The beginning of the way
Not every star in the zenith glory will remember its dysfunctional past. But Vodyanova just talks about a poor childhood, that one of her two younger sisters suffers from cerebral palsy. "How to help my mother - this was the main question that I asked myself years from 12", - admits Natalia. And she helped: took care of her sick sister, settled in the market to sell vegetables and fruits. Even then, the girl showed an unbending will - for this quality later, Vodyanova in the fashion world was called an "iron fist in a velvet glove".
The first Nizhny Novgorod castings did not bring any results. "I did not have time to dream of becoming a model," recalls Vodyanova. "But at that time there was a real model boom, and I also went to the casting, like all the girls."
"Vodianova is mediocre, and she has a nose with a potato", - such verdict was carried out by the jury members of the Nizhny Novgorod model competition. It's unclear how Natalia's life would have turned out if a representative of the model agency from Paris had not paid attention to her on one of the fashionable castings. Natasha was offered a contract, but with the condition: to learn English in 2 months. And she managed to master this language in 8 weeks. Vodianova's contract was in her pocket. And 2 more years she needed to make a sensation in the fashion world. "The combination of purity and sexuality!" - exclaimed Jean-Paul Gaultier, first saw Natalia.
Love is like a fairy tale
One contract was replaced by another. Many beauties who started with her have long been written off, and Natalia has become only more popular. The reason is that she - one of the few provincials - has managed to resist the temptations of a rich life: parties, alcohol, drugs, attention of rich fans. "It was not to excess that I was," Natalya says. "Almost all the money I sent to my mother." Once, along with Natasha's money transfer, my mother received a letter: "Lord Portman is coming to ask you for my hand." The people were in a panic: the lord was going to their Nizhny Novgorod Khrushchev!
... They met in Paris. Seeing the model, the lord could not take his eyes off. On Justin's offer to leave with him from the party, Natasha replied categorically "no!". The next day, Portman phoned her, apologized for his behavior and invited to tour around Paris. After the first date they both realized that they had fallen in love. But that her knight-of noble birth, Vodyanova found out when the conversation was about the wedding.
The wedding of Justin and Natalia was simply royal: it was held in the throne room of the Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg. For the sake of his wife, Portman refused his own business projects. Natasha for the sake of the family endangered her career - every pregnancy was a shock to the fashion world. "She will ruin the figure!" - shouted all around.
The first child Vodyanova gave birth at age 19, the baby was named Lucas. Then the girl Neva appeared, named after the great Russian river. In 2007, another son was born to Portman and Vodyanova, who was named after Victor's grandfather Natasha. "And this is not the limit,
- recognizes Vodyanova. - My husband and I dream of a double. The boy will be called Justin, and the girl - Natasha. "
The main reproach to Vodyanova at the beginning of her career was: "Simple." To learn how to be feminine and refined, Natalya spent hours rehearsing every gesture in front of the mirror.
"Models need both an impeccable appearance and inner depth. Otherwise, you will quickly get tired, "Natalya says.
"When you stop being natural - you fly out to the side of the fashion world forever!" - sure Vodyanova. It was because of lack of affectation that she was invited to become the face of the legendary Chanel, Versace, Louis Vuitton Houses.