{{Short description|Russian beauty influencer (born 1979)}} {{Infobox person | name = Victoria Bonya | native_name= {{nobold|Виктория Боня}} | native_name_lang=ru |image = Victoria Bonya Cannes.jpg |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|11|27|df=y}} |birth_place = Krasnokamensk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |education = {{ill|lt=Moscow State University of Food Production|Russian Biotechnological University|ru|Российский биотехнологический университет}}<br/>Ostankino Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting |occupation = Model, blogger, media personality, social activist }} '''Victoria Anatolyevna Bonya''' ({{Langx|ru|Виктория Анатольевна Боня}}; born 27 November 1979<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victoria Bonya |url=https://www.kinoafisha.info/en/person/8368916/ |website=Kinoafisha}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-05-22 |title=Victoria Bonya: A Sleepless Everest Ascent Dedicated to Mothers Around the World |url=https://sherpalegend.com/victoria-bonya-a-sleepless-everest-ascent-dedicated-to-mothers/ |access-date=2026-04-21 |website=Sherpa Legend |language=en-US}}</ref>) is a Russian beauty influencer, model and media personality. In 2026, she spoke out against the alleged sluggish reaction to floods in Dagestan, charged that the government cruelly mismanaged cattle culls in Siberia, and tightening restrictions on online social networks, among other things.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 April 2026 |title=Russian blogger whose angry appeal to Putin went viral hits back after state TV attack |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/russian-blogger-whose-angry-appeal-putin-went-viral-hits-back-after-state-tv-2026-04-20/ |access-date=18 May 2026 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Сибирские фермеры продолжают протестовать против забоя домашнего скота Пользователи инстаграма их возмущение горячо поддерживают — и превращают его в борьбу за свободу интернета |url=https://meduza.io/feature/2026/03/18/sibirskie-fermery-prodolzhayut-protestovat-protiv-zaboya-domashnego-skota |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=Meduza |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Забой скота в Новосибирской и других областях: реакция знаменитостей и органов власти, теории заговора |url=https://lenta.ru/twz/chto-proiskhodit/rossiiskie-zvezdy-trebuyut-ostanovit-sozhzhenie-korov-chto-nuzhno-znat-ob-izyatii-skota-v-sibiri.htm |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=Lenta.ru|language=ru}}</ref>
== Biography == After moving to Moscow, Bonya embarked on a modeling career. Having become a prize-winner in the Beauty of Russia pageant, she represented Russia in 2001 at the Miss Earth international beauty contest, held in the Philippines.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8hXM84oD3g Виктория Боня на конкурсе Мисс Земля 2001] </ref>
She graduated from the Moscow State University of Food Production (now Russian Biotechnological University) with a degree in accounting. In 2004, she completed the Ostankino Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting, qualifying as a television and radio journalist.
In 2006, she began working on national television. She gained widespread fame thanks to her participation in the reality show ''Dom-2''. She has appeared in several movies and TV shows, as well as music videos of Russian pop stars, including Timati, Dima Bilan, Mitya Fomin, MakSim, and Egor Kreed.<ref>{{cite web| author =Ольга Родина| date =2011-02-08| publisher =Woman.ru| url =http://www.woman.ru/stars/events/article/59836/| title =Виктория Боня снялась в клипе МакSим| access-date =}}</ref>
Victoria Bonya was mentioned in the 2018 Russian comedy movie ''What Men Talk About. Continuation'' as an example of ''famous for being famous''.<ref>[https://sberbankaktivno.ru/journal/article/813 Кинопремьера недели: «О чём говорят мужчины. Продолжение»] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322234643/https://sberbankaktivno.ru/journal/article/813}} [https://adme.media/svoboda-kultura/chto-takoe-fenomen-selebriti-i-pochemu-vokrug-nas-stanovitsya-vse-bolshe-lyudej-kotorye-znamenity-neponyatno-pochemu-2511497/comments/]</ref>
== Personal life == In 2009, Bonya had a romance with FC Spartak Moscow forward Welliton, who proposed to her on the very first day, though she took it as a joke. According to Bonya, Spartak head coach, Valery Karpin was against their relationship as he spoke negatively about her and meddled excessively in Welliton's private life.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sovsport.ru/news/text-item/409281 |title=Виктория Боня: Ради России готова выйти замуж за Веллитона! |access-date=2010-09-21}}</ref>
