From “queen of the catwalk” to housewife: where did Russia’s first model Natalya Semanova go?

As often happens, Semanova’s career began by chance. A friend persuaded her to go to the casting at the Vyacheslav Zaitsev Model House in Moscow. The girls were 13 years old. The master immediately noticed Natalya among the others, although he criticized her figure – then Natalya was a little plump. But Zaitsev was simply fascinated by the girl’s appearance.

Her first appearance on the catwalk cannot be called successful: Semanova received a dress made of small mirrors. The heavy outfit put pressure on his shoulders and the glass scratched his skin until it bled. Plus, all but one of the back clasps had already come undone on the catwalk, and Natalya could only silently pray for that last hook to take hold. But outwardly, she maintained an enviable calm: not a single muscle twitched, nothing disrupted the rhythm of her graceful passage. The model’s endurance and character also impressed everyone.

At the age of 14, Semanova won the prestigious modeling competition “Look of the Year”. As the winner, she was supposed to take part in the Dior fashion show, but according to the law of the time, such a young model could not yet be allowed to work on the show. As a result, Gianfranco Ferre, then the brand’s creative director, invited Natalia as a guest and offered her one of the best front row seats alongside VIP guests like Sophia Loren. Everyone was fascinated by the silent and slightly melancholic, but so beautiful Russian – all that remained was to wait until Natalya turned 16 and could work full time.

On her 16th birthday in October 1995, Semanova went to New York. Adapting to the new life was not easy. Finding herself alone abroad, Natalya missed her family very much – she called her mother every day and cried. She consoled and encouraged her daughter as best she could: “If you’re already gone, hold on and fight. »

And Natalya had a hard time: with her shyness, uncertainty and simply a feeling of shyness in front of the big names in the fashion world. During one of the first shows at Christian Lacroix, Semanova got tangled in her dress and fell. Not only is this a horribly embarrassing moment for an aspiring model, but it’s also a serious mistake that could cost your career. Natalya already expected the worst, but everything turned out well – the couturier himself went to the catwalk to support the debutante, and then called her to the next show without casting.

Semanova learned quickly – soon from a clumsy and inexperienced model she turned into a diva, who was called only the “Russian queen” of the catwalk, and Semanova’s graceful gait became the norm.

The model was incredibly in demand and won the best contracts: she starred for Vogue, was the face of the Opium perfume by Yves Saint Laurent and the Giorgio Armani brand.

Semanova’s career was booming, but in 2003 she sharply reduced her participation in shows, and then stopped appearing in public altogether. Semanova ended her modeling career at the age of 25. Many then associated this with changes in the model’s personal life. In 2010, Semanova returned briefly, participating in the John Galliano show, but she no longer made the same impression – over the years, Semanova simply changed and her face no longer had the refined aristocracy for which the Russian model was loved in the West. .

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Although Semanova was one of the first beauties of the fashion world, her personal life did not work out for a long time. In Paris, Natalya began dating a man who tormented her with endless jealousy and nagging – in general, as we would say now, it was an abusive relationship.

In 2000, Natalia met Frenchman Alexandre (Dado) Bentolila, who worked at the Elite Model Look agency. Not without a “Cupid” in the person of Semanova’s friend, who brought the couple together.

In February 2001, the lovers organized a wedding in which personalities from the fashion world took part, including designers John Galliano and Jean-Paul Gaultier, with whom Natalya worked and was friends. The latter even created a wedding dress for her.

Since then, Semanova has devoted herself to family life. She and Alexander had two children: daughter Chiara and son Paul. Chiara, 13, is already being considered for a career as a model. Her heredity is enviable, because not only was her mother a model, but also her paternal grandmother. Alexander’s mother, Susie Lindberg, was also a model at one time.

Well, Semanova, who will soon be 44 years old, leads a measured lifestyle, travels a lot, lives in a luxurious estate and, it seems, does not seek publicity at all – she does not even maintain personal social networks .

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