face whatever was waiting," she recalls.
Her introduction to the modeling industry was a challenging experience. Under the scorching 35°C sun, she worked grueling 14-hour days draped in heavy winter coats. "My back was in pain, but I kept going," she says. It was her quiet endurance that set her apart. Where others complained, Jenny's resilience earned her respect. Chinese clients would later tell her, "Only Jenny can handle this kind of heat."
In 2021, a modeling contract brought Jenny to Hong Kong, and it didn't take long for the city to win her over. "It's not just a place—it feels like destiny," she tells us. "I fell in love with the city. With the people. And with my husband," she smiles. That encounter, at a rooftop bar in Lan Kwai Fong, would open a new chapter of her life—and Hong Kong would become, in her words, "my dream place to live."
Today, Jenny is far more than a model. She's an entrepreneur running a Russian grocery store called Slavic Feast, a volunteer who delivers food to elderly residents, and a Mandarin learner determined to bridge cultures. "I came here as a model, but now I know I'm more than just those past labels," she says. "I've found my place in this city."
Now married to a local Hong Kong man who she describes as "hardworking, respectful, mature—someone who makes me feel safe," Jenny continues to build a life beyond expectations. Even after gaining 12 kg, she jokes, "Maybe it's time I consider being a plus-size model!"
Looking back, she offers this advice to her younger self: "Don't listen too much to others. Follow your heart. Make your own mistakes. Learn your own lessons." What advice would Jenny give to those contemplating a similar risk? Jenny leaves them with a smile and a simple invitation: "Be brave. Come to Hong Kong. I believe it can become your second home too."
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