From Russia With Love: Natalia Vodianova - Photo Gallery

natalia vodianova portrait1 799x1024 From Russia With Love: Natalia Vodianova Photo Gallery

Natalia Vodianova’s life is a true rags to riches story and an inspiration to women all over the world.

Born Наталья Водянова in Gorky (now Nizhni Novgorod), Russia’s third largest city, Natalia grew up struggling against poverty and abuse. At age 11 she began helping her mother run a fruit stall business.

At age 15, she moved into her own apartment and started her own fruit stand. She was even able to help out her mother and handicapped sister.

At some point, Vodianova enrolled in a modeling school, where she learned etiquette and English(in 3 months).

At 17, she moved to Paris to and began modeling. Working with the Viva Agency, her first paychecks were very small, but she stuck to it.

By age 19, she started making progress in her modeling career. She did find time to fall in love with and marry real-estate Mogul Justin Portman and give birth to her son Lucas. But this did not dampen her will to succeed on her own terms.

“In two weeks after giving birth to Lucas, I was on the catwalk.” - Natalia Vodianova

After hitting the runways for several fall collections she took the fashion world by storm by headlining the Yves Saint Laurent show.

After becoming the face of Gucci’s perfume line, she walked for Calvin Klein’s big Spring show. By then she was the talk of the town and even made a cameo in Roman Coppola’s film CQ with Billy Zane and Gerard Depardieu.

Now, with Vogue covers, campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Miss Sixty under her belt, Vodianova is a verifiable Supermodel, Supermom and philantropist.

“I have done it. I have everything I want. I have made enough money to secure my family and that is all I care about.” - Natalia Vodianova

-J

Source - Askmen