>>> HELLO, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO AMANPOUR AND COMPANY.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

>> I WILL UPHOLD THE MISSION OF FULLY OVERCOMING THE INSURRECTION.

>>> A PLEDGE TO UNITE A DIVIDED NATION AND NEW ERA FOR SOUTH KOREA.

JOURNALIST KEN CHOI JOINS ME TO DISCUSS THE ELECTION AND WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD.

>> SHE LOOKS LIKE A DIFFERENT WOMAN.

SHE ALSO LOOKS LIKE SHE HAS AGED 10 YEARS.

SHE IS REALLY PUTTING HER BODY ON THE LINE.

>>> ON HUNGER STRIKE AND AT RISK OF DEATH.

A MOTHER FIGHTING FOR HER SONS FREEDOM.

>>> OUR DEAR FRIENDS IN MOSCOW.

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST TELL ME HOW THE HOPES OF THEIR GENERATION WERE CRUSHED BY VLADIMIR PUTIN'S REGIME.

>> I USED TO TELL MY MOTHER SHE MOM, I KNOW MY WORTH.

THE WORLD JUST NEEDS TO CATCH UP TO IT.

>> DESIGNER TELLS US ABOUT HIS EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY TO THE TOP OF THE FASHION WORLD.

>>> AMANPOUR AND COMPANY IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE ANDERSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT, JIM ATTWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS, CANDACE KING WEIR, THE SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTISEMITISM , LEILA AND MICKEY STRAUS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST , MARK J. BLECHNER, FILOMEN M. D'AGOSTINO FOUNDATION, SETON J. MELVIN, PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, PATRICIA YUEN , COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, JEFFREY KATZ AND BETH ROGERS, AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR PBS STATION BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> WELCOME.

I AM SITTING IN FOR CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR.

MARTIAL LAW , IMPEACHMENT, MASSIVE PROTESTS AND A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.

IT'S BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY SIX MONTHS OF TURMOIL FOR SOUTH KOREA.

IT SEEMS THE COUNTRY IS TURNING A CORNER WITH CANDIDATE LEE JAE- MYUNG WINNING A DECISIVE VICTORY.

THE BRIEF AND DISASTROUS MOVE TO DECLARE MARTIAL LAW ULTIMATELY ENDED THE PRESIDENT'S CAREER.

HE WAS IMPEACHED AND REMOVED FROM OFFICE AND FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR ABUSING HIS POWER.

THE ELECTION OF LEE, A CANDIDATE FOR THE LIBERAL PARTY, COMES AS A HUGE RELIEF TO MANY IN SOUTH KOREA AS THE COUNTRY SEEKS POLITICAL STABILITY.

HE FACES A DIVIDED NATION AND CRUCIAL CHALLENGES.

CHIEF AMONG THEM THE ECONOMY, RELATIONS WITH NORTH KOREA, HEALING DIVISIONS, AND TRADE TALKS WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

LET'S DIG INTO ALL OF THIS WITH KEN CHOI, NATIONAL EDITOR OF ONE OF KOREA'S TOP NEWSPAPERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME.

LEE WAS EXPECTED TO WIN.

WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT A CHAOTIC LAST SIX MONTHS IT HAS BEEN FOR THE COUNTRY.

NOW THAT HE HAS WON THE ELECTION, WHAT IS THE TAKE AWAY AMONG SOUTH KOREANS AND AMONG JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE BEEN COVERING THIS EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT IN HISTORY?

>> AS YOU SAID EARLIER, IT IS REMARKABLE THAT KOREA WAS ABLE TO HAVE A VERY SMOOTH WITH THE ELECTION.

FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS, KOREA WAS IN TURMOIL , CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.

YET WITHOUT ANY BLOODSHED IT WAS ABLE TO PEACEFULLY TRANSFER THE POWER BY THE ELECTION.

YESTERDAY'S ELECTION ACTUALLY WAS WON BY CANDIDATE LEE JAE- MYUNG.

HE HAD JUST SHY OF 50% MAJORITY.

THE TWO CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES IF YOU COMBINE THEIR VOTES, THEY WON SLIGHTLY MORE THAN PRESIDENT LEE JAE-MYUNG.

THIS MEANS THAT THE NEW PRESIDENT MUST COURT THE OTHER 50% THAT DID NOT VOTE FOR HIM.

AT THE MOMENT, HE HAS ALMOST 2/3 MAJORITY IN THE PARLIAMENT.

HE IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PRESIDENTS EVER ELECTED IN MODERN HISTORY.

HE NEEDS TO SHY AWAY FROM WIELDING HIS EXECUTIVE POWERS AND FOCUS HIS POLICIES ON ECONOMY THAN IDEOLOGICAL POLICIES.

>> HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN VIEWED, IN FACT MANY DESCRIBED HIM AS THE BERNIE SANDERS OF SOUTH KOREA.

HE HAD BEEN VIEWED AS A LEFTIST, LIBERAL OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND YEARS HE HAS MOVED CLOSER TO THE CENTER.

IT IS NOTABLE IN HIS ACCEPTANCE AND VICTORY SPEECH.

HE SAID IT IS TIME TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY, MEND THE BROKEN ECONOMY, AND RESTORE UNITY.

THOSE ARE QUITE AMBITIOUS AND CHALLENGING GOALS TO ACHIEVE AND DEAL WITH, GIVEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN THE COUNTRY HAVE TO ENDURE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE FIRST HE NEEDS TO FOCUS ON, AND GIVE US SOME OF THE OBSTACLES THAT ARE IN HIS WAY.

BE ON THE ECONOMY.

ACTUALLY, AS HE IS SWORN IN HIS FIRST ACT AS A PRESIDENT WAS TO SET UP THIS EMERGENCY ECONOMIC TASK FORCE TEAM.

I THINK IT WAS WELL RECEIVED BY THE MARKET.

AS YOU STATED, HE COMES FROM A PROGRESSIVE BACKGROUND.

THE MARKET IS WATCHING WHETHER HE'S REALLY GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH WHAT HE SAID.

IF NOT, THE MARKET WILL PUNISH THEM.

IF THAT HAPPENS, HIS PRESIDENCY WILL BE UNDER THE WATER.

RIGHT NOW AS YOU KNOW KOREA IS THE 12th LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD.

HIS PREDECESSORS WHETHER MILITARY DICTATORS OR IF REALLY ELECTED PRESIDENT HAVE ALL BEEN ABLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

AS A RESULT, MOST PRESIDENTS HAD POSITIVE RATINGS.

NOW HE HAS TO GO THROUGH THE SAME THING.

AS YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S RECENT TARIFF ISSUES CHINESE ECONOMY AND SO ON, THERE ARE PARAMOUNT TASKS AHEAD OF HIM.

HE DOES NOT HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE IN THESE GEOPOLITICAL ISSUES.

HE HAS MORE FOCUSED ON DOMESTIC ISSUES .

HIS PRESIDENCY WILL DEPEND ON NOT ONLY THE DOMESTIC ISSUES BUT ALSO THESE GEOPOLITICAL ECONOMIC ISSUES.

ACTUALLY, HE IS SURROUNDED BY SOME ABLE, NON-POLITICALLY ORIENTED PEOPLE.

IF HE'S ABLE TO UTILIZE THESE FORCES AND THESE PEOPLE'S EXPERTISE I THINK HE WILL BE ABLE TO WEATHER THE STORM.

I AM NOT SURE, I THINK HIS CAMPS JUST TOOK OVER THIS POLITICAL SITUATION.

