Written by: Kristýna Vondrová
Our ambassador Terezia Kovalová about the Donio campaign and intimacy. A world-class cellist, a talented model, holder of the Forbes 30 under 30 title. And also an open Ostrava woman who is not afraid to talk about burnout, low self-esteem, and her own vulnerability. Terezie Kovalová, a long-time ambassador for Whoop·de·doo, has a crowdfunding campaign right now to release her record Zinka. A great opportunity for a joint conversation about intimacy and harnesses.
Congratulations on the successful launch of your Donio campaign for Zink’s debut album. Your presentation is remarkably candid, from burnout to a failed investment. Did you write it this personally from the start, or begin with a more factual version?
A variant with an austere version of the story also flashed through my head. But it was the kind of thought that makes you laugh right away. You just know it can't be. When working on myself, the most important thing is to be open and settled in what is happening to me. Then no one can harm me with it. And I keep getting confirmation that that transparency really does open doors. People appreciate that I'm sharing something they'd like to name out loud too, but they're afraid.
You also mention the end of your marriage. How do you view marriage as a legal and social institution—does it still make sense today?
It certainly still makes sense from a pragmatic point of view, for example with regard to the health side. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so much fighting for marriage for all. It does bring benefits to marriage. But for me it is only one form of interpersonal relationship. I always wanted everyone to do their own thing openly and contentedly. If it's a marriage, let it be fun!
How do you decide how much of your private life to share with fans—or Instagram haters? Are there any no-go areas?
I set the most boundaries (for any people around me) in topics that I haven't experienced so much yet, I don't have that much awareness about them. With psychedelics, I opened this topic publicly almost two years after I underwent assisted psychedelic therapy. When something is an experienced fact for me, I see no reason why not to talk about it, I'm more surprised that not everyone is talking about it.
The album’s central motif is “looking in the mirror”—not only seeing your reflection, but exploring the world beyond the looking glass, as in Alice in Wonderland. What helps you follow the white rabbit: psychoactive substances, relationships or ambitious new projects?
Substances are definitely a way, although it is diametrically different from how people imagine consuming psychedelics, because it is subject to strict therapeutic rules. The hunt for the rabbit is complemented by classical therapy, currently also coaching, hypnotherapy, dynamic meditation, which came to me as a great option for reconfiguring the response of the nervous system. I also write my own affirmations that I let go to sleep. And then also writing a journal and a book. Pour it all out.
Your Donio campaign offers some original rewards. We were especially drawn to the limited-edition harnesses by Darkmatter Lingerie, a long-standing collaborator. How did the idea come about, and where do you wear yours?
Harnesses came to mind right away, because we've worked together with Darkmatter in the past. The owner Klára is a very feminine, petite brunette with incredible strength who inspires me a lot, so I didn't hesitate to contact her with the idea of making harnesses more accessible for everyday wear. I love them, I wear them basically everywhere. I am having fun taking them to an event where they wouldn't expect something like this. Pairing it with a conservative classic outfit changes its tone quite fantastically. Anyway, I was aware that it would be nice to make versions that are comfortably wearable, but also gender neutral.
Since the Darkmatter name touches on darkness: do you have an unfulfilled sexual fantasy, a favourite masturbation scenario or a recurring kinky dream? We hear gay porn and intellect are your biggest turn-ons.
I have to say that this is a great example of taking things out of context. I don't blame you, I'm having a lot of fun myself, it couldn't have turned out any other way. The fact is, I'm an audiophile and I'm primarily excited by sound, meaning voice, secondarily by intellect and personality. I often come across some kind of fakeness in hetero porn, my sweet little ear just knows when it's fake, especially (and unfortunately) especially with women. To me, standard straight porn is a screaming female and a silent male. The exception was the porn actor Rocco Sifredi, but he still makes quite brutal pictures.
When I once stumbled across male masturbation videos to gay porn, my excitement about male audio expressions confused me. What my brain is telling me, am I gay in a woman's body? :-D But then I came across an article about audio porn and it clicked. This is how I have my partner's recordings today, and when I'm alone I don't need to look for any porn.
Kinky fantasy is probably about going to a sex party. My partner and I are voyeurs, we like to make love, and we've never been anywhere like this before. I have a lot of kinky friends in Berlin, so we'll probably go there. Then a friend dug out an erotic hanging swing, like from Sex in the City, so I'm looking forward to installing it.
I see great hope in generation Z, which is not afraid to open up certain topics much more.
You play several musical instruments. What about intimate aids—do you enjoy using them? Which is the beloved “cello” in your collection?
I like to use it regularly. First place is my favorite Whoop·de·doo vibrator. I have a Smile Makers external vibrator (The Firefighter model) to go with it. I was blown away that it was sold at Sephora. And a friend recently gave us toys with suction cups, so I'm looking forward to trying them out.
Zinka, the album title, began as a nickname—a shorter form of Terezinka coined by a colleague. What nicknames do you and your current partner Vítězslav use for each other?
Bobs, bobbies and puffies, sweethearts and sweethearts, loves and lovebirds, we have a lot and it's more or less about the mood. Sometimes we make up a complete phantasmagoria and use it for two days and then forget about it again. Most of all, we just have fun, we're both like two horses (as my dad says), so we try to enjoy it as much as possible.
When we last interviewed you in 2020 for the Own Your Colour podcast, you spoke about stopping hormonal contraception after 15 years and its effect on your mental and physical health. Is there a similarly important subject you’re exploring now?
I am currently dealing with my neurodivergence the most. Apparently I have ADHD and I'm also on the autism spectrum by all accounts. When I heard the diagnoses, so many things suddenly made sense to me. So with that in mind, I'm learning to reset my life functioning or social anxiety processing. Of course, I have a lot to do with psychedelics. Nothing has ever compared to how much they have helped me. It is definitely not for everyone, but I want to lobby for their availability to the general public.
You’ve been a long-time ambassador for our brand and an open voice on female intimacy. Have attitudes towards it changed over the past few years?
It is shifting, but it seems to me that it is rather slow. I see a lot of hope in Gen Z, who aren't afraid to open up about certain topics a lot more. I absolutely appreciate a podcast, for example Cast out the devil.
Terezia, thank you very much for the honest interview!
And if you also feel like an intimate musical confession, support the release of Zink's debut album at donio.cz.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed!
