“Heated Rivalry” Star Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova Says She Was 'Really Nervous' for Her Runway Debut at NYFW (Exclusive)
- - “Heated Rivalry” Star Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova Says She Was 'Really Nervous' for Her Runway Debut at NYFW (Exclusive)
Catherine Santino, Katie HillFebruary 17, 2026 at 9:38 PM
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Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova.
Dave Kotinsky/Getty; Victor Pagan/Getty
Heated Rivalry star Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova made her runway debut during New York Fashion Week
The actress told PEOPLE she was "really nervous" for the catwalk
Kharlamova plays Svetlana Vetrova in the hit TV series
Heated Rivalry star Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova is now a runway star.
The day after the 24-year-old actress made her debut walking for Christian Cowan during New York Fashion Week on Friday. Feb. 13, PEOPLE caught up with her at the Alice + Olivia fall/winter 2026 presentation.
"It was so much fun," she said of the experience. "I was really nervous, but the team was really nice and the models were so sweet and the look was so nice, so I loved it."
Kharlamova took the catwalk wearing a black mock-neck coat with fur cuffs and embroidery details. She also sported knee-high maroon tights and brown pumps. Her signature copper hair was parted to the side and styled into a sleek blowout.
The actress, who plays Svetlana Vetrova in the hit TV series taking over social media, opened up to PEOPLE about her life in the wake of the show's success."I don't even know what's going on anymore," she admitted. "But I'm here. I'm wearing this beautiful dress. I'm having fun. It's been a nice, fun journey."
Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova.
Victor Pagan/Getty
Adapted from author Rachel Reid's novel of the same name from her popular series Game Changers, Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov, two of the biggest stars in professional hockey, who navigate an intense rivalry on the ice — and a steamy connection outside of the rink.
Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova.
Dave Kotinsky/Getty
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The LGBTQ+ romance-hockey drama was originally adapted for the Canadian streaming service Crave, and it was released on HBO Max on Nov. 28. The series also stars François Arnaud, Dylan Walsh, Sophie Nélisse, Robbie G.K. and Christina Chang.
In the acknowledgments of her novel, Reid wrote that she was "grateful to HBO" for producing 24/7, a documentary that followed the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals in 2011.
"The series planted the seed for this story all those years ago (not that the characters in this book are based on any actual people, of course)," she wrote.
The series quickly launched its lead stars into mega-fame.
In an interview with Wonderland, Williams, 25, revealed that he's writing a manuscript and that journaling helps him navigate the spotlight.
"There’s this writer I love, Joan Didion, and she once said she journals so that when she gets really old, she can pick up her books and find her way back to herself again. That inspired me."
"It also helps with gratitude," he added. "I can look back and go, ‘Wow, that really blew me away.' ”
"Keeping grounded, I have such a good group of friends. They don’t care too much. They’re like, ‘Okay, good for you. This is amazing. But what’s your next role?’ Or, ‘Are you treating us well? Are you treating the people around you well?’ That’s make-or-break," the Tracker actor said.
"How you show up as a person matters more than anything else. I use my friends and family as a metric," he added. "Am I being an a--hole? Let’s make sure I’m staying kind."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
