The transformation of the persona of Volodymyr Zelenskyy: from a “gay” dancer to a smart and reassuring politician and military leader
By Marica Micallef
President Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy (born 25 January 1978) is a former comedian and actor, who served as the sixth and current President of Ukraine since 2019.
Born into a family of Ukrainian Jewish descent, Zelenskyy grew up as a native Russian speaker in Kryvyi Rih, a large city in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in central Ukraine. Before pursuing an acting career, he graduated in law from Kyiv National University of Economics. He later pursued a career in comedy and founded the production company Kvartal 95, which produces films, cartoons, and television shows, including the television series Servant of the People, in which Zelenskyy played the main role of the President of Ukraine.[1]
What is interesting is the transformation that happened in the persona of Zelenskyy. From a dancer wearing tight leather clothing, dancing in heels with three other men, and doing the locomotion with all the moves in and out, including touching and squeezing the behind of another male dancer or participating in gay parades, he is today the face of strong masculinity.
As his address to the Maltese parliament shows, the choreography of this man has now completely changed but the learned acting and dancing techniques are definitely helping him to present a reassuring political and military image in this period of crisis for Ukraine.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volodymyr_Zelenskyy