Natalya Vodyanova – A Russian Cinderella with a big heart

31 December, 2008, 10:19

Russia can hold its own on the world's catwalks with a number of leading international models, but few can claim the same rise from rags to riches as Natalya Vodyanova.

As Russia's very own Cinderella, she is known to the world as the face of Calvin Klein, L'Oreal, and Louis Vuitton, but the world’s seventh highest earning super model had a less than ordinary rise to the top.

Born into a poor family in the city of Nizhny Novogorod, her meteoric rise to stardom began at a fruit stall by a bus stop. This is where Natalya, aged 15, was discovered by a model agency and those who knew her in those days remember how hard times were for her.

“When Natalya was growing up she had ever increasing difficulties,” said her grandmother Natalya Vodyanova. “She had to get up early together with her mother. She was tall and skinny. She was helping her mother to unload trucks of fruit. Then she was discovered by model business.”

The dedicated philanthropist as well as follower of fashion, Vodyanova's ‘Naked Heart’ foundation has built dozens of playgrounds for children in different cities all around Russia.

The mother of three says that without the support of her family she could never have reached the heights she has.

“With a very happy childhood, I was lucky to have a really great family,” she said. “My mother was an exceptional person. We were quite poor. It was difficult sometimes although it was all a very happy childhood.”

Family is very important to Natalya, who now lives in England with her children and husband real estate heir Justin Portman. She doesn't let her jet set lifestyle get in the way of seeing her family in Russia.

“I don't go back very often but my family comes and visit me in England,” she said. “And also when I am in Moscow they come and visit me here if I am with my children. So I see my family very often.”