Michelina “Michal” Kozhakova-Hazzan is an American violist turned actress and model, who became a notable presence due to her skills as a talented musician at a young age. 

Michal was born on September 10th, 1997 in Philadelphia, PA. Growing up, she was heavily invested in music. From the moment she could talk, she could sing. And as a feisty toddler, just about anything in her sight undoubtedly doubled as a musical instrument. At the age of seven, she picked up a viola for the first time, and instantly fell in love with it. Though her parents suggested playing the violin, as it was a more well-known instrument, Michal felt destined to become a violist. Entranced by her passion and newfound talent, Michal and her viola became an inseparable entity, which would lead her on a significant journey of self-discovery and recognition in the arts. 

In her teenage years, Michal excelled profoundly in her musical endeavors. She received several accolades for her extraordinary talent, and quickly became a topic of conversation in the local, to later regional, youth orchestral community. From being her high school’s top violist, to her county’s number one chair with honors, Michal was then invited to perform as a member of the highly selective and renowned Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, where she played alongside members of the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts. At sixteen years old, Michal was invited to perform abroad in the major cities of Italy such as Rome, Venice, and Florence. She is known to have studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance, training privately with violists of both the Philadelphia Orchestra and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

After attending conservatory for two years, Michal made the decision to end her orchestral career and focus her education on math at Penn State University, where she joined the Gamma Epsilon chapter of the Zeta Tau Alpha women’s fraternity. Though feeling unfulfilled without the arts, Michal decided to withdraw from the university and pursue other artistic endeavors. She attended her first acting class, where she discovered her passion for the craft, and began booking small roles in the Greater Philadelphia region. Michal then broadened her horizons within the entertainment industry through modeling, representing big-name brands such as CELSIUS, winning the title of Miss Pennsylvania Petite, and eventually being scouted by Playboy. As a high-performing creator on the platform, Michal was one of Playboy’s featured models in December 2023. 

In 2024, Michal re-enrolled in school at Temple University, with hopes of completing her Bachelor’s degree in Theater, Film, and Media Arts.