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What Makes You Extraordinary: The Lesson Zenya Didn’t Know She Needed
In this episode of the Creator Method Podcast, Gary sits down with Xenia Dmitrovic, a former tennis prodigy turned model, actress, stunt performer, and emerging creator whose extraordinary life story proves that your past can become your greatest creative power. Raised in Serbia during wartime and shaped by hardship, loss, and reinvention, Xenia now blends sport, fashion, and storytelling into content that’s raw, expressive, and deeply human.
After losing her father at just 14 and watching her tennis career disappear overnight, Xenia was forced to rebuild her identity from the ground up. At 17, she left Serbia with nothing but determination, moving to China alone before eventually landing in the United States on a full athletic scholarship. Today, she uses the resilience forged in those early years to fuel her creative voice and inspire others to own their stories.
Xenia opens up about the pressure of growing up in a culture where you’re expected to be “everything or nothing,” the trauma she carried into adulthood, and the moment Gary held up a mirror that changed how she viewed her own accomplishments. She shares the fears that held her back from showing her real story online, how she overcame criticism and anonymity-driven hate on YouTube, and why embracing vulnerability has been the key to unlocking her artistic identity.
This conversation dives deep into what it really takes to step into your power as a creator: how to build a brand rooted in authenticity, why your lived experiences matter more than your credentials, the importance of artistry over perfection, and how sharing your truth creates real connection and community. Xenia also discusses her mission-driven nonprofit initiative to bring tennis access to kids around the world.
Apply for Creator Method: https://creatormethod.com/
Follow Creator Method on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/creator.method/
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4Bjs61g10V8MEBjg2pfJFi?si=1a8b57227c8b41d7
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction & Xenia’s Story
02:00 Growing Up in Serbia During War
05:00 Losing Her Father & Her Tennis Career
08:30 Leaving Home at 17 to Start Over
12:00 The YouTube Backlash That Made Her Hide
16:10 Gary’s “Mirror Moment” That Changed Everything
20:30 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as a Creator
25:00 Turning Hardship Into Creative Power
30:00 Why Artistry Matters More Than Tactics
36:00 Building a Personal Brand Through Storytelling
42:00 Xenia’s Mission: Bringing Tennis to Kids
48:00 The Future of Xenia’s Creative Journey
Follow Xenia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniadmitrovic?igsh=OXl2M3N2cXE4a3pk
Follow Gary on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garylipovetsky
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@garylipovetsky
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
View all episodes
By Gary Lipovetsky
4.1
88 ratings
In this episode of the Creator Method Podcast, Gary sits down with Xenia Dmitrovic, a former tennis prodigy turned model, actress, stunt performer, and emerging creator whose extraordinary life story proves that your past can become your greatest creative power. Raised in Serbia during wartime and shaped by hardship, loss, and reinvention, Xenia now blends sport, fashion, and storytelling into content that’s raw, expressive, and deeply human.
After losing her father at just 14 and watching her tennis career disappear overnight, Xenia was forced to rebuild her identity from the ground up. At 17, she left Serbia with nothing but determination, moving to China alone before eventually landing in the United States on a full athletic scholarship. Today, she uses the resilience forged in those early years to fuel her creative voice and inspire others to own their stories.
Xenia opens up about the pressure of growing up in a culture where you’re expected to be “everything or nothing,” the trauma she carried into adulthood, and the moment Gary held up a mirror that changed how she viewed her own accomplishments. She shares the fears that held her back from showing her real story online, how she overcame criticism and anonymity-driven hate on YouTube, and why embracing vulnerability has been the key to unlocking her artistic identity.
This conversation dives deep into what it really takes to step into your power as a creator: how to build a brand rooted in authenticity, why your lived experiences matter more than your credentials, the importance of artistry over perfection, and how sharing your truth creates real connection and community. Xenia also discusses her mission-driven nonprofit initiative to bring tennis access to kids around the world.
Apply for Creator Method: https://creatormethod.com/
Follow Creator Method on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/creator.method/
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4Bjs61g10V8MEBjg2pfJFi?si=1a8b57227c8b41d7
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction & Xenia’s Story
02:00 Growing Up in Serbia During War
05:00 Losing Her Father & Her Tennis Career
08:30 Leaving Home at 17 to Start Over
12:00 The YouTube Backlash That Made Her Hide
16:10 Gary’s “Mirror Moment” That Changed Everything
20:30 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as a Creator
25:00 Turning Hardship Into Creative Power
30:00 Why Artistry Matters More Than Tactics
36:00 Building a Personal Brand Through Storytelling
42:00 Xenia’s Mission: Bringing Tennis to Kids
48:00 The Future of Xenia’s Creative Journey
Follow Xenia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniadmitrovic?igsh=OXl2M3N2cXE4a3pk
Follow Gary on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garylipovetsky
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@garylipovetsky
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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