Brunette Swirl

Brunette Swirl

5 Hot Russian Women Who Dominate the Modeling Industry

Though it comes as no surprise, the modeling industry is full of beautiful Russian women. From high fashion spreads to sizzling swimsuit pictorials, Russian women grace the pages of major magazines worldwide. Want to know more? Below are 5 hot Russian women who have taken the modeling industry by storm. All of these lovely ladies have modeled for Victoria's Secret.

1. Natalia Vodianova

Lovely Natalia Vodianova was born February 28, 1982 in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod. Born into a poor family, Natalia sold fruit on the streets to help support her troubled mother and two sisters. Things began looking up, however, after Natalia moved to Paris at the age of 17 to begin her modeling career. Natalia has since modeled for Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton, L'Oréal, David Yurman, Marc Jacobs, Miss Sixty, Pepe Jeans, Diane von Fürstenberg, Chanel, and others. Forbes magazine recently ranked Natalia as the seventh highest paid supermodel in the world.

2. Anne Vyalitsyna

Anne Vyalitsyna, also known as Anne V., was born March 19, 1986 in what is now Nizhny Novgorod (the same birth town as Russian beauty Natalia Vodianova). Discovered in Saint Petersburg at the tender age of 15, the 5’10” stunner has enjoyed a successful career, having worked for designers such as Anna Sui, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Givenchy, Gucci, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, and many others. Anne V. is perhaps best known for her 5-year run in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. The sexy Russian is rumored to be romantically involved with American actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

3. Natasha Poly

Born July 12, 1985, Natalia Polevshchikova, otherwise known as Natasha Poly, began her modeling career in 2000. Her career skyrocketed in 2004 when she worked 54 fashion shows in cities all over the world. Natasha has been featured in numerous advertising campaigns including Nine West, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and others. She has also worked the runway for several well-known brands, including Gucci, Versace, and Victoria’s Secret.

4. Eugenia Volodina

A gorgeous 5’10” brunette, Eugenia Volodina was born September 17, 1984 in the Russian city of Kazan. Eugenia’s illustrious career began in 1998, though things really didn’t start taking off until her 2002 feature in Italian Vogue. Eugenia has since appeared in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair, ID, Numero, and Elle, and has appeared in a number of catalogs and advertising campaigns. Rumors swirled in May 2009 after Eugene and Mickey Rourke were photographed in an intimate embrace.

5. Vlada Roslyakova

Vlada Roslyakova, a native of Omsk, Russia, was born July 8, 1987 and has been modeling since childhood. Although she was born Elena Roslyakova, Vlada changed her name early in her modeling career to avoid being confused with another Elena Roslyakova. Lovely Vlada almost quit modeling in 2004 due to stage fright, but she was able to overcome her fear and has since modeled for a number of popular designers. Although she has been criticized for her weight, Vlada says she is naturally thin and enjoys classic Russian food, sushi, and smoothies.

About the Author

I like to write about Russia and Russian culture.