Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova has earned herself a place on a list of the most stylish Brits.
“Harpers Bazaar” magazine listed the 29-year-old Russian as Britain’s 12th best-dressed woman of 2011.
Vodianova lives and works predominantly in the UK, hence her qualifying for the list.
The magazine says she is defined by her combination of innocence and sex appeal.
Number one on the list was Kate Middleton, followed by Florence Welch of “Florence and the Machine” and up-and-coming actress Andrea Riseborough.
Dubbed the “Russian Cinderella” by the media, Natalya Vodianova is widely known for her “rags-to-riches” story. Brought up in an extremely poor family with a disabled sister, Vodianova enrolled in a modeling academy at the age of 15 and has gradually become one of the world’s highest paid and most successful supermodels.
Three new outtakes from Condé Nast Traveller Russia have been added to the gallery. Enjoy!
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Magazine Prints & Outtakes > Condé Nast Traveller Russia October 2011
Right from an opening extravaganza of workers in hard hats toiling away to the tune of a drill, on through to a penultimate act featuring a horse and donkey, the entertainment was a gala evening managing to combine the Bolshoi’s long history of grand performance with modern Russia’s supposed cultural vacuity.
Stretched over two hours, Friday night’s over-the-top medley of ballet and opera, with enough theatrics to rival any Eurovision gathering, gave Russia a show to remember to celebrate the opening of the Moscow theatre’s doors.
Not that Dmitry Medvedev, dwarfed on the Bolshoi’s enormous stage, was going to let the assembled supermodels, politicians and ballerinas be in any doubt of the significance. “Today is a very happy day for our country,” the president said, kicking off the evening with a speech extolling the theatre’s symbolism. “We have, of course, a very big country, but one with a small number of unifying symbols, so-called ‘national brands’. The Bolshoi is one of our greatest national brands.”
A brand name appeared a crass way to describe a magnificent world-class historic theatre that has given the world some of its best ballerinas, opera singers and choreographers. Broadcast round the world, the opening was intended as a cultural event to mark a six-year renovation costing half a billion pounds.
Medvedev and his wife, Svetlana, in silver lace top and deep blue skirt, took the main box, which has welcomed tsars and Soviet premiers since the theatre first opened in 1825. The president spent much of the evening whispering to Yelena Obraztsova, one of several Bolshoi legends invited to his box. When a standing ovation was needed, it was Medvedev’s wife who nudged him with the back of her hand.
Supermodel Natalia Vodianova and Italian actress Monica Bellucci were there, as were former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Naina Yeltsin, widow of the former president, and Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church. In a nod to Kremlinology, ex-finance minister Alexei Kudrin, fired last month by Medvedev, was relegated to the last row. Former president Vladimir Putin, now prime minister, was notably absent.
As the curtains parted on the famous stage for the first time in six years, the grand hall, outfitted in lush red fabric, ubiquitous gold and opulent chandeliers, filled with a pounding squeal of drilling and repairs. New acoustics, a goal of the renovation, ensured it was deafening. After several minutes, a choir of many dozens dressed as building workers launched into Mikhail Glinka’s Ivan Susanin, singing “Glory to the Russian people!”
An all-Russian programme followed, with arias from Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, and a Shostakovich’s tango from the Golden Age ballet was only outdone by an elegant adagio from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, featuring principal ballerina Svetlana Zakharova. French soprano Natalia Dessay and Lithuanian soprano Violeta Urmana were invited to perform.
Nearly all the pieces showcased the Bolshoi’s famous traditional style. Walking down a long red carpet after the end towards the dogs and riot police cordoning off the square in front of the Bolshoi, attendees seemed pleased.
“I liked it,” said Vitaly Mutko, the sport minister. “It’s culture. It’s the country.”
On October 29, Natalia went on a visit to Tula, Russia where she revealed plans to open a new playpark for children with special needs. Photos from her visit have been added to the gallery. A video from the event can also be found here.
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Appearances & Events > 2011 > Visit to Tula, Russia
Natalia was interviewed at the presentation of Alan Phillips’s book “Give Me a Chance.” She talks about the book, her charity and her career. Click the video below to watch!
A British journalist and a Russian supermodel have teamed up to tell the true story of a Russian orphan’s journey from being abandoned in a mental hospital to finding loving parents in the US.
“The Boy from Baby House 10″ was written by Alan Philps, who was instrumental in helping young Vanya start a new life. Natalia Vodianova helped to get the book published and wrote a preface for it.
Dubbed “Russia’s Cinderella,” Vodianova is internationally known not only as a supermodel, but also as a keen children’s philanthropist. Her “Naked Heart” foundation built dozens of playgrounds for children in different cities around Russia.
Coming from a family with a disabled sibling, Vodianova took Vanya’s story very close to heart.
“I grew up in a singe-mother family with a disabled sister – she is now 22 years old,” Vodianova told RT. “Alan [Philps] read about my story and wrote me a note that touched me and made me read his book. It said, ‘Thank you and your mother for not abandoning your sister in a state institution, like it happened to Vanya.’”
Undertaking the challenge to publish and promote the book, Vodianova hoped that it could play an important role in changing people’s attitude toward the disabled.
“The situation with orphanages in Russia hasn’t improved much, unfortunately,” Vodianova told RT. “There are numerous issues connected with disability. For example, children with certain diagnoses cannot be adopted at all. People who will read Alan’s book will understand how this system works, how brutal it is, what challenges such children face in state institutions. This is an incredible story. We hope the book encourages families not to give up on their children.”
President of the charity fund “Naked Heart” Natalia Vodianova opened a Family Support Center “Naked Heart” on the basis of the Nizhny Novgorod Center for Curative education and social adaptation of children and young people with mental and developmental disorders combined, “Veras.”
Opening of “Veras” – is not only important, but personal time – said at the opening of the center of Natalia Vodianova. – If such a center in Nizhny Novgorod, 22 years ago, it is possible that the fate of my sisters had a different (younger sister Natalie Oksana – disabled children – Ed.). “Veras” – is, above all, support for families who are raising special children, and this is difficult, at times an impossible task for some. Together we hope to create in the future ideal support center with the professional medical care, which will become an example for other regions. In Russia, at times dangerous to talk about philanthropy, government support for affected children are also poor. But we are on the right path, and to care about our army now joined by new people.
In this institution children, young people with disabilities and their parents will be provided free of psychological and educational and rehabilitative services. For 45 children who need special conditions to study groups will be created day care and pre-professional training group. Constant advice and guidance to the Center will annually receive more than 240 families from the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Watch a video from the event here.
