Russian Fashion Models Gallery: Natalia Vodyanova

Natalia Vodyanova has earned a super model status and is well known in many (almost all) parts of the world. But I do not believe that people in the US really know her story as it is. Yes, a typical inspiring Cinderella story: born in a poor family, struggling, no education, gets discovered by accident, takes the chance and ends up marrying a prince, almost literally. But being closely familiar with the reality of the former Soviet Union and being of the same age with Natalia, I have to say: in my eyes she walked a much longer distance from where she was to where she is now. Natalia never got a chance to get even a high school diploma. She grew up without a father selling fruit in the market to earn some money to get through. In several interviews to the Russian media she admitted that when she signed her first modeling contract at the age of 15 and purchased a ticket to Paris, she only expected the best. Just because it couldn’t get any worse. Today Ntalia is one of the most stylish representatives of the English elite, one of the most affluent women in UK, and one of the most famous top models in the world. It takes courage and a fascinating individuality to go that far and still stay a humble and simple person. Reading Russian blogs and forums, I often come across this question: “What is it about her? She is undoubtedly a beautiful woman but there are thousands of them in Russia!” It is true. But Natalia’s beauty goes far beyond a magazine cover and for that reason we salute her.

Image courtesy of Glamurnenko.ru