I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THEY WILL GO THROUGH WITH THESE NON- POLITICALLY ORIENTED EXPERTS IN DEALING WITH THESE EXTERNAL ISSUES.

>> WE KNOW THAT HIS PREDECESSOR HAD CLOSELY ALIGNED HIMSELF WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS BEFORE THIS NEW TARA FOR THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP, INCOMING PRESIDENT OBVIOUSLY BUT ONE THAT THE U.S. HAS SEEN FOR A SECOND TIME HAS REALLY BEEN DETERMINED AND DECISIVE ABOUT LAYING OUT TARIFF POLICIES GLOBALLY, AT THE VERY LEAST 10% ACROSS THE BOARD.

THEY ARE MIRED IN THE COURTS, BUT HE'S DETERMINED TO PURSUE THEM.

THREE QUARTERS OF SOUTH KOREA GDP DEPENDS ON TRADE.

TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE U.S.-SOUTH KOREA ELATION SHIP IN TERMS OF PRESIDENT LEE'S SUCCESS AHEAD AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS A VERY MERCURIAL PRESIDENT HE'S DEALING WITH IN THE UNITED STATES.

HOW MUCH RIDES ON THE RELATIONSHIP FACTOR ALONE BETWEEN THE TWO?

>> I THINK HE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF U.S.-KOREAN DURING HIS CAMPAIGN HE SAID HE WILL DEAL WITH CHINESE ACCORDINGLY AND HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL THE NEIGHBORS AROUND US, BUT AGAIN THE MOST IMPORTANT ALLY AT THE MOMENT IS THE UNITED STATES.

AS YOU STATED, THE GDP COMES FROM TRADE AND WE HAVE THE MOST IMPORTANT ALLY AGAIN AS THE UNITED STATES.

OBVIOUSLY HE WILL BE ABLE TO COURT ALL OF THESE THINGS.

I THINK HE HAS EVERY INTENTION TO RESOLVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE UNITED STATES WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TARIFF ISSUES, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S REASSURING POLICIES.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLICIES ON BRINGING INVESTMENTS INTO THE UNITED STATES.

I THINK IF HE SURROUNDS HIMSELF WITH ALL THESE ABLE, NON- POLITICALLY ORIENTED EXPERTS, I THINK HE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THESE THINGS DONE.

OBVIOUSLY, HE PROCLAIMED HIMSELF AS A PRACTICAL POLITICIAN, NOT SORT OF HUNKERED DOWN ON THESE IDEOLOGICAL ISSUES.

IF HE IS ABLE TO GO THROUGH WITH THESE PRACTICAL ISSUES, CARRYING TO THE DOMESTIC ISSUES BUT BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE MARKET ECONOMIC SYSTEM.

I THINK HE WILL SUCCEED DEALING WITH THE UNITED STATES, DEALING WITH JAPAN AND SO ON.

MAYBE HIS BIGGEST CHALLENGE AT THE MOMENT IS TO RESOLVE THESE TRADE ISSUES, YES, BUT IT COULD BE VERY MINOR BECAUSE KOREA CAN OFFER A LOT TO THE UNITED STATES.

NOT ONLY SHIPBUILDING ISSUES BUT KOREA CAN GO HAND-IN-HAND WITH DEVELOPING NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER ISSUES THE UNITED STATES NEEDS KOREA ON ITS SIDE.

IF THE NEW PRESIDENT IS ABLE TO GET ALL OF THESE THINGS DONE, THEN KOREA CAN BE ON THE RISE AGAIN.

>> WE KNOW THAT THE TARIFFS SPECIFICALLY AS THEY RELATE TO SECTORS LIKE STEEL AND AUTOMOBILES WILL BE VERY MUCH FELT IN SOUTH KOREA .

WE KNOW THE EXPORTS TO THE U.S. HAVE BEEN DOWN MORE THAN 8% YEAR- OVER-YEAR JUST MAY ALONE AND ECONOMIC PROJECTIONS IN TERMS OF GDP GROWTH FOR THIS YEAR HAVE ALREADY DECLINED 8/10 OF A % FROM 1 1/2%.

THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY EXTERNAL FACTORS BUT ALSO INTERNAL FACTORS .

AS YOU TALKED ABOUT, THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS CRIPPLING THE COUNTRY AND THE LOWEST BIRTHRATE IN THE WORLD .

SOUTH KOREA HOLDS THAT TITLE RIGHT NOW.

WHAT CAN HE DO ON THAT FRONT TO RESTORE THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND SOCIETAL CHALLENGES DOMESTICALLY?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I THINK KOREA HAS THE MOST RIGID LABOR LAWS IN THE WORLD.

SO EVEN THOUGH UNIONS IN THE PAST AND SO ON, OBVIOUSLY IF THESE RIGID LABOR LAWS ARE HAMPERING ECONOMIC REVIVAL, I THINK HE WILL HOPEFULLY -- HE MENDS ALL OF THESE DOMESTIC LABOR LAWS THAT WOULD SORT OF FREE HANDS TO THESE BUSINESS AND CORPORATE SECTORS.

THAT IS PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE HE HAS TO DELVE INTO.

AS YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE BIRTHRATE, I THINK WITH THE RIGHT MIND -- THERE ARE A LOT OF POLICIES.

THERE'S NO LEFT.

THERE'S NO RIGHT.

I THINK BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE UNDERSTAND THIS IMPORTANCE OF REVIVING THE BIRTHRATE.

I THINK, ACTUALLY IT IS ON THE RISE AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A VERY LONG TIME.

SO DOMESTICALLY THIS ISSUE WILL PROBABLY RESOLVE AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL HAVE MUCH ECONOMIC IMPACT IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

AS I SAID EARLIER, THE MOST PRESIDENT IS TO REVIVE THE ECONOMY.

THE LABOR LAWS, HE PROCLAIMED THAT HE WILL TRY TO MAKE FAST INVESTMENT IN A.I.

SECTORS.

I THINK IT IS A GOOD MOVE.

OBVIOUSLY KOREA IS POWERFUL IN SEMICONDUCTORS AND AUTOMOBILES AND STEEL AND SO ON.

A.I.

AGAIN IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NEW AGENDA IN THE UPCOMING ECONOMIC TEAM.

I THINK HE CAN -- WITH HIS DOMESTIC POLICY MANPOWER I THINK HE CAN OVERCOME MANY OBSTACLES ON THE DOMESTIC SIDE.

>> AND THEN, OF COURSE, HIS FASCINATING PERSONAL STORY.

HE GREW UP VERY POOR.

HIS PARENTS CLINT PUBLIC TOILETS FOR A LIVING.

HE DID NOT GO TO SCHOOL AFTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

HE SELF-TAUGHT LOT TO HIMSELF .

HE WORKED IN A SWEATSHOP.

ALMOST LOST PART OF HIS HAND AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT THERE.

TELL US MORE ABOUT HIM AND THE ACTIVISM ROLE HE TOOK UP THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER.

>> HE STARTED HIS LAW CAREER INITIALLY.

HE ROSE FROM A VERY POOR BACKGROUND.

HE'S NOT REALLY IDEOLOGICALLY SORT OF BRAINWASHED OR ANY OF THAT.

HE DID NOT HAVE --HE MAY HAVE SOME ACTIVIST ACTIVITIES, BUT NOT DURING THE COLLEGE YEARS.

THAT SORT OF DIFFERENTIATES FROM THE PREVIOUS POLITICAL FORCES, THE LEFTIST POLITICAL FORCES IN KOREA.

