Siberian beauties

Russian women are some of the most beautiful women in the world, and the most beautiful women in Russia come from Siberia. Hundreds of Siberian models work in the fashion capitals of the world. Many of these young women come from poor families, from remote villages and small towns. They move to the suburbs of Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk in the hope of being noticed by the scouts of European and American modeling agencies, going to the catwalks of Paris, Milan or New York and finally gaining economic independence.

Siberia is a vast land that can be both generous and inhospitable. Here, the refined elegance of women contrasts with the monochrome landscape, which is shackled by the cold. This photo essay is a reflection of the unknown life of Siberian beauties, which lies on the other side of the glossy pages of fashion magazines, and their hopes.

(Total 24 photos)

1. Casting in an old building in the center of Krasnoyarsk. (© Marco Pighin)

2. Lyubov Belousova (left) and Maria Kudryavtseva in the dormitory of the Krasnoyarsk University. Both girls study and work as models at the Creative Modelss agency.

3. Russian beauty Inessa Yurinskaya.

4. Inessa Yurinskaya in the frozen suburb of Krasnoyarsk, where she lives. Inessa works for the UltraModel agency.

5. 21-year-old model Inessa Yurinskaya.

6. 19-year-old model Anastasia Skitilyagina with her mother. Anastasia works at the UltraModel modeling agency.

7. Models arrived at the casting.

8. The model takes a photo before the start of the casting in Krasnoyarsk.

9. Casting organized by the Maks Models Agency for the selection of applicants for participation in the Miss Krasnoyarsk beauty contest.

10. Model at the casting.

11. Casting organized by the Maks Models Agency for the selection of applicants for participation in the Miss Krasnoyarsk beauty contest.

12. Casting gave me a headache...

13. Inessa Yurinskaya demonstrates the crown she once received at a beauty contest.

14. 19-year-old Anastasia Mashukova at home on the eve of her flight to Moscow for the Miss Russia contest. Anastasia took second place in the competition.

15. Anastasia Mashukova at home on the eve of departure to Moscow for the Miss Russia contest.

16. Anastasia Mikhailenko in the Krasnoyarsk market. Anastasia is from a small town in the Irkutsk region where her family still lives. Now the girl is studying at Krasnoyarsk University and working for the Maks Models Agency.

17. Diary of Inessa Yurinskaya, in which she keeps memories and childhood photographs.

18. Salon of wedding dresses in the Krasnoyarsk market.

19. Anastasia Skitilyagina with her mother.

20. Lyubov Belousova (left) and Maria Kudryavtseva in a student hostel.

21. Lyubov Belousova was born in the city of Zheleznogorsk.

22. 22-year-old Maria Kudryavtseva is waiting for a bus. Maria was also born in Zheleznogorsk.

23. Maria Kudryavtseva in the dining room.

24. Maria crosses a frozen street in Krasnoyarsk.