Blogger's Love for Bragino Goes Viral

— I am proud that I am from Yaroslavl, and I am proud that I am from Bragin. It seems to me that Bragino is the coolest district there is. Honestly! I«m telling you honestly! — a reel with this sincere confession flew into Instagram (an extremist organization whose activities are banned in Russia) with more than 100,000 views. Yaroslavl residents forwarded it to friends and acquaintances, and public pages reposted it on their pages.

The author of the video is 35-year-old blogger Ekaterina Korotaeva. We met her in the heart of the Dzerzhinsky district and talked about why she is in love with Bragino and what else she films videos about.

Became a blogger five months ago

Ekaterina says she became a blogger only five months ago.

— I wanted to try myself in this role. I had reels on various topics. But the one about Bragino got the most traction. I think because no one had filmed about it before, she said.

Her confession of love for her district, according to Ekaterina, is sincere.

— I live here, I like our district. I believe it is truly the most beautiful and the most wonderful. Just consider Pavlovskaya Grove and the 30th Anniversary of Victory Park. Not far away is Tolgsky Monastery — you can take a boat ride. Also, all the shops are nearby, there is a beach. In our yard there are new benches, a children«s playground, places to ride bikes, scooters, play football, walk the dog, she listed the advantages of the place where she lives.

Moved her Moscow husband to Bragino

The blogger has known the Dzerzhinsky district since childhood — she was born and raised here. But there was a time when Ekaterina lived elsewhere.

— At 23, I moved to Moscow. I was young, I wanted to work and live in the capital, explained Ekaterina.

There she met her future husband — a Muscovite. The couple had a wedding. And three years later, Ekaterina brought her spouse to her native Bragino.

— At first he didn«t like Yaroslavl very much, but then he changed his mind. Moscow is a city where you have to keep running, hurrying somewhere. But here it»s quiet, calm, soulful, says Ekaterina.

Previously the blogger was the son, now the mother

Now Ekaterina and her husband are raising a 10-year-old son.

— He also filmed videos about computers and games, then quit, but I, on the contrary, started, Ekaterina smiles.

Now the whole family supports Ekaterina in her hobby.

The topics of her reels are very diverse — outfits, jewelry, reviews of various places, food, stories about people of different professions. Ekaterina says that it was not at all scary for her to take out her phone and start filming in a public place for the first time.

— I was sure I would succeed. My goal is to show people, tell about what they do, what their profession is, what they can do with their hands. We have a lot of talented makeup artists, hairdressers, manicure and pedicure masters. I want to tell about these talented people. We also have many restaurants with wonderful cuisine — I would like more people to know about them, the blogger shared.

During the time Ekaterina has been running her blog, she has already made many new acquaintances. And she herself began to be recognized on the streets.

— Once a girl came up to me and asked to take a photo. It was unexpected and very pleasant, says Ekaterina.

She is recognized in stores and at the local Bragino market.

— People say hello, wish me success, the blogger said.

Criticism does not upset

Most of the videos Ekaterina records are positive.

— I think that in our time we really need positivity. Everything is fine with us, why should I be sad? I get up in the morning, go to the mirror and tell myself: «Today you are the coolest, most beautiful, smartest, most delightful woman in the world.» And I go and charge other people with this positivity, says the blogger.

Even criticism in the comments does not upset her.

— Under my videos there are more good comments. But criticism is also needed. Every person should have the right to express their opinion. I don«t delete anything, I don»t block anyone, Ekaterina admits.

She films videos on weekends

True, if at the beginning of her blogging career she read all the comments under posts, now she does not always have time to do this. After all, in addition to filming videos, Ekaterina also works. She is a florist by education, but now she works as a salesperson in a jewelry store.

— I work on a schedule of two days on, two days off. I spend my days off on the blog. I don«t plan much in advance. I walk around the district, look at new places. If I see something interesting, new, I go in and film, says Ekaterina.

Most often, the heroes of her videos are happy to be filmed, or at least have nothing against it. Although sometimes the blogger has faced refusals.

— Once I wanted to film a video in a restaurant, but I was asked not to do it. I left. And three days later they wrote to me and asked me to come back. This time I refused. I think if you don«t believe in me from the start, then we»re not on the same path, explained Ekaterina.

According to the blogger, she is already beginning to receive commercial offers and ideas for cooperation. Of course, all bloggers strive for this. But, as the Yaroslavl resident admitted, she is not yet ready to completely leave her job and devote herself only to the blog.

— I love my job and I«m not going to leave, she said.

«I want everyone to know Yaroslavl»

At the same time, Ekaterina does not intend to give up her blog. She has plans for further development.

— I want everyone to know our Yaroslavl. And for both residents and tourists to understand where they can go, where to relax, and have a great time. Not only in the center, but also in districts like Bragino, she says.

Until recently, Ekaterina only ran her blog on Instagram (an extremist organization banned in Russia). But now she is looking at other platforms. For example, she is creating her own community on VKontakte.

Ekaterina wishes her district further prosperity.

— I would like there to be even more children«s playgrounds, more development centers for kids, more restaurants and cafes with summer terraces. Then Bragino will become even more beautiful and cozier, she is convinced.

About the latest news from the Dzerzhinsky district:

They will fix the landscaping issues of the 30th Anniversary of Victory Park;

The sports and entertainment center «Atrium» is being completed;

The scandalous rock club was closed.