I am Marine Vasilenko. I was born in Tbilisi on October 3, 1965. I graduated from Tbilisi Secondary School No. 15 in 1983. In the same year, I entered the Finance and Economics Technical School, specializing in industrial and construction accounting. I graduated in 1986. At the same time, I worked as an accountant at the Kirov Machine-Tool Factory.

In 1985, I married Vladimir Beridze, but I did not change my surname and kept my own. I had two children; unfortunately, one passed away. In 1989, I entered the Georgian Institute of Technical Creativity and Patent Science, at the Faculty of Economics of Invention and Rationalization of Patent Science. I graduated in 1991. I worked at the Locomotive Stadium as a ticket office manager, and then at I. Javakhishvili State University as an accountant. I also graduated from the Faculty of Art History at I. Javakhishvili State University in 1993.

In 1995, we moved to Russia, to the city of Yekaterinburg, where my husband worked. We went through that difficult period where Georgians were looked upon with hatred and persecuted: “Go back to your country,” they said. We were immigrants, but later we obtained citizenship, and currently, I am a citizen of both countries. When I returned to Georgia and had to restore my citizenship, I was initially refused. Later, I applied for the second time and had to pass the exams.

Nowadays, I live in Tbilisi and have started fulfilling my childhood dream in art. I create amazing beauties with colorful ribbons, which calms me, makes me happy, and strengthens me. So, it is never too late—you can always achieve your goal if you have the desire.