A single mom works as a makeup artist and NYC real estate broker. Here's how she affords life in the city.

Violetta Kruglyak, 44, is a real estate broker and makeup and hair stylist living in NYC.

Marissa Alper for BI Violetta Kruglyak thrives in NYC real estate by hustling for deals in a competitive market.

Originally from Ukraine, Kruglyak balances her real estate career with raising her son in NYC.

Despite fluctuating income, Kruglyak stays motivated by focusing on financial growth and success.

Working in NYC real estate , brokering deals for the rich and famous in one of the most desirable property markets in the world, is a "glamorous" business.

Yet, for broker Violetta Kruglyak, that does not translate to a glamorous life.

For her, breaking into the real estate world is defined by one word: hustle.

She might work for a firm that sells luxury Manhattan townhouses — but there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work, tight budgeting, and trial and error that go into being successful in the competitive and dynamic NYC real estate business.

Kruglyak, 44, originally from Odessa, Ukraine, moved to NYC in 2011 after getting married, having taught herself English while growing up.

Fifteen years later, she still thinks in Russian, raises her 17-year-old son as a single mother, owns her dream sports car, and has worked her way up to become a make-up and hair stylist and a broker at luxury residential and commercial brokerage firm Nest Seekers International.

Violetta Kruglyak started working in real estate in 2024 and aims to continue growing as a broker at Nest Seekers International.

Marissa Alper for BI Kruglyak is one of the people Business Insider has interviewed for our Cost of the City series, where we dive into the lives of New Yorkers and the trade-offs they face to stay in one of the most expensive cities in the country.

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There have been times when Kruglyak has considered moving away from NYC, especially when she was struggling financially.