THAT IS WHY HE CLAIMS HE IS MORE A PRACTICAL, CENTER ORIENTED, RESULT ORIENTED PERSON.

AS HE GOT ELECTED AS A MAYOR OF A SMALL TOWN SOUTH OF SEOUL AND THE GOVERNOR OF HIS PROVINCE, MOST OF HIS POLICIES WERE NOT THAT IDEOLOGICALLY ORIENTED.

HE WANTED TO PRODUCE RESULTS.

THAT SHOWED THAT EVEN THOUGH HE COMES FROM A VERY POOR BACKGROUND, HE WANTED TO SORT OF CATER TO MAKE THE POOR LIVING STANDARD BETTER THAN WHAT IT WAS BEFORE.

IN THAT LIGHT, I THINK HE UNDERSTANDS HOW THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM WORKS.

HE UNDERSTANDS HOW THE GOVERNMENT CAN PLAY IN MAKING THINGS BETTER FOR THE LIVES OF FOUR PEOPLE.

HE HAS BEEN POOR AND HE IS THE RESULT OF THIS SYSTEM THAT SORT OF BROUGHT HIM FROM DIRT POOR LEVEL TWO BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF KOREA.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN KOREA LOOK UP TO HIM THAT THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT IN A KOREAN SOCIETY AS LONG AS YOU WORK HARD AND SO ON.

THE ONLY CATCH IS THAT HE STILL HAS 12 COUNTS OF CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST HIM THAT WAS COMMITTED BEFORE HE BECAME PRESIDENT.

I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WILL BE RESOLVED, BUT THAT IS THE ONLY LINGERING ISSUES OF HIS PRESIDENCY.

I DO NOT KNOW HOW THE SUPREME COURT WILL RULE ON THIS OR THE HIGH COURTS WILL RULE ON THESE ISSUES, BUT OTHER THAN THAT I THINK AS LONG AS HE FOLLOWS THROUGH WHAT HE SAID, I THINK HE WILL HAVE A PRETTY BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF HIM.

>> HE HAS DENIED THOSE CORRUPTION CHARGES AGAINST HIM.

IT IS YET TO BE SEEN HOW THAT WILL PLAY OUT IN ADDITION TO THE HAND INJURY HE SUSTAINED WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER MAN, HE ALSO SURVIVED THE STABBING ATTACK AS WELL.

HE IS INDEED A FIGHTER .

IT WILL ALSO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW HIS POLICIES DIFFER FROM THOSE OF HIS PREDECESSORS AS IT RELATES TO CHINA AND TO NORTH KOREA.

HIS OPPONENTS SAY HE IS TO COZY TO CHINA.

HE SAYS WE SHOULD NOT BE PUTTING ALL OF OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET AND IS OPEN TO IMPROVING TIES WITH NEIGHBORING CHINA .

KENNY CHOI, WE WILL BE FOLLOWING ALL OF THIS.

HOPEFULLY A BIT OF PEACE WILL COME FOR A COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN MIRED IN CHAOS OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

DOCTORS ARE WARNING THAT THE MOTHER OF A BRITISH HUMAN RIGHTS ADJECTIVE --ACTIVIST IS AT RISK OF DYING.

LEILA IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AND RECEIVING URGENT CARE AFTER RETURNING TO A FULL HUNGER STRIKE .

SHE WANTS THE GOVERNMENT TO INTERVENE AND HELP FREE HER SON WHO IS DETAINED IN EGYPT.

>> Reporter: THIS IS A BRITISH EGYPTIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND WRITER.

SEEN IN HIS FAMILY HOME IN EGYPT IN 2011 BEING WELCOMED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY SHORTLY AFTER HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON.

HIS FREEDOM WOULD BE SHORT- LIVED.

HE WAS ARRESTED ONCE AGAIN IN 2013 AND JAILED FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.

HE WAS LATER REARRESTED IN SEPTEMBER 2019 AND SENTENCED TO A FURTHER FIVE YEARS BEHIND BARS IN 2021.

HE WAS CHARGED WITH ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER AND SPREADING FALSE NEWS AFTER SHARING A FACEBOOK POST HIGHLIGHTING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN EGYPT JAILS.

HIS DETENTION HAS SPARKED A YEARS LONG CAMPAIGN LED BY HIS FAMILY WHO SAY HE HAS BEEN ARBITRARILY DETAINED.

'S MOTHER HAS BEEN AT THE HEART OF THE CAMPAIGN HOLDING REGULAR VIGILS OUTSIDE DOWNING STREET, DEMANDING THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DO MORE TO PRESSURE ALAA FROM DETENTION .

EVEN EMBARKING ON A HUNGER STRIKE IN SEPTEMBER WHEN ALAA'S FAMILY HAD EXPECTED HIM TO BE RELEASED AFTER COMPLETING HIS SENTENCE.

WITH SOME SIGNS OF PROGRESS, SHE WAS PERSUADED TO SHIFT TO A PARTIAL HUNGER STRIKE IN MARCH SURVIVING ON JUST TO HOW 200 CALORIES A DAY.

RETURN TO A FULL HUNGER STRIKE HAS LEFT HER IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

>> MY MOM HAS LOST HALF OF HER BODY WEIGHT .

SHE LOOKS LIKE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WOMAN.

SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE HAS AGED 10 YEARS IN THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS.

SHE IS REALLY PUTTING HER BODY ON THE LINE FOR ALAA'S FREEDOM .

>> Reporter: LAILA HUNGER STRIKE AND DECLINE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED IN VIDEOS FILMED BY THE FREE ALAA CAMPAIGN.

>> WHAT HITS ME IS WHEN I SEE MY BODY AND MY FACE.

I LOOK AT MY FACE IN THE MIRROR AND IT IS SO DIFFERENT.

>> Reporter: WHILE LAILA STARTERS HAVE CHAMPIONED HER COSTS THEY FEAR SHE MAY NOT HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT.

IT IS A CONCERN ECHOED BY SOME IN WESTMINSTER WHO HAVE CALLED ON THE PRIME MINISTER TO TAKE ACTION.

>> WE THINK THE ONLY THING THAT WILL SHIFT HIS DIRECT REPRESENTATION FROM THE PRIME MINISTER.

WE HAVE TRIED THE CARROT.

NOW WE NEED MORE OF THE STICK.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO DOWNING STREET THE PRIME MINISTER RAISED THE CASE DIRECTLY WITH THE EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT IN A RECENT CALL.

>> IN THIS CASE I HAVE MET LAILA AND GIVEN HER MY COMMITMENT TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN.

>> Reporter: AS LAILA CONDITION CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE THEY ARE WARNING THAT FAILURE TO INTERVENE MAY NOT ONLY COST SEIF'S FREEDOM BUT HIS MOTHER HER LIFE.

SEIF WILL BE FREE.

SHE IS NOT SURE WHETHER SHE WILL ATTEND THAT OR NOT.

>>> RUSSIA IS REELING AFTER UKRAINE'S DURING OPERATION SPIDERWEB DRONE ATTACK AGAINST THEIR BOMBER AIRCRAFT AND MAY BE ABOUT TO ESCALATE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID HE SPOKE BY PHONE TO PUTIN POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA IT WAS A GOOD CONVERSATION BUT NOT ONE THAT WILL LEAD TO IMMEDIATE PEACE.

PUTIN FOUND VERY STRONGLY TO RESPOND TO THE STRIKES WHICH WERE A MAJOR LOGISTICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SETBACK FOR RUSSIA'S LEADER.

