Who is Natalia Vodianova?
Natalia Vodianova is a Russian model, charitable person, public figure, and entrepreneur. Growing up in financial struggle, she was primarily cared for by her mother following her father’s abandonment. By her 15th birthday, Natalia had landed a modeling deal, and by her 17th year, she had signed with Viva Models in Paris. She has acted as a model for brands like Calvin Klein, Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Versace. She has graced the pages of magazines like Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Elle. Natalia is now a well-known philanthropist who operates an independent charity for children with disabilities, called the Naked Heart Foundation. Elbi, co-developed by her, has earned her numerous awards for her philanthropic activities. Now, she resides in Paris alongside her fiancé Antoine Arnault and their five children.
Apart from her modeling work, Vodianova established the Naked Heart Foundation in 2004 to assist kids with disabilities, motivated by her sister Oksana’s autism and cerebral palsy.
| Real Name/Full Name | Natalia Mikhailovna Vodianova |
| Date Of Birth | 28 February 1982 |
| Age | 44 years old |
| Birthplace | Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. |
| Nationality | Russian. |
| Religion | Christianity. |
| Zodiac sign | Pisces. |
| Father Name | Mikhail Vodianov. |
| Mother Name | Larisa Vodianova. |
| Hair Color | Light Brown |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Height | 5 feet 10 inch |
| Weight | 55 kg |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse Name | Antoine Arnault (M. 2020), Justin Portman (M. 2001 TO Div. 2011). |
| Children Name | Neva Portman, Viktor Portman, Lucas Alexander Portman, Roman Arnault, and Maxim Arnault. |
| Siblings Name | Oksana Kusakina, and Kristina Kusakina. |
| Profession | Model, Actress, Philanthropist, and Entrepreneur. |
| Net Worth | $50 Million. |
Early Life & Education
Born on February 28, 1982, in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Natalia Mikhailovna Vodianova was to Larisa Vodianova and Mikhail Vodianov. She came of age in dire economic circumstances alongside two younger half-sisters, Oksana and Kristina Kusakina, and a fourth half-sister, Jennifer Burns, who was adopted and raised in the U.S.
Oksana possesses autism and cerebral palsy, influencing Vodianova’s efforts in championing disability rights. Living in financial struggles, she dropped out of school at 15 to sell fruits on the streets alongside her mother. After briefly enrolling in a local modeling school, she pursued no further formal higher education.
Career
When she was 15, Natalia Vodianova secured her first modeling deal. By the time she was 17, she had moved to Paris, France, where she inked a deal with Viva Models. In addition to her roles with DNA Model Management in New York and Why Not Model Management in Milan, she was associated.
Vodianova eventually became a successful model, gaining recognition in various areas including runway shows, commercial campaigns, and print media. Over 200 runway shows have been participated in by her, with top-tier fashion designers. She has walked the catwalk for labels including Givenchy, Prada, Guerlain, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, L’Oréal, Marc Jacobs, Hugo Boss, and Stella McCartney.
She has also worked with ace fashion photographers such as Annie Leibovitz, Steven Meisel, Mario Testino, Patrick Demarchelier, Peter Lindbergh, Paolo Roversi, Bruce Weber, Alasdair McLellan, David Sims, Hedi Slimane, Ellen von Unwerth, Mariano Vivanco, Steven Klein, and Karl Lagerfeld.
A lot of international fashion magazines and publications have featured Natalia on their covers, some of them being Vanity Fair, Vogue (over 70 international covers), GQ, Elle, W, Marie Claire, Allure, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, L’Officiel, Grazia, Hello!, and Esquire.
In September 2004, Natalia Vodianova’s inaugural cover for American Vogue, taken by Steven Meisel, was published. Featured among “The Models of the Moment,” the model was named alongside Gisele Bündchen and Daria Werbowy. Her initial solo profile for the magazine appeared in its July 2007 issue. In May 2009, Natalia was prominently featured on the American Vogue cover, alongside being recognized as one of “Model Faces of the Moment.”
In 2014, Natalia was one of 50 beauties selected to grace the cover of the September 2014 issue of Italian Vogue, marking the magazine’s 50th anniversary edition. In 2015, Steven Meisel was tasked with photographing Natalia for the Pirelli Calendar. That same year, she made it to the fifth spot on the Forbes list of the wealthiest models.
For the 43rd Pirelli Calendar, the following year, Annie Leibovitz took her photographs, featuring notable women like Serena Williams, Yoko Ono, and Amy Schumer, considered global inspirations. In 2017, the line created by H&M for its Conscious Exclusive collection featured sustainable clothing made from recycled and organic fabrics. Natalia received a spotlight in the June/July 2017 edition of W Magazine.
Personal Life
Natalia Vodianova’s first union was with Justin Portman, a British noble, which took place in 2001. Prior to 2011, when they separated, the couple had three children. Subsequently, she began dating Antoine Arnault, CEO of Berluti and son of the chairman of LVMH, Bernard Arnault. In 2020, the couple exchanged marital vows, and they share two sons together. They have two sons, Maxim, born in 2014, and Roman, born in 2016. Paris is Vodianova’s home, where she alternates between her career, motherhood, and philanthropy.
Net Worth
With a net worth pegged at $50 million, Vodianova’s earnings are derived from her modeling work, acting parts, and business endeavors. With her family, she calls the area between London and New York her home.
