She began the unusual tradition on a trip to Paris after a messy breakup from her boyfriend.
Kristina Kuqi is a single 23-year-old woman who has asked complete strangers to kiss her in front of the world’s most famous landmarks – for the perfect romantic picture.
The first time she ever asked for a kiss from a stranger was during a trip in Paris. She was worried about missing out on the romantic Eiffel Tower shot she’d always wanted, so she approached the first attractive man she saw for a smooch in front of the camera.
Since then, she has received kisses in front of Rome’s Colosseum and in central Kentucky with more men whose names she didn’t know – and she has no plans to stop locking lips with strangers any time soon.
The campaign manager from Kosovo says, “My ex-boyfriend and I were going to travel to Paris together, amongst other places. When we broke up, I had to rethink my initial plans. I’ve always wanted a picture kissing at the Eiffel Tower. So, I got there with one of my girlfriends and we were taking so many pictures because it was my first time in France.”
Speaking about how she ended up asking for a kiss from the first handsome stranger she’s ever approched, she says, “I’m looking around and I see a gorgeous guy and think to myself ‘you need the romantic picture you’ve always wanted and now is the chance’. When I told my friend I was thinking of asking this guy for a kiss we both started freaking out about it.”
But her nervousness didn’t deter her. “I just approached him and asked if he had a girlfriend and he said no. I was looking at him, trying my best to keep my cool and asked ‘will you kiss me right there in front of the Eiffel Tower for a picture’, and in the coolest manner he just said ‘yes, of course’.”
From then on, Kristiana says asking random men to kiss her has built her confidence and helped her deal with her self-esteem issues. Her pictures have gone viral since she posted them to her social media – however, not all the comments have been positive.
“It’s not really about the picture to me to be honest, I used to have a lot of self-confidence issues and asking a random cute guy to kiss you requires confidence. I would always walk away with the biggest smile on my face and feel so confident. It kind of became an adrenaline rush for me,” she says.
READ MORE: Meet the first black woman who’s been to every country
“Some people have been making comments like ‘did you forget about herpes?’ but at the end of the day we’re all kissing strangers at parties, clubs and on first dates. “I also think it’s a way for sharing a moment of pure sweetness with someone else. I haven’t talked or seen the guys after those kisses, I don’t even know their names but I really hope they’re doing well.”
w24.co.za
Follow Us
Putting a spotlight on business, inventions, leadership, influencers, women, technology, and lifestyle. We inspire, educate, celebrate success and reward resilience.
