Meet Chrese Evans, The 54-year-old Buddhist Antique Shop Owner From Portland, Oregon, Who Is Also Joseph Stalin's Granddaughter.
In the heart of Portland, Oregon, amidst the eclectic mix of vintage stores and artisanal shops, resides a woman whose life story is as intriguing as the rare artifacts she curates in her antique shop. Meet Chrese Evans, whose lineage traces back to one of the most notorious figures in history—Joseph Stalin, the former leader of the Soviet Union.
Born into a family with a complex legacy, Chrese spent her early years in Moscow, Russia, unaware of the weight of her grandfather's name. Her parents shielded her from the darker chapters of history, focusing instead on fostering a sense of cultural identity and appreciation for their heritage.
As Chrese entered adulthood, she felt a deep calling to explore her spirituality and seek a path of enlightenment. Drawn to the teachings of Buddhism, she embarked on a transformative journey of self-discovery, embracing mindfulness and compassion as guiding principles in her life.
Her birth name was Olga and she was born and brought up in the USA after mum Svetlana Alliluyeva defected in 1966 and married Chrese's father, Peter Evans.
Chrese told the Express
"Stalin for me was one of the three people who won the Second World War - Churchill, Roosevelt and him.
"Then my mother asked me to listen to her. This is when I found out about his crimes."
Driven by her passion for history and the arts, Chrese ventured into the world of antiques, opening her own shop in the heart of Portland's bustling downtown. With a keen eye for craftsmanship and a deep appreciation for the stories behind each piece, she curated a collection that reflected her eclectic taste and unique perspective.
Despite her lineage, Chrese chose to carve her own path, embracing her identity as a Buddhist and distancing herself from the shadows of her family's past. While acknowledging her heritage and despite her pictures with guns, Chrese claims to be a Buddhist and leads the kind of bourgeoisie lifestyle her grandfather would have hated.