HIS GRIP ON THE COUNTRY IS NOT LOOSENING.

OVER THE PAST QUARTER CENTURY PUTIN HAS COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED THE COUNTRY.

THEY HAVE EMBRACED NATIONALISM, SCORNING THE WEST AND CRUSHING DISSENT.

NOW A NEW BOOK SHOWS HOW THAT MOVE HAS TORN APART A GENERATION OF RUSSIANS.

OUR DEAR FRIENDS IN MOSCOW IS BY ANDREI SOLDATOV AND THEY ARE JOINING ME FROM LONDON.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

I WANT TO GET TO THE BOOK IN JUST A MOMENT.

IF WE CAN PICK UP ON THIS NEWS TODAY ON THIS PHONE CALL BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT PUTIN ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC FOLLOWING THE ATTACK THAT HAD BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR 18 MONTHS BY THE UKRAINIAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICES TAKING OUT A NUMBER OF THEIR BOMBER PLANES.

PRESIDENT PUTIN REJECTED UKRAINE'S OFFER OF A SUMMIT WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY AND ANY IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE.

IT WENT ON TO SAY, QUOTE, WHO HAS NEGOTIATIONS WITH TERRORIST?

IRINA IF I CAN GET YOU TO RESPOND TO THE STATEMENTS.

ARE THEY A SURPRISE TO YOU AND DO YOU THINK THE WEEKEND DID ANYTHING TO SETBACK POTENTIAL CEASE-FIRE NEGOTIATIONS OR NO?

>> IT DOES NOT SOUND SURPRISING TO ME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PUTIN HAS MORE STRATEGIES.

HE WILL NOT ALWAYS REACT IMMEDIATELY.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS JUST A HUGE BLOW TO THE RUSSIAN STRATEGIC POLICY ON THE WAR.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY UNEXPECTED.

PUTIN WAITED FOR SOME TIME AND THEN SAID SOMETHING TO TRUMP THAT THAT YOU CAN SEE WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT HE IS NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE WITH ZELENSKYY AND MAY NOT NEGOTIATE AT ALL .

GIVEN THE BACKDROP OF WHAT HAS GONE ON IT SOUNDS VERY IMPORTANT AND SIGNIFICANT.

>> WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM THIS PHONE CALL IS THAT THEY ALSO DISCUSSED THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH IRAN OVER NUCLEAR PROGRAM WHICH RUSSIA SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO PLAY A PART IN.

WE KNOW THAT THE COUNTRIES HAVE GROWN CLOSER OVER THE COURSE OF THIS WAR AS WELL.

MUCH OF THE DRONE TECHNOLOGY RUSSIA HAS BEEN BUYING HAS BEEN COMING FROM IRAN.

DO YOU GET A SENSE THAT PERHAPS PRESIDENT TRUMP MAY , AS HE HAS IN THE PAST, TAKE SOME OF PUTIN'S TALKING POINTS AND USE THEM AGAINST PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY IN TERMS OF WHO IS BEING MORE OF AN IMPEDIMENT TO ENDING THE WAR AT THIS POINT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT VLADIMIR PUTIN IS TRYING TO MAKE A POINT THAT HE WAS ALL FOR THE TALKS, BUT NOW IT'S UKRAINE WHO IS DESTROYING THE CHANCES OF A PEACE DEAL.

THAT ACTUALLY PLAYS RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF TRUMP WHO HAS ALWAYS ACCUSED ZELENSKYY OF BEING RECKLESS WITH THE PEACE NEGOTIATION.

ALSO, PUTIN INDICATED HE CAN ACTUALLY ESCALATE NOT ONLY ON THE BATTLEFIELD BUT IN SOME OTHER AREAS WHICH ARE CRUCIAL TO TRUMP.

IT IS ALREADY A BIG ESCALATION.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BOOK.

I THINK WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE INTO A WAR THAT IS IN ITS THIRD YEAR.

GIVEN YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AS JOURNALISTS IN WRITING THIS BOOK.

ANDREI, IT BEGINS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF PUTIN'S PRESIDENCY WHEN THE TWO OF YOU WERE WORKING AT A NEWSPAPER .

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR NEWSPAPERS AT THE TIME.

IT ENDS WITH THE TWO OF YOU LIVING IN EXILE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND, ANDREI, YOU BEING ON THE MOST WANTED LIST IN RUSSIA.

THE GROWING TENSION AND THEN THE BREAKUP AND RELATIONSHIPS YOU HAD WITH FRIENDS AND FELLOW JOURNALIST WHO CHOSE VERY DIFFERING PATHS.

YOU OBVIOUSLY CHOOSING TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST PUTIN'S GROWING AUTHORITARIANISM, YOUR FRIENDS CHOOSING ANOTHER.

WHY DID YOU GO ABOUT WRITING THIS STORY FROM SUCH A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE?

>> WHEN THE FULL-SCALE INVASION STARTED IN 2022, IT WAS A REALLY BIG SHOCK THAT MANY AMONGST THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST IN RUSSIAN SOCIETY DECIDED TO SIDE WITH PUTIN IN THIS WAR.

IT WAS SUCH A BIG SHOCK EVEN AFTER THE ANNEXATION OF CRIMEA IN 2014 AND EVERYTHING WHICH HAPPENED .

STILL IT WAS A SHOCK.

WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PROMPTED THESE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THIS CLEARLY BRUTAL AND HORRIBLE WAR WITH UKRAINE.

WE DECIDED TO TALK AND REACH OUT TO PEOPLE WE USED TO KNOW VERY CLOSE.

NOW MOST OF THEM OCCUPY VERY SIGNIFICANT POSITIONS AND POWER INCLUDING THE MINISTER OF CULTURE.

TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE REASONING.

MAYBE BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HAD THIS COMMON PAST AND USED TO BE FRIENDS.

MOST OF THEM AGREED TO TALK TO US.

THIS IS OUR ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND THE REASONING AND UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE MAKING THESE CHOICES AND WHY IT WAS SO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE SAW BACK THEN.

>> YOUR FRIENDS, WE SHOULD NOTE WERE BORN EDUCATED.

THEY WERE HIGHLY EDUCATED AND NOT SUSCEPTIBLE TO RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA.

AND YET, SUCH DIVERGENT PAST .

YOU WRITE IN THE BOOK IT IS A PERSONAL STORY SINCE THEY WERE FRIENDS AT THE TIME.

WHENEVER NEW OUR HOPES FOR THE COUNTRY COULD DIVERGE SO PROFOUNDLY.

THE CURRENT MINISTER OF CULTURE, IRINA, IF YOU COULD TELL US ABOUT HER AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HER AND SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS YOU HAVE HAD WITH HER AS YOU ARE INVESTIGATING AND WRITING THIS BOOK.

>> OLGA IS NOW THE RUSSIAN MINISTER OF CULTURE.

I MET HER IN HER EARLY 20s.

SHE WAS VERY ATTRACTIVE YOUNG WOMAN .

SHE LIKED PARTIES A LOT.

SHE SMOKED AND DRANK.

SO SHE WAS A STUDENT AT THE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AT MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY.

SHE CAME FROM A FAMILY OF OF HER FAMILY IS VERY CULTURAL AND IMPORTANT FOR THE RUSSIAN CULTURE.

SHE WAS LIBERAL .

SHE WAS VERY LIBERAL .

