Woman I Love: Natalia Vodianova
A Childhood Without Play
Natalia Vodianova grew up in a poor district of Nizhny Novgorod with her mother and two half sisters, one of whom has cerebral palsy. Like most children living in urban environments across Russia, Natalia and her sisters had nowhere safe to play in the outdoors. As a teenager, Natalia helped her mother sell fruit on the street and later set up her own fruit stand with a friend to help her family out of poverty.
Natalia Vodianova grew up in a poor district of Nizhny Novgorod with her mother and two half sisters, one of whom has cerebral palsy. Like most children living in urban environments across Russia, Natalia and her sisters had nowhere safe to play in the outdoors. As a teenager, Natalia helped her mother sell fruit on the street and later set up her own fruit stand with a friend to help her family out of poverty.
A Career in the Fashion Spotlight
When she was 17, Natalia was given the opportunity to work as a fashion model in Paris. By 2000 she was working with designers such as Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Yves Saint Laurent. She has been the face of Calvin Klein, Chanel, David Yurman, Guerlain and Jacob & Co., and is recognised as one of the world’s top fashion models. In 2001, Natalia married Justin Portman and gave birth to their first child. They now live permanently in the UK with their three children and are actively involved in the work of the Foundation in Russia.
When she was 17, Natalia was given the opportunity to work as a fashion model in Paris. By 2000 she was working with designers such as Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Yves Saint Laurent. She has been the face of Calvin Klein, Chanel, David Yurman, Guerlain and Jacob & Co., and is recognised as one of the world’s top fashion models. In 2001, Natalia married Justin Portman and gave birth to their first child. They now live permanently in the UK with their three children and are actively involved in the work of the Foundation in Russia.
Giving Children a Place to Play
Natalia’s experiences as a child and opportunities as an adult have allowed her to become a bridge between the international community and the needs of Russian children. In 2005, Natalia and Justin created the Naked Heart Foundation to construct modern Play Parks for less fortunate children in Russia. In Natalia’s own words:
Natalia’s experiences as a child and opportunities as an adult have allowed her to become a bridge between the international community and the needs of Russian children. In 2005, Natalia and Justin created the Naked Heart Foundation to construct modern Play Parks for less fortunate children in Russia. In Natalia’s own words:
“When I wanted to play as a child, there was really nowhere to go. My vision is to build safe play parks in as many towns as I can. I want the play parks to be for all children, including children with disabilities.”
![DiANA [Mo]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/avatar_87a91acc5f2e_30.png){kind=avatar}
