Natalia Vodianova, the Russian fashion royalty of the rags to riches story and ageless face, has won the September cover of Vanity Fair.
Shot by Mario Testino, the 32 year old mother of four speaks about her Soviet fruit seller past, her gilded Parisian present and the way that it all goes into shaping her hopeful future.
“I had dark circles under my eyes, I didn’t smile very much, and I knew the problems of adults.” Says Natalia of her Russian upbringing.
“I remember having this feeling of Wow! It was thrilling. I had never kissed a boy. I was not what teenage boys were attracted to.” Says Natalia on growing into the woman she is today.
“It’s a very Russian way of protecting yourself. You turn up your nose and you hold your head high and you have this proud air. I was a very different girl back then. I was kind of tough and easily sparked into an argument.”Says Natalia of her childhood persona.