I COULD NOT HAVE IMAGINED THAT SHE CITED WITH PUTIN DURING THE WAR.

SHE BECAME A PERSON WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE REEDUCATION OF KIDS ON THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES.

OF COURSE, THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE THAT OLGA WILL BE IN CHARGE OF ALL PROMOTION.

SHE WILL BE SUPERVISING THE PRODUCTION OF GOVERNMENT- SPONSORED MOVIES ABOUT THE WAR, PRAISING THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

>> REEDUCATING THE KIDS IS HOW RUSSIANS ARE DESCRIBING IT, LIBERATING UKRAINIAN CHILDREN.

THE REST OF THE WORLD AND OBVIOUSLY UKRAINIANS VIEW THIS AS A FORM OF KIDNAPPING AND A WAR CRIME, THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AGAINST THEIR WILL BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS ARE DETAINED OR KILLED .

THEY HAVE BEEN SEPARATING THEM DURING THE WAR INTO RUSSIA.

ANDREI, YOU TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE OF HOW YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS RESPONDED.

THERE WAS A COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT FOLLOWING THE ATTACK IN MOSCOW AT THE THEATER WITH THE BOTCHED TERRORIST ATTACKS AT THE THEATER AND THE BOTCHED RESPONSE AND RESCUE MISSION BY THE RUSSIANS LEAVING SOMEONE HUNDRED PEOPLE DEAD.

THEY ALL RESPONDED IN 2002, YOU ALL DID IN SIMILAR FRUSTRATION AND OUTRAGE.

THEN THINGS CHANGED AFTER THE 2004 MASSACRE AT THE SCHOOL THAT KILLED NEARLY 200 YOUNG CHILDREN .

WHAT TRANSPIRED IN THOSE TWO YEARS THAT YOU WOULD START TO SEE A CHANGE FOLLOWING TWO SUCH MAJOR DEVASTATING BLOWS TO THE COUNTRY?

>> I REMEMBER IT WAS QUITE A BIT OF A SHOCK FOR ME THAT WHEN OTHER PROTAGONISTS OF OUR BOOK AND A FORMER FRIEND, WHO WAS A VERY BRAVE WORKER AND I ADMIRED AND RESPECTED HIM BECAUSE HE WAS SO BRAVE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN HE STARTED TALKING ABOUT STALIN.

I THINK THE REASON WHY IS HE HAD A VERY DARK VISION OF WHAT COULD BE DONE IN RUSSIA.

BECAUSE HE STARTED HISTORY AT HIS UNIVERSITY AS MOST OF OUR FRIENDS, ALL OF THEM GOT THIS DARK VISION THAT IN A COUNTRY LIKE RUSSIA, SPECIFICALLY LIKE RUSSIA, IF YOU WANT TO GET THINGS DONE THEY COULD BE DONE ONLY IF YOU SERVE THE DICTATOR.

THAT IS THE ONLY OPTION.

HE WAS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD ABOUT IT.

PUTIN TOLD EVERYONE AND MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO THE RUSSIAN SOCIETY THAT HE WAS GOING TO STAY FOR MANY YEARS.

THE ONLY WAY TO DO SOMETHING IS TO FIND A WAY HOW TO SURVIVE UNDER PUTIN.

THESE GUYS DID NOT WANT JUST TO SURVIVE.

THEY WANTED TO PLAY A REALLY BIG ROLE IN WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY.

ALL OF THEM WERE AMBITIOUS.

THEY JUST DECIDED TO SURF THE DICTATOR WAS THE ONLY OPTION.

OTHER OPTIONS WERE PEOPLE LIKE US.

THAT WAS FOR LOSERS.

NOT FOR REAL PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING.

>> IT IS NOTABLE THAT TODAY IS ALEXEI NAVALNY'S BIRTHDAY, WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS BIRTHDAY.

IN 2011 HE CALLED FOR A REGIME CHANGE?

THERE WAS A BRUTAL FACEBOOK POST.

TO IMPRISON HIM IS IMPOSSIBLE.

LEAVING HIM IN THE WILD FOR A LONG TIME IS ALSO DANGEROUS.

THE THIRD OPTION IS REMOVE HIM.

AT THE SAME TIME BLAME IT ON THE AMERICANS.

NOT ONLY FOR PUTIN, FOR ALL THE COUNTRY BETTER THE BLOOD OF ONE THAN THE BLOOD OF MILLIONS.

THIS WAS IN 2011.

WE KNOW THAT SADLY NAVALNY DIED IN A RUSSIAN PRISON LAST FEBRUARY.

AS WE REMEMBER NAVALNY AS YOU NOW ARE LIVING IN EXILE, I'M WONDERING WHAT YOUR MESSAGES FOR THE WORLD AND MOSTLY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF RUSSIANS.

THERE IS THIS PERCEPTION.

I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO ADDRESS IT, IN THE WEST OUTSIDE OF RUSSIA, THAT PERHAPS YOU AND ANDREI ARE NOW THE OUTLIERS IN THE MINORITY OF WHERE THE RUSSIAN PUBLIC STANDS WHEN IT COMES TO NATIONALISM, AUTHORITARIANISM, THE FACT THAT YOU'VE GOT A LEADER IN OFFICE NOW FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY CONDUCTING AN ILLEGAL WAR.

I KNOW IT IS A LOT TO ADDRESS, BUT YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST THE WAR AND AGAINST THE KREMLIN RIGHT NOW IN MOSCOW AND ST. PETERSBURG'S AND A LOT OF PLACES IN RUSSIA.

REMEMBER, THEY ARE ALL SCARED OF THE KREMLIN .

YOU CAN BE PUNISHED A LOT FOR JUST TELLING THE TRUTH TO PEOPLE ARE JUST DISCUSSING THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

OR POSTING ANYTHING ABOUT THE ONE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY IN RUSSIA THAT SOMEBODY WILL BE SENT TO PRISON FOR TELLING THE TRUTH ON FACEBOOK SO DON'T JUDGE RUSSIANS BY THE RULES OF THE FREEDOM COUNTRIES LIKE THE U.S. OR UK.

IT IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF BEING RUSSIANS.

WE SPEND DECADES TELLING THE TRUTH TO PEOPLE AND THANK GOD WE ARE LIVE AND STILL DOING OUR JOB.

I THINK THE WEST SHOULD PUT MORE EFFORT TO SEND FREE INFORMATION FLOW TO RUSSIANS.

IT IS STILL POSSIBLE.

THEY ARE STILL LISTENING.

>> IRINA BOROGAN, ANDREI SOLDATOV, AS DANGEROUS AS YOU WORK CAN BE SADLY LIVING IN EXILE FOR THREE YEARS.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE.

>> NOW TO THE WORLD OF FASHION AND AN EXAMPLE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

FROM MICHELLE OBAMA TO KAMALA HARRIS AND THE PRINCESS OF WALES, PRABAL GURUNG HAS STRESSED ALL OF THEM.

HIS TALENT HAD HIM SKYROCKET TO HE FACED HIS CARBONATION BEING TOLD YOU DON'T LOOK AMERICAN.

HE DISCUSSES HIS NEW MEMOIR AND HOW FAR HE HAS COME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YEARBOOK, WALK LIKE A GIRL.

THE TITLE IS A PHRASE THAT WAS REALLY USED AS KIND OF A SLUR AGAINST YOU FOR SO LONG.

WHY PUT THIS AS THE TITLE OF THE BOOK?

WHAT DOES THE PHRASE MEAN TO YOU NOW?

