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Natalia Vodianova Profile |
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Birth Date: February 28, 1982
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Birth Place: Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
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Birth Name: Natalia Vodianova
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Height: 5'9"
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Biography |
Natalia Vodianova's rags to riches life story has made her
one of the most talked about models in recent memory. Born
in Gorky (now Nizhni Novgorod), Russia's third largest city,
she lived with her mother and two half-sisters in unpleasant
conditions. Her mother's abusive boyfriends and a tight
financial situation dogged her throughout childhood.
Helping her mother with her fruit stall business at the
tender age of 11, Vodianova moved into her own apartment
with a friend at 15 years old. They started their own fruit
stall to help out the struggling family and were actually
quite successful, all things considered. They were able to
help out Vodianova's sisters, one of whom is an invalid.
Just before moving, Vodianova enrolled in a modeling
academy, where she learned ladylike behavior and etiquette.
Fortunately, she also went to casting opportunities, and one
day, she caught the eye of a scouting agent from Paris. He
told her that a great future was in store for her; all she
had to do was learn English in three months.
Convinced that her life could change for the better,
Vodianova did just that. At 17, she moved to Paris to try
her hand at modeling. Delighted to work, she was a dream
client for the Viva agency and was an inspired woman. Though
her salary was small at her first, it was still much more
than what she was earning in her native Russia.
When she was 19 years old, she made much headway in modeling
but still had not made it big. For some time, she was
distracted however, after falling in love and marrying
British real-estate heir Justin Portman. She gave birth to
son Lucas before the lavish wedding in St. Petersburg, and
for an instant, her career looked bleak. Fortunately, these
distractions did not sway her: she roamed the runways for
several fall collections and astounded so many that she
headlined the Yves Saint Laurent show that same year.
Soon, Vodianova's phone was ringing off the hook. Gucci made
her the new face for their perfume line after she had more
than 40 runway shows under her belt, and then Calvin Klein
called to hire her for their big Spring show. She was
officially the hot new face in town and even made a brief
appearance in Roman Coppola's film CQ with Billy Zane and
Grard Depardieu.
Now, with campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Miss
Sixty to her name, Vodianova is a true supermodel. She has
done it all, from Vogue covers to big-name fashion shows.
The media loves her not only for her "real" look, but
because her story is so inspiring. Living in New York with
her husband and son, Vodianova, at only 21 years old, is
already poised to take over the whole modeling world with
her charm and sex appeal. |
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Other
Information |
Has a son named Lucas (b. 2002) and daughter named Neva (b.
2006).
Is a model.
Her husband Justin Portman is a real estate heir. He is also
a professional artist, and often travels with Natalia and
their children.
Husband's family estate is in Herefordshire, England.
Is the face of Calvin Klein
Model Agencies: NY-DNA, Paris-Viva, London-Take 2, Milan-Why
Not
Was ranked #16 in Channel 5's "World's greatest supermodel".
Daughter, Neva [b. 24 March 2006]
Daughter Neva born 24 March 2006, weighing 7 pounds. She is
named for the Neva river in Russia.
Vodianova's husband is The Honourable Justin Portman, who is
a professional artist. Portman is the son of a Viscount and
scion of one of Britain's wealthiest real estate families
which owns huge swathes of London. He chooses not to use his
title. |
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