Rika Martyns first came to the world’s attention when, in 1990, she won the very first British Hatha competition for a costume that would become known as “the Russian Robot”. It was widely agreed upon that Rika Martyns possessed, by virtue of her physical appearance, an ability which had set new standards for what tall and attractive people could achieve; indeed, it was said that her “angelic presence” had touched the hearts of many men. And indeed, since then Rika has worn her winning dress in many different television programs and other media, often dressed in outfits that suggest both a wealth of nationality and a flair for dress and grooming. However, is it her appearance or her talents that have made Rika the worldwide favourite of both media and fellow competitors?
The answer, it seems, is more complex than one might initially imagine; while her height has certainly played a part in the decision to look up to her, it seems more that her character is uniquely qualified to address this question. Rika as an entertainer has always presented herself as being “class apart”; having a kind of “magical” ability that allows her to transform herself into any character, no matter how unlikely or implausible the circumstances. In competitions, she has also displayed a style of dress and presentation that is far removed from the garish costumes worn by her competitors; instead she prefers to choose a simple, sensible outfit. This simplicity has not prevented Rika Martyns from attracting a massive following; in fact, she is one of the most popular stand-up comics in the world, with several live shows regularly appearing on stage and screen, as well as numerous books, plays and films.
So what has changed for Rika to be considered such a unique and exciting comic role model? The first major change is simple enough; her recent appearance on stage has been a great improvement on the garish outfits she usually wore to turn up on screen. However, the real key to her meteoric rise has been her embracing of the heights of stand-up comedy. Despite her size and rather pudgy appearance, Rika Martyns is a confident, intelligent comic performer; able to showcase her knowledge of public speaking, as well as a knowing appreciation of both men and women’s problems. She talks about her love of dogs in the same way a top artist talks about their cats – with an acute sense of humour and without being condescending.