Thank you thank you for the translation CandyLady !

You are welcome!

Second part (not the last):

Oasis in hell

A few hours before this, I get out of the rented car (my shoes are wet, the driver got lost and I had to get out of the car and ask for a direction) and enter the wooden and a bit rickety door of Natalia's house - in press, constantly talking about her happiness mixing it with rumors about her upcoming divorce, they call this house a manor. It is called "Mill house", because it was rebuilt of the old mill. The wooden stairway leading to the living room was decorated with a knitted countryside-styled rug and ended up with a small gate that closed the stairway from children, so they don't fall down. Natalia's youngest children - Neva and Victor - were riding that very gate with a happy yell and risking to pinch their fingers.

Natalia wore a faded stretched skirt, washed-out shapeless sweater and her hair was messy. She was trying to cook a dinner for children. A whole army of women, as if they were picked from a home catalog, was helping her: a nicest buxom Russian-speaking nanny, a decisive-looking strict female friend in square glasses, first assistant with a laptop, second assistant with a car keys from Vauxhall (Opel in Britain) - she was about to go to do some orders, but couldn't leave for some reason.

Angel Neva was running around a huge kitchen table and kept throwing a pink teddy pig to me every circle she made. Angel Viktor crawled onto his mother's laps, took my milk and started to pour it from milk jug into a cup and then from a cup into the milk jug, while little boy is allergic to milk. Neva took all the cups away from Viktor and he started crying disconsolately. And then the eldest Natalia's son Lucas came from school and brought a candle he made himself, which Viktor instantly broke and started crying again, but not because of the candle, but because he was hungry - the turkey was cooking too long...

Natalia was amazingly patient with her kids. She told crying Viktor: "My sweet little darling", she said to naughty Neva: "Give him at least one cup", she mended the broken candle so good, that Lucas, who went out to wash his hands, didn't even notice anything. Natalia told me, that that house where she lives in Sussex is an absolutely wonderful place, that there is a river outside, that about every three months her friends come over and they play intellectual games. That you can run to prepare for the Paris charity marathon ("Oh! I am training for 6 months already! I can easily run 12 miles, and I could run 24, but my knees hurt because of running and I don't like running at all in general.")

Or you can ride a bicycle, and once right before a big contract she was riding around and fell over the rudder, scratched her face on the rocks and lost the contract.

"And those people, you know, they didn't even send me flowers, knowing what happened to me. That is so weird. I think you should respect a person, if you hire him for such a big money." - she shrugged her shoulders and it looked as if she believes that for advertising campaigns they hire a person, but not just his face and skin - if you are talking about cosmetics.

Viktor was raving. Neva was teasing a cat in the corner. About cats: one of them belonged to Neva, the other one belonged to Viktor, an Lucas' was ran over by a car the second he went outside. Lucas kept trying to tell me this story properly and in English, but that only made the atmosphere more noisy. And Natalia was showing the wonders of patience: "Just a minute, my baby... Don't torture the cat, please, honey... Be patience, my love, you'll have a chance to tell your story a bit later..."

It might have been not polite, but I asked her, how she manages to be so patient and stays calm in all that blond angel-looking gang?

"And how else?" - Natalia was surprised. - "How can I be patient about the rest of the world if I can't even be patient with my own kids?"

And that moment I got it - the main occupation for a woman named Natalia (a celebrity, a beautiful rich woman) - is to be patient. That is why a model sits for hours and patiently waits for a stylist to make her hair and for photographer's assistant to arrange the lightening.

In return she provides herself safety - at least in her own house.

She sincerely thinks that this house full of noisy kids is her safety island in the middle of a cruel world you can never escape. An oasis in hell, if you please.

The moment you stick your nose outside (like Lucas' cat), you'll know that is true. You can build a career, you can marry a baron, you can move to New York and by a spectacular penthouse on Manhattan with your young husband, but one day you'll come up to the window with a beautiful view and see how Mohammed Atta is crushing into the left tower of the World Trade Centre on a high-jacked plane. Natalia saw it. And you can enter the suit of an expansive hotel in Moscow, fall on the bed, switch on the TV and see how some terrorist called Magas or Colonel is high-jacking the Beslan school.

Because around us is hell. We are in hell. All we can do is make some small asylums in this hell with some kind of wellbeing - like her house, that smells a baked turkey ("Oh! It's ready now! We are about to eat, my darling!"), like playgrounds for children that she builds in small Russian towns, like fashion shows and finally like good parties.