>> WHEN I WAS GROWING UP SURROUNDED BY A REALLY STRONG MOTHER AND SISTER AND STRONG WOMEN OVERALL .

EVEN MY FAVORITE SUPERHERO WAS WONDER WOMAN.

I NEVER THOUGHT EMULATING WOMEN ARE THE WAY THEY WERE, THE COMPLEXITIES, WAS ANYTHING BAD.

IT WAS EMPOWERING.

WHEN I WENT TO THE REAL WORLD AND THE WAY IT WAS THROWN AT ME TO THE INTENTION BEHIND IT AND THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ABOUT IT, I FELT LIKE THE TERM WALK LIKE A GIRL WHICH IS USED PEJORATIVELY TO DEMEAN SOMEONE I WANTED TO TRANSFORM IT TO A TERM AND PHRASE OF POWER, COURAGE IT , AND EMPOWERMENT.

SIMPLY BECAUSE I BELIEVE TO WALK LIKE A GIRL IN THIS WORLD IS TO WALK THROUGH SOFTNESS AND DEFIANCE AND COMPLEXITIES AND COURAGE AND VULNERABILITY.

I FELT LIKE IT IS ALSO THIS WAY OF SAYING I BELONG HERE.

UNAPOLOGETICALLY LOVING YOURSELF AND OWNING YOUR SPACE AND HAVING THE HUMILITY TO BE CURIOUS AND UNDERSTAND BUT ALSO NOT SHRINKING ONESELF.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DO NOT NEED OUTWARD VALIDATION.

YOU ARE WORTHY ON YOUR OWN.

THE SPACE THAT YOU OCCUPY IS ENOUGH.

>> YOU START THIS BOOK WAS SOME PAINFUL PARTS OF YOUR CHILDHOOD GROWING UP IN NEPAL .

YOU KNEW YOU WERE DIFFERENT.

YOU ARE TRYING ON YOUR MOM'S LIPSTICK AND YOUR COUSIN'S STRESSES.

THIS , YOUR SIBLINGS AND YOUR OF YOU, BUT YOUR LARGER FAMILY AND COMMUNITY WAS NOT.

I WONDER, THEY DID NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND YOU.

GIVE US AN EXAMPLE.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES?

>> I WANT TO SAY IT WAS SOMETHING SUBTLE, THEY WERE REALLY POINT BLANK MADE ME FEEL, SAY STUFF LIKE YOU ARE AT PNC.

YOU ARE THIS, YOU ARE A GIRL, YOU CRY LIKE A GIRL, WALK LIKE A GIRL, TALK LIKE A GIRL.

IT WAS SO CONFUSING.

FOR ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

IT WAS REALLY CONFUSING, BUT THEN WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL, BECAUSE I DID NOT FIT INTO THIS MOLDED AND NARROW DESCRIPTION OF WHAT A BOY SHOULD LOOK LIKE, THAT REALLY BOTHERED.

WHAT WE KNOW IN THIS WORLD PEOPLE IN POWER OFTEN TIMES , THE MAJORITY CANNOT SEE ANYONE WHO IS DIFFERENT THAN THEM.

IT REALLY THREATENS THEIR OWN EXISTENCE.

MY EXISTENCE THAT WAS UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNABASHEDLY MYSELF REALLY BOTHERED THEM.

SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO WAS NOT, WHO LOOKED LIKE THEM SHOULD BE SHRINKING.

I WASN'T.

I REALLY FELT LIKE THE LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE I GOT FROM MY SIBLINGS AND MOTHER BACK HOME EMPOWERED ME TO HAVE A VOICE.

THEN IT TURNED IT INTO , YOU KNOW, PHYSICAL BEATINGS.

BULLYING'S.

WHEN I LOOK BACK AT IT THE PHYSICAL ASPECT OF IT YOU CAN STILL HANDLE IT.

YOU LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

I DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE NEXT PUNCH WAS COMING AT ME, I DID NOT KNOW THAT.

YOU CAN TRAIN YOURSELF.

AS A MARGINALIZED PERSON ANYONE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.

YOU ARE ALWAYS IN THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT MODE.

IT IS THE IMPACT AND FOLLY OF WORDS, THE NEGATIVE WORDS THAT COME AT YOU.

THE IMPACT OF IT, IT REALLY SINKS IN AND STAYS WITH YOU.

YOUR BODY REGISTERS IT.

THE PHYSICAL WOUNDS AND EVERYTHING CAN HEAL.

THAT IS WHAT I WAS REALLY INITIALLY NOT UNDERSTANDING.

IT STAYED WITH ME FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE I WAS, LIKE, I'M GOING TO WORK ON IT.

THE WORLD SAYS I DON'T FIT IN, I WILL DO MY OWN THING.

I USED TO TELL MY MOTHER, I KNOW MY WORTH.

THE WORLD JUST NEEDS TO CATCH UP TO IT.

I WAS A PRECOCIOUS CHILD, BUT THAT IS HOW I LOOK AT IT.

>> YOU GO THROUGH SCHOOL IN NEPAL AND INDIANA.

YOU COME TO NEW YORK.

YOU ARE LEARNING THE ROPES OF FASHION, INTERNING AND GOING OUT AT NIGHT.

YOU START REALIZING THERE IS A SENSE OF OTHERNESS.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

I DON'T EVEN THINK OF YOU AS ASIAN.

WHOEVER HURLED THE INSULT WOULD YOU KNOW I LOVE ASIANS.

I LOVE SUSHI, I LOVE INDIAN FOOD.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES SOMEBODY SAID TO ME , I'M NORMALLY NOT INTO ASIANS BUT YOU'RE ATTRACTIVE.

YOU ARE STILL AN OUTSIDER EVEN THOUGH RELATIVE TO THE PLACE YOU CAME FROM THIS IS PROBABLY A LIBERATING ENVIRONMENT, BUT HERE YOU ARE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> THAT IS THE COMPLEX STORY OF AMERICA.

AMERICA TO ME WAS A DREAM MADE IN TECHNICOLOR.

NEW YORK CITY WAS WHERE ALL MY HEROES WERE LIKE DEBBIE HARRY, MARK JACOBS, MADONNA.

YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THESE COLORFUL MISFITS.

WHEN I LOOKED, GOT A GLIMPSE OF NEW YORK THROUGH A FEW MAGAZINES ARE GLIMPSES THAT I SAW IT FELT LIKE HOME TO ME.

WHEN I ARRIVED HERE, AND LET'S NOT FORGET AMERICA HAS THIS INCREDIBLE PR PITCH ABOUT EVERYBODY IS WELCOME HERE.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS VERY COMPLEX.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME AS LONG AS YOU FOLLOW THE RULES, THE LINES, AS LONG AS YOU ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO HOW THEY BEHAVE OR HOW THEY LOOK.

THE MINUTE YOU ARE DIFFERENT YOU ARE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY AWARE OF YOUR DIFFERENCE.

TO ME IT WAS REALLY BAFFLING.

IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE, WAIT A SECOND.

IS THIS OKAY FOR THEM TO SAY THIS.

THEN I REALIZED, I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISOLATED THING FOR ME.

IT IS EVERY PERSON OF COLOR.

EVERY MARGINALIZED PERSON WILL GO THROUGH THIS IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER.

THERE SO MANY TIMES MY FRIENDS TELL ME INCIDENTS THAT THEY OPEN INDIAN FOOD AND PEOPLE I LIKE, WHAT'S THAT SMELL VERSUS WHAT'S THE FRAGRANCE.

