There is a wonderful phrase in the Georgian language, მზეს ეთამაშებს (mzes etamashebs), which translates literally as she plays with the sun and means she is very beautiful.
The two go together, enchanting idiom or not. Many people feel happier on a sunny day; many are inspired by even superficial beauty, and as in the above phrase, the idea of the sun’s rays dancing across a face creates more poetry than many would recognise. Just ask lovers of Johannes Vermeer.
Put simply, people place value on what they see as beautiful, and what’s beautiful has more impact on society than some may be willing to admit. At the very least, there’s no mystery why people want things – and people – to look nice, where possible, and no mystery similarly as to how enormous global industries have locked into this desire. Everything from clothes to cosmetics, holidays to cars, is sold to the consumer by pushing the right buttons by means of a pretty face, complete with smile where necessary.
Kazakhstan has contributed more than its fair share of the aesthetically pleasing to the world stage and is becoming more recognised for this, but the country is also willing to give opportunities to youngsters who have this ambition.
The KidsFace Model Agency is one of the market leaders, working with major global designers and labels to give their young talent the kind of opportunities many of them list as among their dreams.
At a press conference in Almaty on 12 July 2026, the founder of KidsFace, Aida Turdyn, spoke of both her pride in her work and in making sure that the young models she works with are prepared for the job with strong family values and in a safe environment. Her agency works very closely with parents to ensure that the kids are all comfortable with the role and liaises with agencies across the world that are similarly committed to safeguarding their well-being.
Their many models often take part in shows and photo sessions, and among their thousands of followers on social media are hundreds of parents whose children report loving the agency and wanting to repeat the experience.
“Our goal is for our children to be successful, but also for guests from other countries to come to us in Kazakhstan. That is, to build popularity in Kazakhstan and also develop tourism in the country. We invite international guests to visit us here.”
Later in July will see the first Kazakh participation in a major Chinese kids’ fashion show with the respected Aida Kaumenova supplying designs.
“She’s creating a look for our model for the IPA competition in China. Aida Kaumenova isn’t usually a children’s designer, but she is on board with this project.”
The model who will be wearing the design is Adel Ablaykhan, who recently became the official face of IPA China, selected by Melinda Lee from many hundreds, and who has already had the levels of success as a model that others can only dream of, with catwalk appearances in several countries. She said:
“I love this work; it has given me so much. And I have been to amazing places. My ambitions are to appear in Europe next: Milan, Rome, and Paris.”
Her mother, also her manager, explained to me that her dream is to continue her career into adulthood and to continue to work with the kind of designers who have already approached her for more formal cooperation.
Hakan Akkaya is one, a Turkish designer whose work has been showcased around the world. He is based alternately in Istanbul and New York, with big shows coming around several times a year.
The former Architecture student has now been a fashion designer for 24 years and claims to enjoy working with Madonna above all others.
“I just love Madonna, she’s like a Goddess!”
He was the first from Turkey to attend Who’s Next Paris and Bread & Butter Berlin Fair with his menswear collection in 2012, and each new show leads to cooperation with some of the biggest names in music, not only Madonna, but also Megan Fox and Lady Gaga. He considers Adel Ablaykhan to be extremely talented despite her young age.
“Yes, Adel is great to work with. She’s very professional.”
Hakan Akkaya designed the wardrobe for Sunday’s KidsFace show, mostly worn by Adel, and several photographers lined up to get the exclusive shots for their upmarket glossies.
KidsFace Agency is proud to introduce its models to the world and has very high hopes for some of them, not only Adel, whose international success is expected to raise the profile of Aida Turdyn and her 14 colleagues’ work.
Nobody who knows Kazakhstan would be surprised to see its models grace the catwalks of Europe. The KidsFace Agency is at the forefront of preparing the scene so that some of those big names of the future are ready to take the challenge.