Along with the turkey she puts a DVD-player on the table. Natalia turns on the cartoon about "Cheburashka" and instantly children stop fighting and screaming and are glued to the screen, because there is an oasis of happiness for them. And Natalia goes upstairs to change into the evening dress, high heels and red gloves over her elbows, because you can only leave your fortress well-prepared - with weapon and armor.

Translated by me

Amazing reading !

Thank you so much for your translation CandyLady !

Natalia Vodianova is not hungry anymore

Modeling is a glamorous gig, but it can also be harmful to your health, says Natalia Vodianova. The Russian-born beauty, whose face and figure have been used to sell Calvin Klein, Yves Saint Laurent, and Marc Jacobs, says she used to be a scrawny mess, down to just 106 pounds and losing her hair. 'It just sort of happened to me without me knowing it', Vodianova told us yesterday. 'My weight was never an issue before I started modeling'. The consequences of the catwalk are the subject of next week’s 'Health Matters: Weight and Wellness in the World of Fashion', sponsored by the Harris Center at Mass. General. (Vodianova will be joined on the panel by high falutin fashion designer Michael Kors and Vogue’s Anna Wintour.) Reached yesterday in London, where she lives with her husband and three children, Vodianova said many girls begin modeling at a very young age – 15 and 16 – and then try to maintain that same slender look as they develop. 'To be a model is a gift that you are born with. Not everyone is meant to look like that', she says. 'The industry should employ women who are mature. Don’t put a delicate flower into this world of great disorder and then throw them out'. Asked about the gold standard of supermodels, Gisele Bundchen, Vodianova called Tom Brady’s bride a consummate pro. 'She hardly drinks, doesn't smoke, and does not party. Gisele is very smart and treats modeling as a business, not a lifestyle', said Vodianova. Registration for the March 22 event closes today, and we’re told it’s already at capacity. But there are still a few tickets – at $500 a piece – for the reception beforehand. (Ticket info is here.) In addition to the panelists, VIPs who have RSVP’d include Steve and Jill Karp, Rue La La’s Ben Fischman, Eliot Tatelman of Jordan’s Furniture, hotelier Dick Friedman, WBUR’s Paul LaCamera, liquor store magnate Carl Martignetti, and Steven Kolb of the Council of Fashion Designers of America".

source: www.boston.com

Natalia as Medusa (source: ANV):

thank you for the translation!

One more part from the interview (there will be about 3 more parts):

Feelings of an armor-bearer

Already wearing all her armor Natalia went to kiss her children goodnight. Then we got in the car and went to London, where on one of the many parties the supermodel Vodianova was supposed to meet the super football player Arshavin so she could invite him to her charity Love Ball - in other words make it happen that Arshavin would like to give some money.

And so we are driving in the dark. The fox crossed the road. I've read about the Beslan. Natalia's changed her mind about crying.

Natalia asks me what do I think about the idea of building playgrounds in Russia. I really like this idea: it's very rare example in charity when something is done for everyone, and you don't have a question why do you help these kids, but not the other - why the ones with the heart disease, but not the ones with viscidosis.

I ask Natalia in return: how did she come up with the idea of building playgrounds?

"Play is very important. Childhood is a hard time. A child that had some sort of trauma gets completely lost when he gent on our playground, he runs around with happy eyes and climbs the stairs..."

"As if all kids have had some kind of trauma..."

Natalia's silent.

"Are you saying that ALL kids have had some mental trauma in the past?"

Natalia's silent.

"Are you saying that YOU have had a mental trauma in childhood?" - I finally get it.

Natalia nods. A long pause. It is so quite in the "Mercedes" that you can hear how a conditioner works. It's raining outside. A fox on the road is eating a partridge that has been ran over by a car before us. That is why they are running here, I guess. Rare street lanterns light up Natalia's face and hair. She has such a face that you just want to turn into an old man and just to caress her without any romantic note and say "Wait a bit, little girl, we are almost in London, and there will be lights, lights... A Christmas eve chaos... A bright crowd on the streets". Expensive cars arrive to the place where the party is held, and there is no place to park even if you are a celebrity. We'll have to walk about 50m from the car to the entrance under the rain. And you are wearing an evening dress and high heels. I'll offer you my hand and lead you to the entrance. And the people will stare and wonder: the great Natalia Vodianova with some old punk who looks like Shrek and has never been seen in the media before. And you will whisper to me, that if photographers appear would I be so kind to take your mantle - as if you're instructing me in case some shooters appear.

