What did famous Russian models look like before they became successful

Looking at popular Russian models like Irina Shayk or Natalia Vodianova, it is hard to believe that once they were simple girls, lived in ordinary families and could not even dream of such a future. But they still managed to escape from the hinterland, and straight to Paris and Hollywood!

Let's see how these beauties looked before, and find out how they managed to achieve this.

Currently, Alexandra Pivovarova is one of the most successful and popular models in the world. The girl is often called the "alien model" for her unusual face: a high forehead, almond-shaped eyes, high prominent cheekbones. As a child, Sasha dreamed of becoming an artist and did not even think that she would ever walk on the catwalk. But Pivovarova's unconventional appearance opened her doors to the world of big fashion — in 2005, Alexandra's pictures were seen in the IMG agency, and two weeks later she opened the Prada show in Milan.

The Permian Natasha Polevshchikova, and now Natasha Poly, is a great example of what perseverance, ambition and boundless self-belief are capable of. Even at a young age, the girl knew that she wanted to be famous, so she fought her way to fashion Olympus with all her might. At the age of 15, Natasha took second place in a Moscow beauty contest, and a few years later she took part in the Paris Fashion Week shows.

Sasha Luss was born in Magadan in a family of doctors. Parents dreamed that their daughter would follow in their footsteps and from the very childhood they gave her medical literature. However, the girl decided to go her own way — at the age of 15, Sasha applied to a modeling agency. In 2007, the first serious show of the Russian woman took place, and in 2012 she starred for Bohemique. Pictures from this photo shoot. Karl Lagerfeld-he liked the appearance of Luss so much that he personally invited the model to take part in the Chanel show.

Few people know what Irina Shayk really is Irina Shaikhlislamova. And what did you think, in the small town of Yemanzhelinsk, Chelyabinsk region, people are born with the surname Shake? Since childhood, Irina planned to follow in the footsteps of her mother and become a teacher, but her fate was completely changed by one lucky chance. At one of the beauty contests, the future star noticed Gia Jikidze is a well-known model scout. He saw a huge potential in Irina and was not mistaken! Now Sheik is included in the rating of the most successful and highest-paid models in the world, and her photos adorn the covers of world glossy magazines.

Anna Vyalitsyna was born in Gorky, now Nizhny Novgorod. The girl's parents were doctors, but even as a child, she realized that this job was not for her. At the age of 15, Anna went to look for her vocation in St. Petersburg, where she was noticed by the scouts of a modeling agency. Soon Vyalitsyna signed a contract with IMG New York — the largest modeling agency in the world). Now Anna is one of the most popular and highly paid models.

Natalia Vodianova is probably known by everyone. And all thanks to the keen eye of the same fashion scout Gia Jikidze-it was he who opened the way to the podium for a poor girl from Nizhny Novgorod. A few months after their first meeting, the girl was already conquering Paris, and then the whole world. But Vodianova is known not only for her unusual appearance, but also for her kind heart — for many years Natalia has been running the Naked Hearts Foundation, which raises money for projects to support children with special needs. In addition, the model is engaged in the program "Every child deserves a family" and regularly participates in charity events.