Russian Beauty Influencer Dasha Taran Opens Up About Struggling to Make Friends Her Own Age in South Korea

Dasha Taran, the Russian-born beauty who ranked second on last year’s 100 Most Beautiful Faces list, is again turning heads—not just for her stunning looks but for her honest reflections on life in South Korea.

On Monday, Taran appeared on KBS JOY’s Ask Us AnythingFortune Teller and shared her challenges in forming friendships, especially with people her own age.

Taran, a model and social media influencer with 6 million Instagram followers and 13 million TikTok followers, has lived in South Korea since 2021. Despite her massive online presence, she confessed that connecting with people her own age has been difficult.

“I get along well with older people, but I don’t have any friends my age. I’m not sure how to connect with people, my peers,” she said on the show.

When host Lee Soo Geun expressed surprise, suggesting that many might want to be her friend, Taran explained, “When people find out about my large following, they often just want to collaborate on content. It’s disheartening. I genuinely want to form real friendships.”

In addition to discussing her social life, Taran shared her love for Korean food and culture. “I love goat stew. I first discovered it thanks to my agency’s CEO,” she said.

Taran also revealed her fascination with Korea’s unique traditions, including walking barefoot in parks. “I saw older people walking barefoot and got curious, so I tried it. It actually made me feel better. Since then, I’ve been doing it almost every day,” she smiled.

Her enthusiasm for Korean culture extends to traditional health practices, including cupping therapy. “I’ve also visited traditional Korean medicine clinics. I think cupping therapy is great,” she said, giving off a truly Korean vibe.

Another guest on the show, Seo Jang Hoon, jokingly commented, “It sounds like you’re living the life of a 50-year-old with no friends your age.”

When asked about her ideal type, Taran admitted that while personality is more important than looks, she does have a soft spot for one celebrity: Cha Eun Woo, a member of the K-pop group ASTRO.

Seo Jang Hoon quipped, “I thought you said looks don’t matter!” which prompted laughter from the audience.

Later, Seo Jang Hoon offered some advice for Taran, saying, “To make friends your age, you should improve your Korean a bit more. It will make things much easier. Also, don’t trust people too quickly.”