Because this is a battle for you. And I am your armor-bearer tonight. And all these heels and dresses and rings and mantles - are weapon. And do you know what an armor-bearer feels when he walks you - Natalia Vodianova, a supermodel in her full battle dress - down the London street? It feels as if you carry a small bird in your hand.

Translated by me

Once again thank you CandyLady ! Big work Google translator couldn't do...

Maybe that's just me, but this article fills me with sadness... Maybe that's just the will of the author ?

Once again thank you CandyLady ! Big work Google translator couldn't do...

Maybe that's just me, but this article fills me with sadness... Maybe that's just the will of the author ?

Who knows. But I think the author wanted us to see a differenet Natalia from her public shining and powerful persona. It is really touching.

Thank you Candy Lady for all the effort you put through in translating the article.... it's really nice.

Guys, you are all very welcome, I am so happy you enjoy it!

I'll post the rest later!

Part 4 (two more to come)

Flags of the "United Russia"

Natalia says that she used to go to parties to relax and never left before the dawn. I guess she got quite a strong impression of me and she feels uncomfortable to tell me how great it can be to party with your friends until the early morning. Natalia says that now she often leaves the party before the midnight, and goes there only to find allies who would help her build playgrounds in Russia. It seems like these playgrounds are the only thing she constantly has on her mind. Playgrounds are the reason she does fashion shows. They are the reason she runs a charity marathon in Paris, and she also brought her friend Lucy Yeomans, chief editor of Harper's Bazaar, and her layer, and tries to persuade her director to run with them... Because she needs to gather money to arrange her Ball - and on the Ball she'll raise more money and they all will go to build playgrounds.

She really needs a lot of money, because these playgrounds differ from those which are usually built in Russian towns, but they are like those in British parks. Under the swings and carousels there is not sand or asphalt, but a special rubber cover. Ladders, slides and wall bars are built according to "ergonomic parameters of the child" so that the kid could climb holding both of the handrails, not one. Under the slides there is a thick layer of underlay from the bark, so that the kid won't hurt himself if he falls down. The sandbox is filled with oceanic or river sand, that is changed every year. And there are ships with decks and holds, stranded plastic tube-slides, rope nets that deserve a huge spider. Or there can be special equipment for rollers and skateborders - to occupy teenagers. And always – special attractions for disabled children. And what is also very important - that 3000 square meters play park is fenced, has a security, closes for the night, and adults can't enter it without children. A playground like this costs about $300 000. Natalia’s foundation called "Naked Heart" buys the equipment for playgrounds and signs a contract of tenancy with the local administration of province towns in Russia. According to this contract the town is given the playground in return of the guaranty that they will wash it, mend it, guard it and let all children enter it for free. But that is not that simple.

In Natalia's hometown Nizhnii Novgorod nobody was guarding the playground, and in the night vandals broke ladders and carousels, and respectable citizens cut pieces of rubber coverage for their home rugs. The playground was getting worse and worse, but that didn't stop the leaseholder from taking money for the entrance, turning this oasis of happiness into a source of pain, because how would a child feel looking at all attractions through the fence and hearing from his mother: "No, come on, let's go. It's expensive."

About $200 000 more Natalia's foundation had to pay to repair this playground; a year was spent to make the leaseholder behave properly according to the law.

But that very moment the director of a park in Penza announced in press that the playground of "Naked Heart" will be for pay, and that contradicted one of the points of the contract he had signed himself before. But the citizens of Penza knew nothing about this contract and simply thought Natalia was another rich bitch from abroad who came there to tease their children and make money on them.

And in Pertozavodsk the local TV announced that the mayor of the town had built a beautiful playground for children and that this playground is one of his project's plans of construction objects for children. And in the very end of this reportage Natalia's face appeared for a second and they said that a famous model Natalia Vodianova came for the opening of playground. Natalia didn't watch the TV and had no chance to get upset.

And in Ivanovo playground's opening was set at 10 in the morning on Thursday. Natalia's director told the administration that most of the children are in kindergartens or at school this time of the day, and their parents are at work, but the objected and told her that that time is suitable for the governor and the kids - well they'll find them. They did find the kids from the local kindergartens. They were shy at first, but when they felt more comfortable the governor arrived. And his security pushed kids back to the fence, so they don't hurt the important man. And the governor stepped on the tribune, gave a speech about the priceless contribution of the "United Russia" party and presented the town washing machine Karcher. In the meantime flags of the "United Russia" floated over the fairytale ship that Natalia had bought.

