"Justin Timberlake got me"

Kristina Lefterova, a resident of Yekaterinburg, became famous on social media and became an enviable bride after Justin Timberlake's concert at the end of July. During the show, the girl held up a poster addressed to the artist, asking him to help her get married and with her phone number on the back of the sheet. The moment was shown on the stadium's big screen, and numerous videos filmed by the audience were posted online. As a result, Kristina received several thousand marriage proposals. Kristina told Izvestia in an interview about what the candidates for husbands wrote, why she decided to ask Timberlake for help and why she became disillusioned with dating sites.

"I just wanted to have some fun."

— How did you come up with the idea to ask Justin Timberlake for help in getting married?

— There was no strategy. I just wanted to have some fun. Actually, it turned out that way, but on a bigger scale than I thought (laughs). I got to this concert, one might say, by accident. A few days before the show, my friend had a change of plans, and she put her ticket up for sale, and I decided to pick it up. I usually choose the seats on the podium because I'm small, but it turned out to be in the fan zone, and I thought I'd have to stand out in the crowd somehow. I just wanted to be shown on the screen, that's all. That's how the idea to make a poster came about. I decided to write to Justin.: "Help me get married." A friend suggested leaving a phone number on the back — it's unlikely that anyone will see the poster, but maybe someone will call. It seemed to me that the idea was normal. I bought a drawing paper and drew it just a few hours before the plane.

The maximum plan was to take a picture with a poster and tag Justin on social media, which was fun and cool. But I was noticed. There was a slight hitch at the beginning of the concert — the stadium lights were turned off and Justin started talking to the audience. At that moment, I held up the poster, and the crowd carried me forward. Justin was surprised: "Can I help you get married? For whom? Baby, I'm married." I say, "Not you! Tell my future husband to call me!" I turned the poster around, and he said, "Oh! Is this her number? Good luck!" (Laughs.) Everyone started clapping and shouting — a lot of people supported me!

— Did the messages immediately start pouring in?

— I didn't have a connection at the concert, I set the airplane mode, so I didn't suspect anything — I was shooting a video, dancing. And when I turned on my phone afterwards, I started getting messages saying "Marry me!" I thought: "Cool!" But there were more and more of them. It turned out that the video with me was posted on some local portals. And the tin started — messages and calls every 10 seconds! In this mode, it is impossible to single out someone or communicate with someone. WhatsApp (part of Meta, the organization is recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation) probably received more than 3 thousand messages. That's a lot! Two days later, my account was blocked, and I got some rest. Then they started writing on Telegram and social media, but not in such numbers anymore. The majority are Azerbaijanis, and there are Poles, Germans, and Russians. I would not like to change the number, it is over 15 years old. I think this hype is not endless. But if this goes on for a very long time, I will think about it.

"Justin, thank you! I got married!"

— How many marriage proposals have there been out of all this multitude?

— Every second! Almost everyone wrote: "Marry me," "Tomorrow at nine at the registry office," "Justin gave me your phone number so I could marry you," and so on. They sent their own photos and full resumes — name, age, profession. Someone wrote: "I'm at the casting, waiting for my turn." By the way, there was no such thing as sending any vulgarities. Some people with a sense of humor wrote: "A street in the city will be named after you," "Now the whole of Baku is waiting for your wedding! We're all coming!"

I was a little scared because a lot of people recognized me — at the hotel, the guide during the tour. They told me, "Oh, the girl with the poster!" But, in general, it was safe enough for me in Azerbaijan. The Caucasians are hot, but there was no lawlessness. And I've been trying not to go out for the last two days—to stay at the hotel more. Naturally, the whole plane recognized me too. Everyone wished for the best husband.

— Have you made any other attempts to find him? It seems that today, in the age of dating apps, young people, oddly enough, have trouble finding a partner.

— I have quite a lot of dating experience in the past. At one point, I was interested in getting to know people I couldn't meet in real life. Maybe then I had more free time for it. But after some regular date, you realize that everything happens about the same way: you come in, you tell the same thing about yourself. I became disillusioned with dating sites and moved away from everywhere. This is a completely closed topic for me.

I am currently working as a fitness trainer. I have a taboo — I don't communicate with the club's clients outside its walls. It turns out to be a vicious circle: I work a lot, I don't get to know each other there, I don't visit websites. But now everyone knows that my heart is free! (Laughs.)

— Is there a positive result?

— Yes, I'm talking to several people now. They are quite humorous. You could say I was wooed by Justin Timberlake. If something comes of it, I'll go to his next concert and make the last poster in my life: "Justin, thank you! I got married!" (Laughs.) I'll have to invite him and the whole of Baku to the wedding! Whatever comes out of it is a very vivid impression that has lifted my mood and self—esteem! My WhatsApp was unblocked this morning, and I received a message from his team inviting me to a concert in Turkey, but it took place yesterday.