Retro stylist Felicia Malets says representatives for singer Mia Boyka have threatened her with legal action after she complained publicly about an unpaid invoice.
Malets shared details of the dispute on Instagram, explaining that she had created a custom wig for the pop artist to wear as part of her stage image. The stylist stated that she was initially left unpaid for the work despite sending repeated payment reminders to the singer's team.
According to the stylist, she published a video online describing her negative experience working with the performer. Following the publication of the video, Mia Boyka's team finally settled the outstanding fee, but a representative for the artist subsequently sent Malets a message outlining an intention to file a lawsuit in court.
The singer's representative indicated that the planned legal action was prompted by Malets mentioning the artist's stage name in her video post. Representatives for the performer stated that the public mention of her name constituted an unauthorized use of the MIA BOYKA trademark.
Malets is a popular retro stylist and online blogger who specializes in vintage-inspired visual aesthetics and custom hairpieces for entertainment projects. In stage performances and pop music productions, custom wigs form a central component of an artist's visual identity. Mia Boyka is a prominent Russian singer, pop artist, and internet personality recognized for her vibrant stage costumes, distinctive colorful hair looks, and youth-oriented music releases.
Dispute over trademark rights
The stylist detailed her experience on Instagram, a photo and video sharing platform operated by American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms. Russian state authorities officially designated Meta as an extremist organization in 2022 and banned its primary social media services across the Russian Federation, though the platform remains widely used by fashion creators to publish portfolios and address professional disputes.
Trademark law provides registered brand owners with exclusive legal protections over commercial names, logos, and stage pseudonyms. Intellectual property disputes involving trademark infringement generally turn on whether a registered mark was used for commercial exploitation or within the scope of descriptive commentary and personal reporting.
Legal friction over financial compensation and creative assets between independent fashion designers and celebrity figures is a recurring issue in the entertainment sector. In May, fashion designer Denise Cesare launched a court lawsuit against reality television star and fashion entrepreneur Kim Kardashian, accusing the media figure of theft.
Stylist receives payment after video
Although Mia Boyka's representatives eventually remitted payment for the wig following the publication of the video, the warning of court proceedings over trademark usage marks an ongoing conflict between the retro stylist and the singer's management team.