In many towns the local officials understood that there is not much you can steal from a playground. Then, according to the law, they used to announce an auction for the cheapest constructor and picked the worst one who would put the rubber coverage with lumps, wouldn't spend the required amount of money on peat beds and would steal the sand from the sandbox.

However, not everyone was like that. Mayor of a tiny town Kingisepp was a nice young man who really wanted to have a wonderful playground for all kids in his town. Both land preparing and playground exploitation were perfect in Kingisepp. And in Biisk mayor was also a good man. They prepared the land very well. Of course the opening couldn't escape the presence of the "United Russia", but after that mayor took Natalia to the mountains, made her plov (that is a very tasty special traditional food of Asian region, made with rice, meat and spices - note by me) in a huge pot, hugged her, gave her vodka and played her on guitar "Milaya moya, solnishko lesnoe" (that is a beautiful song, to translate the name it would be "My darling, you're my sun in the forest". It is very touching and very Russian, you know - note by me).

And in Beslan the whole town greeted Natalia. They arranged a special concert for her. They took her to the cemetery. They took her to the attacked school, where one kind man that accompanied her showed her one of the portraits of killed children and said: "That is my child". And the endless tables were full of food. And Ossetia's cakes were put together on plates by three – in a sign of happiness, not by two as they do is a sign of mourning.

And Natalia doesn't know what is harder: when people greet you with distrust, searching for a trick in your gift, or when people greet you as if you are Blessed Virgin only because you have built several play parks and sports equipment, and fall on their knees and kiss your hands. Natalia says: "What kind of life these people have if when they see me the cry because of happiness and kiss my hands."

Most of all Natalia loves when her foundation receives e-mails from all over the country like this: "You’ve built a playground in our town, thank you, but the swigs have been broken for a month already and nobody is repairing them. Parents have gathered 400 signatures under the petition of the proper exploitation of the playground, but we need you legal help..."

In cases like that Natalia gets that old feeling from her childhood - together! together! Create and save oasis of happiness for a child in the middle of this cruel world.

Translated by me

The Clash of the Titans clip Medusa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUoVEiLd_3E

thank you very much for the translation Candy Lady!

Ariti, thanks for the video!

An old interview. Hope it's not a repost.

Natalia Vodianova: biography

Her story began in one of the largest cities in Russia, but in it, as in any city in the world, has its contrasts.

Father Natasha did not know, but she had two sisters Oksana and Christina (one of which had been disabled since childhood). From eleven to thirteen years old girl selling fruit on the market, helping her mother. She did not have time to take care of her education, so school fees for Natasha was more than chaotic, that has not prevented her from easily take its place in a number of supermodels, has won many awards in various fields and open fashion in everything Russian. "I went terribly - she admits - but not because it was not a very smart kid, just I have not had time, I had to work. I dragged dozens of boxes, each of which weighed over 30 kilograms, and even did not think what they heavy! But my mother was never able to become a business woman, our business went very badly, so that in fifteen years, I am a friend of mine started an independent life, was to rent an apartment separate from the family. "

One day a friend brought her to modeling agency, but Natalya did not at first taken seriously in this business. But there she realized that the exterior can make a bet. "When I turned 15 years, I realized that in me something to eat. Because I pay attention to men. Then start intuition suggests that in my life that something unusual is associated with my appearance ", - she admitted later. But a career model Natalia did not dreaming. She never dreamed of: "A dream - this is for me something unreal. I'm very realistic person. Just cling to every case or chance. I try to use it until the end. " And soon the chance came along: the city came Recruiters western model agencies George Jikidze and Alexey Vasiliev. In the Lower begun casting future models. "I'm ready, I could not find a short skirt, again had to remake old clothes. And when I arrived, I found all this terrible spectacle. One hundred girls stood in a row. Whatever it was, I was a proud kid, and did not get up in this line, and stood on the side. And yet I thank God, dug up this genius, Alexey Vasiliev. He has such a talented eye. He approached me with the camera ... And then he said: "Oh! Romy Schneider! Hello, Romy Schneider! "

And Vodianova and fashion photographer for Vasilieva it was a stellar encounter. "I immediately realized that this supernova and supermodelnoe person", - confessed Vasiliev. For Natalia his words sounded fantastic: "You're going to Paris, only learned English." To begin with, he sent her photos to the agency Viva, which Vodianova and invited to Moscow. At the decisive moment my mother and grandmother supported Natalia: "Go, worse still will not." She simply had nothing to lose.