For several years, she cohabited with Alexander Smurfit, the son of Irish millionaire Sir Michael Smurfit, whom she met in Moscow in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3270087/who-alexander-smurfit-hunky-businessman-spotted-alessandra-ambrosio-son-irish-multimillionaire-sir |title= Who is Alexander Smurfit, the hunky businessman spotted with Alessandra Ambrosio?|lang=en|website=South China Morning Post |date=2024-07-11}}</ref><ref name="rasst">{{Cite web|url=https://ru.hellomagazine.com/zvezdy/zvezdnye-pary/19215-viktoriya-bonya-podtverdila-rasstavanie-s-aleksom-smerfitom.html|title=Виктория Боня подтвердила расставание с Алексом Смерфитом|date=2017-02-04|website=ru.hellomagazine.com}}</ref> On 17 March 2012, their daughter Angelina Letitia Smurfit was born.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ru.hellomagazine.com/deti/deti-znamenitostey/32-viktoriya-bonya-o-svoey-seme-i-pereezde-v-monako.html|title=Виктория Боня о своей семье и переезде в Монако|lang=ru|website=ru.hellomagazine.com|access-date=2020-11-30}}</ref> Since 2011, she has resided in Cap-d'Ail, located right next to Monaco. She rarely visits Moscow, and only for work.<ref>{{Cite web|lang=ru|url=https://ru.hellomagazine.com/zvezdy/intervyu-i-video/123-viktoriya-bonya-o-muzhe-peremenakh-v-zhizni-i-kare.html|title=Виктория Боня о муже, переменах в жизни и карьере во Франции|website=ru.hellomagazine.com|access-date=2020-11-30}}</ref> The couple separated in 2017 but remained on friendly terms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thevoicemag.ru/stars/news/29-12-2015/viktoriya-bonya-otvetila-na-obvineniya-v-tom-chto-ona-rabotala-v-eskort-uslugah/|title=Виктория Боня ответила на обвинения в том, что она работала в эскорт-услугах|lang=ru-RU|website=www.thevoicemag.ru|access-date=2024-04-26}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://vm.ru/news/905333-zaglyadyvayu-v-karman-a-u-menya-tam-tysyacha-dollarov-bonya-dala-sovety-po-eskortu|title=Боня рассказала о заработанной в 18 лет на свидании тысяче долларов|lang=ru|website=Evening Moscow|access-date=2024-04-26}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://woman.rambler.ru/stars/41096591-bonya-priznalas-v-okazanii-eskort-uslug/|title=Боня призналась в оказании эскорт услуг|lang=ru|website=Rambler|date=2018-10-22|access-date=2024-04-26}}</ref>
== Social activism == In 2020, Bonya attracted attention for spreading conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic, which drew widespread criticism. However, she ultimately decided to abandon her views and publicly announced that she had been vaccinated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thevoicemag.ru/stars/news/01-10-2021/ya-shokiruyu-mnogih-viktoriya-bonya-pokazala-kak-vakcinirovalas-ot-koronavirusa/|title=«Я шокирую многих»: Виктория Боня показала, как вакцинировалась от коронавируса|lang=ru|website=www.thevoicemag.ru|access-date=2024-06-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aif.ru/health/coronavirus/bonya_koronavirus_i_5g_vypusknica_doma_2_propagandiruet_teoriyu_zagovora|title=Боня, коронавирус и 5G. Выпускница «Дома-2» пропагандирует теорию заговора|author=Andrey Sidorchik|website=Argumenty i Fakty|date=2020-04-23|access-date=2021-03-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvrain.ru/teleshow/vechernee_shou/fejki-507528/|title=Боня и рептилоиды. Как российские звезды несут в массы конспирологию о Covid-19|author=|website=TV Rain|date=2020-04-23|access-date=2021-03-26}}</ref>
She described the boycott of Russia and Belarus imposed in 2022 as "genocide".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://super.ru/a/bonyaonegative |title=«Это пахнет геноцидом». Виктория Боня рассказала об отношении к россиянам на Западе |access-date=2023-05-22}}</ref>
On 13 April 2026, she posted an 18-minute video on Instagram in which she spoke out against the blocking of Telegram in Russia and against mismanaged cattle culls in Novosibirsk Oblast, among other things, prompting reactions from the Russian media and officials, including Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://meduza.io/feature/2026/03/18/sibirskie-fermery-prodolzhayut-protestovat-protiv-zaboya-domashnego-skota|title=Сибирские фермеры продолжают протестовать против забоя домашнего скота Пользователи инстаграма их возмущение горячо поддерживают — и превращают его в борьбу за свободу интернета|lang=ru|website=Meduza|access-date=2026-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lenta.ru/twz/chto-proiskhodit/rossiiskie-zvezdy-trebuyut-ostanovit-sozhzhenie-korov-chto-nuzhno-znat-ob-izyatii-skota-v-sibiri.htm|title=Забой скота в Новосибирской и других областях: реакция знаменитостей и органов власти, теории заговора|lang=ru|website=lenta.ru|access-date=2026-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |author = |editor= |format= |url= https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/04/26/the-fashion-influencer-speaking-truth-to-putin |title= The fashion influencer speaking truth to Putin |type= |orig-year= | agency = |journal= The Economist |location= |date= |year= |publisher= |at= |volume= |issue= |number= |pages = |page= |series= |isbn = |issn = 0013-0613 |doi = |bibcode = |arxiv = |pmid = |ref= |archive-url = |archive-date = |language= |quote= }} </ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rtvi.com/news/v-rossii-otvetili-na-obrashhenie-boni-k-putinu/ |title=В России ответили на обращение Бони к Путину |website=rtvi.com|date=2026-04-15 |archive-date= |archive-url= |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kp.ru/daily/27774/5237273/ |title=В Кремле растрогали Викторию Боню: блогерша расплакалась, узнав, что там посмотрели ее обращение Владимиру Путину |website=kp.ru |date=2026-04-16 |archive-date= |archive-url= |url-status=live}}</ref> The video garnered over 10 million views within the first hour, reaching 30 million views after five days. Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party, stated that Bonya’s message should be taken seriously if the Kremlin wished to avoid a repeat of the 1917 Russian Revolution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2026/04/23/1192390-v-kprf-utochnili-opaseniya-zyuganova-o-povtorenii-1917-goda |title=В КПРФ уточнили опасения Зюганова о возможном повторении 1917 года |website=Vedomosti |date=2026-04-23 |archive-date= |archive-url= |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8607485 |title=Зюганов позавидовал реакции Кремля на обращение Бони |website=Kommersant |date=2026-04-22 |archive-date= |archive-url= |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kprf.ru/party-live/cknews/243204.html |title=Геннадий Зюганов: «Вершиной отечественного парламентаризма стала власть Советов» |website=kprf.ru |date=2026-04-21 |archive-date= |archive-url= |url-status=live}}</ref>
== Hobbies == Bonya is passionate about mountaineering and expedition climbing. In September 2022, she took part in an expedition to Manaslu in the Himalayas led by Nirmal Purja.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explorersweb.com/everest-manaslu-rope-fixers-speeding-along/|title=Everest & Manaslu: Rope Fixers Speeding Along » Explorersweb|lang=en|first=Angela|last=Benavides|website=Explorersweb|date=2022-09-09|access-date=2024-12-22}}</ref> The climb was cut short due to severe weather and avalanches. Several climbers lost their lives during the attempt.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://life.ru/p/1527201|title=Боня чудом осталась жива, когда смертоносная лавина сметала всё на пути|lang=ru|website=Life.ru|date=2022-09-28|access-date=2024-12-22}}</ref> In January 2023, she joined an expedition to the Ojos del Salado volcano.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazeta.ru/culture/news/2023/01/13/19476247.shtml|title=Виктория Боня записала видео со склона вулкана и попросила маму не волноваться за её здоровье|lang=ru|website=Gazeta.Ru|date=2024-12-22|access-date=2024-12-22}}</ref> On 28 August 2024, she summited Mont Blanc du Tacul.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thevoicemag.ru/lifestyle/news/29-08-2024/ya-chuvstvovala-zapah-smerti-bylo-jutko-viktoriya-bonya-pokorila-pervuyu-vershinu-gory-monblan/|title=«Я чувствовала запах смерти. Было жутко»: Виктория Боня покорила первую вершину горы Монблан|lang=ru|website=thevoicemag.ru|access-date=2024-12-22}}</ref> On 25 September 2024, she reached the summit of Manaslu.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://life.ru/p/1690408|title=Боня развернула флаг России на восьмитысячнике в Гималаях|lang=ru|website=Life.ru|date=2024-09-26|access-date=2024-12-22}}</ref> On 19 May 2025, she conquered the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.m24.ru/articles/shou-biznes/20052025/798718 |title="Многие погибли": Виктория Боня поделилась жуткими подробностями восхождения на Эверест |date=2025-05-20 |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Moscow 24}}</ref>
== Filmography == * ''Univer'' (2010) as Polina Romanova/Oxana Zozulya (16 episodes) * ''8 First Dates'' (2012) as wedding planner * ''Cinderella'' (2012) as herself * ''Maximum Impact'' (2017) as girl by the pool at the cigar club
==Notes== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonya, Victoria}} Category:1979 births Category:21st-century Russian actresses Category:Living people Category:People from Krasnokamensky District Category:Russian female models Category:Russian women bloggers Category:21st-century Russian actresses Category:Russian women television personalities Category:COVID-19 conspiracy theorists Category:Russian conspiracy theorists Category:Russian emigrants to Monaco Category:Russian emigrants to France Category:Russian summiteers of Mount Everest