Misconceptions, prejudices, and societal stigmas have often led to shame and invasive, non-consensual surgeries for intersex minors. As the industry seeks to be more gender-inclusive, Russian twin sisters and cinema enthusiasts Sasha Komarova and Sonia Komarova reject the notion of being defined by a single gender. Sasha, who recently walked for Chloe's F/W runway, said, "Seeing more intersex people in the world and in the media can help destigmatize intersex individuals and shed light on the shame they feel." We spoke to the Komarova sisters about evolving identities, twin telepathy, and artistic freedom.

How and when were you discovered?
Sasha Komarova - I always dreamed of working in the fashion industry. You could say I had a passion for fashion. At the age of 16, I decided to try my luck and submitted some polaroids to a few agencies. Modeling seemed to be the easiest way to break into the industry, especially at such a young age.

Sonia Komarova - A year later, as I was figuring out how to start my modeling career, I knew who to turn to: my sister Sasha. They helped me a lot because they already knew the modeling world by then. I just went to Sasha's agency, and they took me under their wing.

What's the most surprising thing about you?
Sasha - I think most people are surprised that I am intersex. Especially because most people rarely encounter an openly intersex person, but I hope that will change soon.

Sonia - I learned how to play poker at the age of 10. Surprisingly, I'm still pretty bad at the game.

What does gender fluidity mean to you?
Sasha - I think gender, much like sexuality, is somewhat fluid for everyone. Our identities evolve over time. Right now, I don't identify with gender fluidity. I don't feel more like a woman one day and more like a man another day. I exist outside of that system. That's why I identify as non-binary.

Sonia - For me, choosing not to conform to gender roles signifies freedom. Identifying as non-binary is a way to connect something personal within me to the social role. I'm grateful that this option is available to people like me. I'm thankful for all the people who identified as non-binary before me because they not only made it easier but also more possible.

How would you describe your twin relationship?
Sasha - I adore Sonia. She's my favorite person in the world. We understand each other without even speaking most of the time, and we have very similar tastes in fashion, cinema, and music. We do argue sometimes, like all siblings, but our bond is very special to me.

Sonia - Sasha and I are the best friends in the world. We understand each other without saying anything; some might call it twin telepathy, but I think it's because we've spent a lot of time together and know each other like no one else. She's the only person with whom I never feel awkward.

What are your thoughts on recent actions taken against artists like Emmie America and Yulia Tsvetkova, who advocate for feminism and artistic freedom in Russia?
Sasha - Both of these women are artists, but in today's Russia, art equals activism. The fact that they are being punished by the law for exercising their right to freedom of expression makes me furious. Right now, in my country, there is no freedom of speech and expression. Emmie and Yulia are examples of that. It's important to understand that it could have been anyone in their place.

Sonia - It's infuriating that the current regime threatens the freedom of artists who address political topics in their work. It's an attack on human rights. I respect all the artists who continue to practice their art despite the dangers they face in Russia. Their courage is a tremendous source of inspiration.

How can increased representation and awareness of intersex individuals help dismantle societal stigmas?
Sasha - Intersex individuals can feel a lot of shame, and it comes from feeling different. Most people know nothing about intersex individuals, which is why they can be confused or negative toward our community. What's worse is that shame affects the medical treatment that intersex individuals receive and leads doctors to perform harmful cosmetic surgeries on intersex people, often before they can give consent. Seeing more intersex people in the world and in the media can help destigmatize intersex individuals and shed light on the shame they feel.

Sonia - All prejudices stem from a lack of knowledge. Today, it's considered brave to come out as intersex because you're sharing something that could invite negative comments your way. I'm fortunate, and I was amazed by the positive response I received after coming out. Being open may show that I'm proud to be myself rather than conforming to what others want me to be. I think the world is changing, with the modern ease of finding information, ignorance is no longer tolerated.

How can the industry be more inclusive of non-binary individuals?
Sasha - I'm fortunate to have a career in fashion. This industry can be very supportive and progressive, unlike other careers I could have chosen. Runway shows already break down gender barriers by having a single show featuring clothing for everyone, rather than gendered runway shows for two categories. However, agencies still have MEN and WOMEN sections on their boards and need to fit non-binary individuals into binary boxes.

Sonia - In my opinion, the exclusion of non-binary people in the fashion industry is largely caused by gendered clothing. This is something I'm very happy to see being rethought more and more today. Understanding that clothing has no gender could lead to dramatic changes where fashion could unite us instead of dividing us.

What are your goals for 2021?
Sasha - It's a challenging time to make plans. Everything can change in a matter of days. I simply appreciate working with creative people again and hope to be involved in more activism projects.

Sonia - I think many of us learned last year that it's important to be prepared for some of our plans not coming to fruition, to have hope but be prepared for rapid change. So, I'm open to the idea of seeing where this year takes me.

What are your other interests outside of modeling?
Sasha - I'm a huge fan of cinema and photography. I dream of being on a film set and working on a film production as a director of photography, director, or maybe even an actor someday. Right now, I'm mostly focused on photography and published my work for the first time this year.

Sonia - I'm a filmmaker, and it's been one of my passions since high school. I can talk about movies for hours. I can see myself applying my activism to film because it would be a different way to discuss things that interest me.

Which fashion designers would you like to work with but haven't met yet?
Sasha - I'm a big fan of Miuccia Prada and everything she does for Prada and Miu. I'm also very impressed with how Casey Cadwallader and Julien Dossena have managed to reinvent the iconic fashion houses of Mugler and Paco Rabanne, respectively. Those are runway shows I would be honored to be a part of.

Sonia - One of my big dreams is to work for Vivienne Westwood, the eco-punk queen of fashion. She and her brand are a huge source of inspiration for me.