The W@Privacy Awards have named their ‘Rising Star’ and the world already knows her: tenured research scientist Nataliia Bielova’s work on privacy and data protection has not just empowered countless regulators and policy-makers out there, it also enables daily web users to make their own informed and free decisions. Wondering how rising stars are born, we caught Nataliia with at least ten questions too many. She kindly agreed to share with us her impressive journey marked by life-changing encounters, inspiring women in science, transdisciplinary research, more girls to mentor, and dark patterns being defeated by the bright side of the Force. Here is her story, in her own words.