A man who married a sex doll opened up on how their unconventional relationship was going, one year after tying the knot.
The sex doll industry has exploded in recent years, with evermore realistic variants being introduced into the market, albeit at a fairly high cost.
And given just how lifelike these dolls are becoming, it's no surprise that there are some owners who believe they are in full-on relationships with the inanimate objects, too.
Yuri Tolochko, 36, took things one step further as he actually married his doll, who goes by the name Margo.
The Kazakh bodybuilder became a viral sensation during the pandemic after he married the doll in a grand ceremony in November 2020, after the pair had 'dated' for a year.
Their marriage was reportedly considered legal under a local Kazakhastan law that omits the mention of an object but allows marriage between two consenting individuals as long as it is between a man and a woman over the age of 18.
Yuri revealed that he hadn't actually set out to buy Margo, but stumbled across her in 2019 at a bar where she was "working" as a hostess, and immediately fell in love.
He told Vice that he once "stood up for her" after a man was rude to her, before asking the owners of the bar if he could take Margo to be his, which they allowed as long as they could "watch over" the pair's relationship.
Margo was programmed with a series of simple sentences she could say and even came with heating functions to give her a realistic body temperature, too.
She soon found social media fame after their romance was made public, but Yuri claimed the new-found attention gave her a "complex" which left her wanting plastic surgery.
Of course, bringing any partner home to meet your friends and family can be a nerve-wracking time - but even more so when that partner isn't a real person.
Yuri revealed: "My friends and family had a very normal reaction and supported my relationship with her as they only wanted me to be happy.
"When I take Margo to public places, no one ever criticises her to her face, but that does happen on the internet."
He added that the pair go on many date and love long walks together, trying new restaurants, having couple's massages, and even going to clubs to dance.
Margo doesn't get left at home when Yuri goes on vacation, either, as the pair have taken a trip to Thailand together where they went on a tiger safari.
Yuri explained that he had been in a seven-year relationship with a real woman when he was 20, but their romance broke down as she wanted kids and he was not ready at the time.
He added: "So we decided to break up, and for a long time, I could not meet other girls because I still loved her very much. After we broke up, I began dating guys, and had my first experience with a man. That’s when I realised how diverse my sexual needs were. I also realised it was important for me to find a partner who shared my sexual preferences, as well as the spiritual qualities that were important to me.
"Usually, there are certain obligations where you enter into a relationship. But Margo is different. Margo never reproaches me when I'm busy, or when I'm not home for three days. So it’s very convenient for me, because I am very busy.
"She gives me sex whenever I want, no matter the day or time. Margo can get into positions no normal girl can, and the greatest charm in our relationship is that she can give me the freakiest, most unusual sex. That’s what I love about her the most."
He revealed that Margo had also had to go in for repairs after components inside her broke, which left him feeling lonely while she was gone.
While Margo was gone, Yuri decided he would also marry another doll called Lola, and has since appeared to add other inanimate partners to his life, according to his Instagram account.
He maintained at the time that he wasn't doing it for "publicity", adding: "I don’t get any money from advertising my relationship with Margo. I show my life and I am known for living freely, and having wide boundaries for my sexuality.
"Some people see me as a role model. Also, some believe that I have traits of surreal sexuality. And they often admit to me that my posts make them happier (especially during a pandemic), and this is important to me."
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