IT'S WORDS.

WORDS HAVE POWER.

FROM A SMELL TO A FRAGRANCE GOES FROM TOLERANCE TO CELEBRATION.

ALL OF THAT STUFF MATTERED.

YOU COME HERE AND YOU REALIZE THE WORLD THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD BE COMPLETELY ACCEPTED IS NOT ACCEPTING ME.

BUT THEN I AM ALSO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE IN THIS COUNTRY IS WHERE YOU CAN QUESTION AND WRITE A BOOK LIKE THIS.

YOU CAN QUESTION THESE IDEAS AND NORMS THAT ARE SO PRECONCEIVED AND RUDEST -- ROOTED IN THE DEEP COLONIAL BELIEFS.

>> THERE'S AN IDEA THAT AMERICA HAS OF THE OVERNIGHT SUCCESS.

BY THE TIME YOU ARE PULLING OFF YOUR MAGICAL FIRST SHOW IT'S ALMOST LIKE AN ENTIRE VILLAGE, COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE HAD COLLECTED ALONG THE WAY.

YEARS AND YEARS OF DOING THE HARD WORK REALLY JUST CAME OUT IN BELIEF AND SUPPORT OF YOU.

I WONDER ABOUT THIS IDEA THAT WE HAVE, IT IS JUST THIS KIND OF MOMENT AND HE JUST ARRIVED AND IT JUST HAPPENED FOR HIM.

>> IT WAS ABSOLUTELY, AND I STARTED MY BRAND IT WAS DEEP IN A RECESSION, 2009.

BILL BLASS HAD CLOSED.

I WAS LOOKING FOR A JOB.

I WENT TO HEADHUNTERS AND THEY ALWAYS SAID HE'S NOT TALENTED ENOUGH NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH.

I WENT TO UNEMPLOYMENT.

THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF THIS COUNTRY.

THAT IS THE THING ABOUT AMERICA.

OPPORTUNITY IS JUST AN IDEA WAITING TO HAPPEN.

I HAD THIS IDEA AND I WENT TO UNEMPLOYMENT.

THAT GAVE ME THE STRENGTH.

I MOVED FROM A MASSIVE APARTMENT TO A TINY STUDIO IN THE EAST VILLAGE RIGHT IN FRONT OF HELLS ANGELS.

MY FRIENDS APARTMENT BECAME MY STUDIO.

MY SHOW SPACE.

EVERYONE CAME TOGETHER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME JUST TO SEE THIS COLLECTIVE FORCE OF PEOPLE COMING BECAUSE I HAD A BELIEF THAT I HAD A STORY TO TELL.

AS I SAID, MAYBE THE FACT THAT I COME FROM NEPAL AND INDIA, I DID NOT EXPECT EVERYTHING TO HAPPEN IN ONE GO.

I WAS VERY PATIENT ABOUT THE FACT THAT I AM OKAY WITH BUILDING IT SLOWLY AND SURELY.

IT THEN, LUCK HAD A DIFFERENT THING FOR ME .

I GOT ON THE COVER OF WOMEN'S WEAR DAILY AND IT TOOK OFF IMMEDIATELY.

TO BE HONEST I WAS HOPING FOR A LINE IN WOMEN'S WEAR DAILY TO BE MENTIONED IN MY COLLECTION .

I GOT THE COLOR AND THAT COMPLETELY CHANGED MY LIFE.

>> THERE IS AN EXCERPT IN THE BOOK ABOUT YOUR VISION BOARD THAT YOU SET OUT AS THE GOALS FOR YOURSELF.

IT SAYS STARTED BRAND, CHECK, GET IN A FEW STORIES, CHECK, DRESS OPERA, MICHELLE OBAMA, APPLY FOR A FOLKS FASHION FUND, WIN A FOLKS FASHION FUND, GO TO THE MET GALA , BECOME THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF CHANEL.

STARTED FOUNDATION.

WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, I GUESS THIS IS THE QUESTION FOR ABSTRACT BE ON THE FASHION INDUSTRY, YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MOST OF WHAT IS ON THE LIST.

MY QUESTION IS NOT JUST WHAT IS YOUR NEXT VISION BOARD, BUT HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR WHY ?

>> IT IS SIMPLE.

MY MOTHER, STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE AND EVERYTHING THAT I DO SHE HAS BEEN MY MOST .

ANYTIME SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED I WILL CALL HER AND SAY, HEY MOM, THIS IS HAPPENING.

I AM CELEBRATING.

SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMEONE WHO CELEBRATES WITH ME BUT ALSO SAYS, I STILL REMEMBER THE THING THAT CHANGED FOR ME WAS WHEN SHE SAID TO ME AFTER I DRESSED MICHELLE OBAMA, SHE SAID TO ME I AM GLAD THAT HAPPENED.

IT WAS HER IDEA.

SHE WAS THE ONE THAT PLANTED THE SEED OF DRESSING SOMEONE LIKE MICHELLE OBAMA BECAUSE SHE FELT LIKE SHE WAS THE ONE THAT I WAS DESCRIBING IN THE WOMEN I WANTED TO DRESS.

THEN WHEN IT HAPPENED, SHE SAID TO ME, THE SUCCESS NO LONGER IS YOURS.

IT DOES NOT JUST BELONG TO YOU.

IT BELONGS TO THE COUNTRY, TO THE CONTINENT, EVERY MARGINALIZED PERSON.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT.

SO THAT IS THE FOUNDATION.

WE STARTED THAT, MY SIBLINGS AND MY FRIENDS.

IT CAME NOT BECAUSE I WANT TO BE MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY, THOSE ARE ALL IMPORTANT GOALS BUT MY THING WAS AM I MAKING SOMEONE FEEL SEEN THROUGH MY AM I MAKING EVEN ONE PERSON BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO TURN THE PAGES OF A MAGAZINE OR TURN ON THE TELEVISION, SEE EMPTY MIRRORS REFLECTING BACK AND NOTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE YOU.

THAT RESONATES WITH YOU.

MY WHY IS LESS EGO DRIVEN BUT RATHER, HOW DO I SERVE THE COMMUNITY , THE PEOPLE AROUND ME AND EVEN FAR AWAY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT IS OUR JOB AS HUMANS.

WE ARE NOT LIVING JUST FOR OURSELVES.

WE ARE VESSELS FOR SERVITUDE AND SERVICE.

THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE IN.

>> YOU'VE BEEN AN OUTSPOKEN ADVOCATE FOR INCLUSIVITY, ADVERSITY, FASHION AND DESIGN.

YOU'VE BEEN ACTIVE IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND GOTTEN PUSHBACK FROM MEMBERS OF THE FASHION WORLD.

OH LOOK, THIS IS PRABAL LOOKING FOR MORE PUBLICITY.

AS YOU SEE THE REASON ADMINISTRATION ROLLBACKS ON SO MANY THINGS YOU HOLD DEAR, HOW DO YOU STAY ENGAGED, HOW DO YOU CONTINUE YOUR WORK?

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOUR PLACE OR YOUR RESPONSIBILITY?

>> I THINK FOR ANYONE WHO LOOKS LIKE ME OR DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE MAJORITY, OUR BIGGEST JOB IS TO MAKE SURE WE DO NOT GIVEN TO CITIZENS OF --CYNICISM.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRAUMA.

HAVE OPEN COMMUNICATION BUT SHOW UP UNAPOLOGETIC AS OURSELVES.

