Inspiring Conversations with Anya Berlova

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anya Berlova.

Anya, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Back when I was in school, I saw instances of bullying happen to different people and this is what initially brought my attention to the topic. I started doing research about the psychology behind bullying as well as its consequences and became more and more aware of how big and global this problem really is. In the US, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2019, one out of five people reported being bullied at school. That’s pretty scary to think about.

From the beginning, I felt really connected to the idea of using creative tools to spread positivity and empower people. I believe that art is an incredibly powerful tool for spreading ideas. Each form of expression that art encompasses, whether it is an illustration, fashion, film, etc., is a unique language that speaks to each viewer in its own way, but it’s also a universal language that can be understood and experienced by many.

In my freshman year of undergrad at CU Boulder, I launched Anya Berlova Studio, which combines creative initiatives in illustration, animation, film, and fashion. My company’s mission has been to encourage people to build resilience against bullying and peer pressure and embrace what makes them unique.

I would like to mention that support is such an important thing. Gaining support for the anti-bullying cause hasn’t always been easy, and I’ve been really grateful for those who have shown it. For instance, my fashion launch event was supported by Zayo, and it was so wonderful to see members of the Boulder and Denver communities come together to talk about bullying and youth empowerment. Also, I’ve had the chance to hold pop-up shops at Nordstrom, Free People, and Urban Outfitters and further engage people in meaningful conversations. I’m also thankful to the Colorado Department of Education for the support and attention to my work.

During my senior year, I was invited to give my first TED talk titled “What apes can teach us about bullying.” It was really exciting to have the opportunity to share my thoughts through such an incredible platform. Since then, I’ve given three more TED talks, both in the US and the UK. You can find my talks on YouTube and TED.com :).

Currently, I am a PhD student at Yale University so this is one of my focus areas. Also, I am continuing to work on projects through Anya Berlova Studio and holding workshops at middle and high schools around Colorado (virtually and in-person when possible). I am really passionate about starting youth-to-youth conversations about the key aspects of confidence-building, bullying in relation to art and film, and other topics. My goal is to deliver informative content in a way that’s entertaining and engaging for students.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The number one struggle has been to get people to believe in the importance of trying to prevent bullying. Often people think that it’s too difficult an issue to do something about. Some believe it’s just a “young people” issue that you grow out of. Maybe the quantity of bullying decreases as people go into adulthood, but the consequences of bullying experienced as a child or teen can last a lifetime. And as I already mentioned, some people think it’s too widespread and can’t be solved. But, doing something, anything that might help someone, somewhere is better than doing nothing. As the saying goes, “little strokes fell great oaks.”

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The mission of Anya Berlova Studio is to encourage people to build resilience against bullying and peer pressure and embrace what makes them unique. One of my initiatives includes a fashion collection that can be found on my website, anyaberlova.com. The collection includes shirts, sweatshirts, and tote bags with illustrations and slogans I’ve created.

Fashion is a powerful art form, both as an expression of someone’s individuality and a means to spread important ideas and messages. I want the fashion line to appeal to people of different ages and genders and for every person who wears or carries items from my collection to feel confident and empowered.

Some of the items feature a drawn sheep named Sheepers and a pug named Puggie. Sheepers and Puggie are my startup’s mascots. I have an art and photography series on Instagram (@anyaberlovaofficial) that follows their adventures as they travel the world and respond to different events. I also make short humorous animations with the characters (Youtube: Anya Berlova Studio). This is one of the recent ones featuring “As It Was” by Harry Styles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tx7PWbwsJI People have bonded with Sheepers and Puggie and the positivity that they carry. In a way, they are like virtual companions and travel buddies.

Also, on the film side, I have been working on a narrative short film that captures a story of bullying, loneliness, betrayal, friendship, and hope. It is currently in post-production. I hope that by watching this film, people who are going through challenges will feel that they are not alone in their experiences and that there is always a way out of a situation. Also, maybe after watching, some bullies will realize certain things and stop. This project is created by youth, for youth. My team is composed of university and high school students and faculty members and includes people from diverse backgrounds to express a range of perspectives.

As mentioned earlier, in connection with my work through Anya Berlova Studio, I also hold workshops at middle and high schools around Colorado. Students learn about and discuss topics like the key aspects of confidence-building, bullying in relation to art and film, and others. There’s even some drawing involved :). I try to deliver each workshop in a way that’s informative but also fun for students. I really enjoy connecting with students through the workshops. It’s quite special.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think it’s important to have perseverance and passion for making an impact. Small steps or big steps, keep working towards it. In general, nowadays, many people receive negative comments online and they can feel discouraged. I came up with a slogan for these situations: Sayonara, Haters ®. “Sayonara” means “goodbye” in Japanese.
Be passionate about what you do and do things that are important to you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://anyaberlova.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anyaberlovaofficial/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-uvDKmpmIeqL_7XXUo8F-g 

Image Credits
Personal photo by Jackie Nunnally