Culture favors the beautiful — and thus, it selects them. Natalia Dardykina joined the youth newspaper specifically in the culture department, which she later led. Her exterior always resembled that of a ballerina: in her youth, she was like a dancer performing with a strong troupe, and in her later years, she resembled one enjoying a well-deserved retirement. She didn’t just walk; she glided through the editorial corridors with a light, swift gait that conveyed a sense of creative restlessness. This restlessness (in a positive, rather than medical sense) was evident in her work. Whether she was conversing with the subjects of future articles or with authors bringing their notes to the "Moscow Komsomolets," and when she edited these notes — her creative heart pulsed within her, leaving no room for indifference or a formal approach.
Of course, these qualities do not make a person convenient, but they do guarantee quality. And the quality of Natalia Alexandrovna's work can only be described in superlatives. She always knew her subject, prepared for interviews, wrote poetry, and engaged in translations. She dressed elegantly and for many years maintained the habit of wearing high heels. However, the height of those heels gradually decreased over the years...
Natalia Alexandrovna is a witness to her time, the era of stagnation, and the era of change. The profession of journalism (vivid and creatively thinking) literally brought her face to face with the heroes of her time. Yet, she always spoke with them as equals. Another very important quality that Natalia Alexandrovna possessed was her understanding of journalism as a form of assistance she could provide — to an individual, a collective, or a cause.
She wrote so much that it seemed generations of young journalists would come and go in the editorial office, while she would eternally nurture and teach them to write with integrity...
Natalia Alexandrovna compiled her articles into a book, leaving a testament of her time for future generations. Through her work, both aspiring and current journalists will judge the state of domestic culture in the mid to late 20th century and the early 21st century.