THE BIGGEST RESISTANCE TO THE PATRIARCHY OR THE MAJORITY, TO EVERYTHING OUT THERE THAT IS RESISTING OUR EXISTENCE IS SHOWING UP UNAPOLOGETICALLY, UNABASHEDLY OURSELVES.

THAT IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD THAT.

SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT THAT COLLECTION WHO GETS TO BE AN AMERICAN.

FIVE YEARS LATER WE STILL HAVE NOT HAD THAT CONVERSATION.

I THINK ABOUT THE PROMISE AND THE HOPE OF THE OBAMA YEARS.

HOW IT GAVE US HOPE AND THE THING ABOUT, AMERICA FORGETS WHAT HAPPENS HAS AN EFFECT ACROSS THE WORLD.

MY RUNWAY SHOWS, THE PEOPLE THAT I DRESS .

THE PEOPLE THAT I DRESS AND TAKE AS MY GUEST, IT'S VERY DIVERSE AND COLORFUL LIKE MY DINNER TABLE.

THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO SHOW SIMPLY BECAUSE IF IT IS POSSIBLE IN THE CONFINES OF MY HOUSE IT IS POSSIBLE IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

THESE INCREDIBLE, DIVERSE AND AMAZING PEOPLE.

THE MORE THAT WE SEE AS, THE WORLD SEES US, THE LESS AFRAID WE ARE OF EACH OTHER.

THAT IS HOW I LOOK AT IT.

GOING BACK TO WHAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT HOW PEOPLE WERE SAYING, IT'S FOR PUBLICITY OR THIS.

I ALWAYS SAY, FOR ME IT IS MY LIFE.

IT IS WHO I AM, IT'S BEEN MY EXISTENCE.

IT'S NOT JUST A MOMENT, IT'S A WE ALL EXIST.

>> YOU GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO SAY, I'M NOT JUST IN THIS FOR THE CLASS.

I'M TRYING TO TELL STORIES WITH TYPES OF CLOTHING AND THE FASHION I'M CREATING.

I WANT TO TELL ESPECIALLY THE STORIES OF NEPAL.

HOW DO YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT STORIES TO TELL?

>> IT IS INSTINCT.

THE BEAUTY OF BEING A CREATIVE PERSON IS YOUR INSTINCT .

I FEEL LIKE WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONE IN OUR INSTINCTS.

NOT JUST THE THINGS THAT ARE BEAUTIFUL WHETHER IT IS PAINTINGS OR LISTENING TO MUSIC, IT IS ALSO POLITICAL STUFF.

I WILL NEVER FORGET WHEN I DID MY ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION IT WAS AFTER A MEETING WITH A POTENTIAL INVESTOR WHO ASKED ME WHAT THE BRAND STANDS FOR.

I SAID, I WANT TO CREATE A NEW AMERICANA.

AMERICANA HAS BEEN DICTATED BY THESE GREAT DESIGNERS LIKE DONNA KAREN, RALPH LAUREN, BUT THE AMERICA I SEE IS IMMENSELY AND AMAZINGLY COLORFUL.

I WANT TO BRING THAT TO THE FOREFRONT AND CREATE THAT NEW VERSION OF AMERICANA.

I WILL NEVER FORGET WHEN HE TURNED TO ME AND SAID, YOU DON'T LOOK AMERICAN.

HOW WILL YOU DEFINE AMERICAN?

I SAID, I AM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

I PAY MY TAXES.

I MAKE MORE THAN 90% OF MY CLOTHING IN AMERICA.

I AM ENGAGED POLITICALLY AND CYNICALLY .

IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH.

WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS, I'M NOT WHITE.

HE KEPT QUIET.

NEEDLESS TO SAY I DID NOT GET THAT INVESTMENT.

I REMEMBER GETTING IN THE CAB AND THINKING, WILL IT EVER BE ENOUGH?

THAT TRIGGERED ME TO DO A COLLECTION CALLED, WHO GETS TO ME AMERICAN --BE AMERICAN?

THAT INFORMED THE NEXT YEAR MET GALA.

SET IN THE NOTES, PRABAL GURUNG ASKED THIS IN THE RUNWAY SHOW AND WE ARE TRYING TO ANSWER IT.

NOT THAT I KNEW IT WOULD HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT.

I WAS JUST REACTING TO SOMETHING THAT FELT NOT RIGHT FOR ME.

THAT'S HOW I LOOK AT IT.

IN MY STORY FROM MY PART OF THE WORLD.

FOR THE LONGEST TIME WE'VE BEEN TOLD, EAST MEETS WEST.

THE WEST HAS TO MEET THE EAST NOW.

THAT IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

EAST HAS DONE THE WORK.

THE WEST HAS TO DO THE WORK NOW.

>> THE MEMOIR IS CALLED WALK LIKE A GIRL.

AUTHOR AND FASHION DESIGNER PRABAL GURUNG , INC. YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>>> FINALLY, 36 YEARS AGO TODAY THE WORLD WATCHED IN HORROR AS CHINESE TROOPS OPENED FIRE ON STUDENT LED PROTESTERS IN TN AND SQUARE .

AROUND 1 MILLION PEOPLE TOOK TO THE SQUARE CALLING FOR MORE SOCIAL FREEDOMS.

THEIR DREAMS WERE BRUTALLY CRUSHED AS THE TANKS ROLLED IN.

HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS ESTIMATE THAT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS WERE KILLED.

IN CHINA, REMEMBERING THE CRACKDOWN REMAINS TABOO WITH HEIGHTENED SECURITY AROUND THE HISTORIC SQUARE.

IN 2014, CHRISTIANE SPOKE WITH SOMEBODY THAT HELPED LEAD THE DEMONSTRATIONS AND LIVES IN EXILE.

THE ACTIVIST REFLECTS ON THE NIGHT AND WHAT HE WITNESSED.

>> IT IS A VERY DRAMATIC NIGHT AFTER SEVERAL DRAMATIC WEEKS.

WE OCCUPIED THE STREET OF BEIJING FOR SEVEN WEEKS.

WE MADE VERY EMOTIONAL DEMANDS.

WE WENT THROUGH HUNGER STRIKES.

ONE OF THE CHINESE POET WROTE, THE STUDENTS MOVED TO GOD BUT THEY FAILED TO MOVE THE EMPEROR.

>> WHAT YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THAT TERRIBLY DRAMATIC NIGHT THAT WAS BROADCAST ALL OVER THE WORLD ON CNN UNTIL THEY SHUT US DOWN.

>> IT DID SEEM SUCCESS WAS A GENUINE POSSIBILITY UNTIL HE HEARD THE GUNSHOTS.

WE DID EXPECT SOME KIND OF CRACKDOWN.

THE LOGIC OF THE MOVEMENT IS YOU APPLY PRESSURE AND HOPE FOR YOUR OPPONENT TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

WE NEVER REALLY EXPECTED ELIMINATION.

WHEN THE NEWS CAME IN THE SQUARE TO SAY THERE WAS ALREADY BLOODSHED AND ALREADY PEOPLE DYING FROM TRYING TO STOP THE TROOPS COMING INTO THE SQUARE.

OF COURSE, AT THAT TIME THE SQUARE WAS IN AN EXTREME EMOTIONAL STATE.

ALL THE STUDENTS THERE WERE ALMOST READY , ALMOST READY TO SACRIFICE OUR LIVES.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR PROGRAM TONIGHT.

IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS COMING UP EACH NIGHT SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT PBS.ORG/AMANPOUR.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AMANPOUR AND COMPANY.

JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT.