In a world that constantly praises thinness, Kristina Karyagina’s story is a haunting reminder of how far that ideal can be pushed—and how devastating the consequences can be. Her photos once went viral for all the wrong reasons. Weighed down by the weight of expectations—yet weighing only 17 kilograms—Kristina’s body told a story the world couldn’t ignore.
But behind those images is a far deeper struggle, one that began with academic pressure and spiraled into a life-threatening battle with anorexia.
Video: The first successes of Nizhny Novgorod doctors in treating the thinnest girl in the country
A High Achiever on the Edge
Kristina’s descent began during her final year of high school. While most teens were juggling exams and friendships, Kristina had her sights set on university. Her days were consumed by study. Meals, however, were barely a thought.
An apple. A banana. That’s all she ate in a day—if that. Food became optional. Her weight dropped fast. Her parents warned her. She didn’t listen. The scale kept falling, and so did her health.
By the time she entered college, she weighed just 17kg—the same as a healthy six-year-old. Despite graduating with honors, no employer was willing to hire someone whose body was failing.
The Internet Reacts to Her “Corpse-Like” Appearance
Photos of Kristina shocked social media users worldwide. Her thin frame drew cruel comparisons to horror movie corpses. Some were horrified. Others mocked her. Very few understood what they were truly seeing: a girl slowly vanishing inside a disease that had consumed her from the inside out.
It wasn’t a lifestyle choice. It was anorexia nervosa—one of the deadliest mental illnesses on the planet.
A Glimmer of Hope on National Television
In 2016, Kristina appeared on the Russian talk show “Let Them Talk.” For the first time, she shared her truth publicly. Her story caught the attention of Maria Kokhno, a Russian reality TV star and former anorexia survivor herself.
Maria saw herself in Kristina’s eyes. She didn’t scroll past. She stepped in.
Using her Instagram platform—boasting over 500,000 followers—Maria launched a campaign to fund Kristina’s treatment. She introduced Kristina to Dr. Yan Goland, the same specialist who helped her recover. Dr. Goland, moved by Kristina’s condition, agreed to take on the case without charge.
The Toll of Anorexia: A Disease That Devours From Within
Anorexia isn’t just about refusing food. It’s a mental health disorder rooted in control, body dysmorphia, and overwhelming fear of gaining weight. According to Dr. Goland, untreated anorexia slowly strips the body of muscle, bone density, hormones, and hope. It can cause permanent organ damage, infertility, and even death.
Kristina’s condition was dire. Her body had already reached critical levels of malnutrition. But the biggest battle? It wasn’t physical—it was mental.
Video: What does the thinnest girl in Russia look like today? Let Them Talk heroine Kristina Koryagina 10
A Long Road With No Easy Fixes
Kristina and her mother traveled to Nizhny Novgorod in hopes of turning things around. The world watched, hoping she would gain weight, recover, and reclaim her life.
But recovery from anorexia isn’t a straight path. After two years of treatment, there was little visible progress. In early 2020, Kristina took a step back from the spotlight, shutting down her public Instagram and retreating into privacy.
In her last public post, she appeared beside her grandmother—still painfully thin, but alive. She asked fans to stop asking about her weight. The message was clear: she wanted space. She needed peace.
The Internet’s Obsession and the Problem With Public Healing
What Kristina’s story also highlights is society’s uncomfortable obsession with watching people suffer. Her viral fame wasn’t based on support—it was based on shock value. Instead of compassion, she received judgment. Instead of privacy, she got attention she never asked for.
That level of exposure would exhaust anyone—let alone someone fighting for their life.
Behind the Bones: Remembering the Girl, Not the Image
Before anorexia took over, Kristina was a happy, chubby little girl like anyone else. She laughed. She played. She had dreams. Somewhere along the way, those dreams were replaced by numbers—on exams, on the scale, and in calorie counts.
Let’s not forget the human behind the headlines. Kristina isn’t just “that girl who weighed 17kg.” She’s someone’s daughter. Someone’s friend. And someone still fighting for recovery.
Kristina’s journey isn’t wrapped in a bow. It doesn’t have a perfect ending. And maybe that’s the point.
Eating disorders don’t resolve in neat timelines. They take years to unlearn, and even longer to heal from. What Kristina’s story teaches us is the importance of early intervention, mental health support, and a little more empathy in the digital age.
The next time you see someone who looks unwell, don’t ask them how much they weigh. Don’t share their photo as clickbait. Instead, ask how you can help. And remember: the bravest battles are often the ones we can’t see.