Every family has a little drama. Granted, it's usually something along the lines of two uncles who aren't on speaking terms, or the mystery of grandma's missing gravy boat.
For Marina Balmasheva, a 37-year-old Russian influencer, she made headlines for leaving her ex-husband for his son (her stepson), who is 14 years her junior. And they just found out that they're expecting their second child together.
In fact, she helped raise Vladimir Shavyrin, now 23. The two begun having an affair in secret when Vladimir, a university student at the time, was visiting home while on holiday.
He is now alone in raising the five children he adopted with Balmasheva.
"She seduced my son… He had not had a girlfriend before her," he said.
"She was running to my son's bed from our bedroom when I was sleeping… After that she was coming back and lying in bed with me as if nothing had happened."
She claims that her previous marriage was "not living but pretending."
"Did I have regrets that I destroyed the family? Both yes and no. I was ashamed that I killed the stability of 'mum and dad.'"
"Do I feel anger and hatred towards him? Not any longer. He is a good person and a wonderful father to our children….
"How did children take the changes? Absolutely calmly."
"So many people tell me to use makeup - make lashes... because of my young husband," she said. "But there is one thing - he fell in love with me with all my scars from plastic surgeries, cellulite, excessive skin and personality"
Balmasheva gave birth to their daughter, Olga, in early 2021. According to Balmasheva, Shavyrin was not present for the birth.
In an Instagram post, Balmsheva posted the whole family happily posing with a positive pregnancy test, alongside a caption that reads, "We accept your hearts and sincere congratulations."
In the caption, she writes, "It's a strange feeling when you hear from a doctor: yes, that's it. Look... And you see her or him... Just three weeks on video."
"Although on this day we overate delicious fried ribs and there was nothing. But that means they figured it out without us."
