“I am convinced that hardships cannot make one give up and that everything in the world can be done and achieved,” says Mária Reháková, the woman at the helm of the STAR Production publishing house.
What has brought you the most joy recently?
I have to mention the appreciation received by our longest-standing project, the Slovak Woman of the Year reader poll, which remains just as popular many years later and which speaks to everyone across all generations. It is a truly unique project that bears within its very fabric immense society-wide value. By highlighting the stories of unique ladies, we are putting all of Slovakia on the map. We are sending a signal to the world that Slovakia boasts not only beautiful nature and bountiful history but also immense potential hidden within the talents and capabilities of our women, who are able to combine their traditional duties as protectors of family peace with incredible professional results. The values presented by the reader poll have even reverberated through the European Parliament in Brussels, which the ultimate Slovak Woman of the Year, Silvia Manduľáková, and I visited recently. We were both touched by the positive feedback the initiative received in Europe – it was even called a "unique poll, unequaled throughout the countries of the European Union" – and by the positive light in which the poll is being viewed.
The weekly Slovenka, which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, is the oldest title in Slovakia. Could you tell us what comes out on its pages?
Slovenka is a weekly whose pages are a melding of tradition and modern trends, which is why it has lost nothing of its attractiveness even after all these years. We have truly diverse columns, focusing on our history, bringing news from the fashion world, but also reporting on current events in our regions and political landscape. One of the most popular columns is centered around profiles of, and interviews with, established as well as up-and-coming artists. Many a star that shines bright and constant on our scene was first introduced to the public on the pages of Slovenka. Just to paint you a picture, I'd like to mention a story that has become a true legend. Way back when, one of our editors at the time, Elena Ťapajová, visited the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in the mid-90s, and she was taken by the charisma of a young and, at the time, unknown actor who introduced himself to her as Leonardo DiCaprio. She wrote a piece on the meeting and penned excitedly, "You'll see, he will be a movie star one day." Three years hence, the now-famous movie Titanic premiered and the words of our editor came true to the letter. And that is the level of quality maintained by all of our columns, be they focused on culture, history, practical advice, tips, or news. That is our priority.
How is your publishing house STAR Production doing in this rather difficult situation in society?
Despite all the tumult our society is going through, the Slovenka weekly has managed to maintain its popularity and the reputation of an opinion-shaping publication. It is an incredibly important status, one that is based not only on tradition, but first and foremost on the hard work that goes into it every day, which is not "just" work for us anymore, but has rather become a true way of life, a modus vivendi if you will, and which keeps us constantly moving forward. We carefully watch everything that unfolds in Slovakia, but reporting objective information from relevant sources, which we vet meticulously, is our highest priority. That earned us the reputation of a publication that never stoops to tabloid sensations, one that appreciates the power of the written word and holds itself accountable to the highest degree in employing that power. These are most certainly the reasons why our reader base is stable and not dropping like other printed media.
Do you have any Czecho-Slovak cooperation going on?
The kinship of our two nations is embedded in Slovenka's DNA and it is one of the cornerstones of its image. Following the pandemic years, we are once again picking up our most prominent joint projects, such as the Czecho-Slovak Evening, which would regularly take place on the premises of Prague's Municipal House with the attendance of Slovak and Czech personalities from culture and public life alike, or the meeting of Czech and Slovak female businesswomen, which was a part of the Slovenka VIP Club. We are, of course, still very much in touch with the Czech fashion scene through Slovakia's most prominent fashion event – Bratislava Fashion Days – where Czech designers display their work, always garnering massive success. Interviews with personalities from your cultural scene on the pages of Slovenka are a given as well.
How are your three sons and seven grandchildren doing? Do you have time to help raise them?
I'm definitely not a full-time grandma; my workload just doesn't allow for that. However, the time I do spend with my children and grandchildren is that much more intense, and the rarer those moments are, the more valuable they become as well. I'm overjoyed at seeing my granddaughters and grandsons growing up, watching their first words, steps, their first successes, but of course, I share with them also the less sunny days and I try to be their rock during such times. I am truly happy to have built such strong emotional ties with my children and grandchildren, that they come to me with trust, and that we have a sense of kinship based on mutual respect and unconditional love.
Despite being a grandmother of seven, you look incredible. How do you take care of yourself?
Thank you for the compliment. And even at the cost of sounding cliche, a large part is thanks to genetics. But, naturally, same as any other woman, I take care of my visage, not just with the help of cosmetics but also a healthy lifestyle. I know all too well the role that healthy food and an active lifestyle and primarily doing meaningful work that charges me with energy all play in this regard.
Mária Reháková with her grandchildren
DEEPLY-ROOTED CUSTOMS
Mária grew up in a family where traditions were maintained and she honors them to this day. “Although the times are not exactly in favor of traditions, I try to maintain the most substantial ones at least; ones I consider to be the most reliable compass on my journey through life,” she says. “These are mostly Christmas customs, which symbolize family cohesion and highlight its value, which is on the very top level in my own hierarchy. And, of course, I have honored the traditional rule 'Throughout the year, as on New Year's Day', and I try to ensure that this day as well as the 364 subsequent ones are full of love, family cohesion, and a feeling of a job well done.”
CV BOX
Mária Reháková is the owner of the STAR Production publishing house.
Following her university graduation, she worked for the international trade company PZO Intercoop Bratislava, first as a specialist, then as head of the USSR department, and later of the department for Germany and Switzerland.
In 1993, she established the Promotion agency, which introduced musicals to Slovak audiences, such as Dracula, Grease, Joan of Arc, Excalibur, and Galileo.
In 2003, she was behind the Golden Concert event, which brought together the biggest stars of Czech and Slovak music on one stage.
Reháková has been at the helm of the STAR Production publishing house since 2007. She has also been fighting to maintain the Slovenka magazine, which has been a successful endeavor so far.
In 2005, she established the Bratislava Fashion Days project through which she has been supporting Slovak fashion design.
The publishing house is also involved in various events, which Reháková has been organizing since 2007 when the Slovak Woman of the Year.
On the 70th anniversary of Slovenka magazine, an event called Slovak Folk Costume Day was established.
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