Natalia Vodianova

The biographies of many models include elements of magic wands and fairy godmothers, e.g., Gisèle Bundchen who was discovered during a volleyball tournament, Jessica Stam in a gas station, or Irina Kulikova while having dinner with her mother. Natalia Vodianova's story, however, is perhaps one of the most magical of all.

Vodianova was raised in Gorki, several hundred miles from Moscow, in a very modest family. At 14, she realized that she might be a more efficient breadwinner than her mother and started working in the vegetable market. At 15, she came up with a better idea to provide for her younger handicapped sister.

She decided to take her chances as a model and applied to an agency. The first one refused, however, saying that she did not have what it takes to become a top model. Her boyfriend at the time reassured her and brought her to a second agency that did sign her. Then a Russian photographer who worked for the French agency Viva spotted her and fell under her charm.

Viva offered her a chance to come to Paris, on the condition that she learn English in 3 months - which she did. At 17, Vodianova left for France and signed her first contract in 1999. Then began the castings period, during which time she babysat in order to make ends meet. In 2001, she was named the "Biggest sensation in the Modeling World" by W magazine.

Her pouty face, mischievous and candid regard and her perfect girlish figure have subjugated the world of fashion. As incredible as all this was, what finally did push her into superstardom was not a photographer or an opening slot in a show, but a very personal event.

Vodianova was 18 when she met Justin Portman, an English lord, during a party. They fell in love at first sight and several months later, Vodianova was pregnant. Portman worried about her career but she believed that what happened was meant to be and that everything would be fine. They were married at city hall, saving the religious ceremony for after the birth in accordance with Portman's family wishes.

Wife, mother, and more radiant than ever, Vodianova went back to work barely several weeks after giving birth. Her baby, Lucas, whom she brought everywhere with her, seemed to bring her luck: Tom Ford chose her to be the face of Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent asked her to open his show, and Vogue put her on their cover (a requirement for a future top model).

In 2002, she was the most demanded model during the New York fashion week. In addition, Calvin Klein, who was then separating from the increasingly capricious Kate Moss, offered Vodianova Moss' place. The contract signed between the young Russian mother and the American design giant was for an amount rarely seen in the business.

Vodianova moved to New York with her family, but the couple also owns places in Paris and London. They bought an apartment in Russia for her mother and pay for the best care money can buy for her sister - all that she had always dreamed of doing, taking care of her own. Her modest beginnings allow her to be at ease everywhere, to be grateful for her good fortune, to keep her simple tastes and affirm that she can be content with very little.

She has proudly become one of L'Oréal's ambassadors and laughingly adds that she is the only one in the household bringing home the bacon, because on her husband's side the wealth is inherited. Her husband, by the way, accompanies her everywhere with the children - family is very important to both of them. Her career is going beautifully and she is working with Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs.

On March 24, 2006, she gave birth to a girl, Nieva, and two weeks later found herself in front of the camera for Calvin Klein's new campaign as if nothing had happened. She always remembers her origins and works to improve living conditions for Russian children: in 2007, she offered her native village a children's center with sports field, leisure space and services adapted for the handicapped.

Becoming pregnant for a third time did not prevent Vodianova from appearing in the pages of Vogue U.S. for a stunning photo session last July, nor from appearing four times in other Vogues these last months. It does not seem that she has not finished her life as a working-mom. Nature gave her a metabolism capable of anything, a prince charming, and a godmother in the form of Anna Wintour - and she should take full advantage of it all.