- Anna Ermakova: Will you be able to make jokes in German?
Anna Ermakova (24) - Model, Musician, "Let's Dance" Winner - wants to make jokes in German. "I really want to learn how to tell jokes in German. I want to make people laugh without them just laughing at me," the daughter of Boris Becker told the "Süddeutsche Zeitung".
In Germany, she now feels "such warmth" and is "very grateful for it". "Learning is still difficult, but I'm persevering. At first, I was afraid to speak German because I didn't know enough words to say what I wanted to say. And even now, it's not the same as speaking my native language."
"I am German, Russian, and Nigerian"
Ermakova emphasized that her heritage is multicultural. "Not enough is said about this. Yes, I am German, Russian, and Nigerian. With so many mixed roots, it's difficult to find one's place. I never quite fit in." Home is relative. "It doesn't matter where I am, as long as I feel positive energy. I draw a lot of that energy from human connections."
She feels at home in London, for instance, because she grew up there and has friends there, she told the "SZ". "But now I'm in Germany more often, meeting people and learning German. And suddenly, I feel accepted here and seen as German, and people are proud of me. That acceptance is just incredible, I never expected it."
"We should take the time to be kinder"
On August 9, Ermakova will release a music album of covers ("Behind Blue Eyes"). The single "Behind Blue Eyes" - a cover of the British band The Who - was released earlier this year. The lyrics seem to resonate with her: "No one knows what it's like to be a sad girl behind blue eyes." Even as a child, Ermakova received a lot of attention due to her father.
Now, Ermakova told the "Süddeutsche", "if condemnation becomes a mass phenomenon and the person in question has no control over it, that's not right". "We should take the time to be kinder. Especially when it comes to children, we should be more considerate."
Ermakova's newfound acceptance in Germany makes her feel particularly proud, as she stated, "I'm grateful for the warmth I've received in Germany and consider it my home now." Upon moving to Germany, she acknowledged the challenge of learning the language, stating, "Learning German is still difficult, but I'm determined to persevere."