Obviously, Natalia has learned well from the school program of Marx's statement that the proletariat have nothing to lose but their goals. So she did not doubt for a minute, signing a contract and rushing into the abyss of the unknown, but such an attractive French life. "I picked up my ticket - she says - and does not afraid of the future. I just had nothing to lose. I was in a position that nothing worse could be, so I'm expecting only the best."

The first capital, which met Natasha, was in Moscow: a huge and strange, it could be lost if not for the help Alexey Vasiliev. He opened for the town of Natalia, taught her to pose, helped organize the first shot for Russian Vogue. But the scout director Viva remained indifferent to the photographs "of the new Lolita, so Alex decided to offer his" discovery "modeling agencies. And in December 1999 Vodianova went to Paris for the competition agency Madison.

The jury, consisting of himself was Jean-Paul Gaultier, Natalia awarded second place and offered her a job. But Vodianova decided to go to another agency, and then Jikidze advised to go to the Paris branch of the Viva, which this time came from her in delight. To understand the impression produced Rossiyanka enough to quote the words of the photographer Mario Testino: "It reminded me of Kate Moss and Carolyn Murphy, particular its carelessly twisted gait. Also, look: it has the same eyes lioness! "

December 1, 1999 Natalia Vodianova flew to Paris to meet his new life.

However, she soon moved from the hotel: it has sheltered rich Frenchman, a doctor who is still the best friend of Natasha's - he even christened her son. Living in a quiet environment, communicating with a man who knew the inside French way of life and society, Natasha gradually adjusting to her new reality. She was able to concentrate on language study and work, and the first invitation to withdraw to the German magazine Elle has received very quickly. After the participation of Natalia in New York's high fashion week it just poured rain the most attractive offers, which only can obtain a model. She has participated in these collections Ives Saint-Laurent, Gucci, Calvin Klein, it took off for the most famous fashion magazines - Vogue, Harper''s Bazaar, W. Her image - sexy girl with a childish face and serious eyes, has been on the world's catwalks. In 2003, Calvin Klein has signed a contract with a Russian model: Natalia became the official "face and body" of the company. Such contracts are made famous by Kate Moss and Brooke Shields. In the same year Vodianova opened and closed collection shows Ives Saint-Laurent, which are considered the most prestigious in the fashion world. And shooting for the Pirelli calendar for 2004 was a real triumph: such an honor awarded only the most beautiful and famous women of the world. According to the Sunday Times, Natalia Vodianova is a third hundred richest people in Britain (in 2003, Natasha earned 3.6 million pounds). Today it is fashionable at the top of Mount Olympus, with her work the world's leading designers and photographers. But Vodianova shines not only abroad. Its "face L''Oreal Paris» smiling Russians from TV screens and the pages of magazines, demonstrating the means to care for young skin and cosmetics.

But the story would be incomplete if it does not appear handsome prince. In Paris at the private party Natalia met with Justin Portman - a freelance artist and collector of paintings. 'I'm not going to this dinner, but it seems that fate has been set up very strongly. " Prince was quite full-blooded, and besides, he was quite young (33 years) and very handsome. English aristocrat Justin Portman, the second son of Viscount Edward Portman did not suspect that he met his future chosen one at a reception hosted by the new Russian nouveaux riches. As Natalia says: "Justin flirting with my girlfriend at the other end of the table and when he approached me, I rudely told him. Actually, I was drunk, but he, too, so that the remaining two hours we were just shouting at each other . And all around laughing. Friends teased Justin that he had finally found himself a wife. "

The joke proved prophetic. The next day a young man called Natalia and apologized for his behavior, appointing her as compensation for a date. "He came, and his enormous eyes melted my heart" - recognized the girl. "I pretended that it was not interested at all, but it was not so" - he adds the culprit of this story. Soon the two became clear that it is love at first sight, and since they are almost never part. In early 2001, Natasha went to Africa on a photo session with her and went to Justin. After shooting, they were left alone, staging a sort of honeymoon. "It turned out that we went to Africa for the son" - said the Lord. He soon made happy his family a message of imminent addition to the family.

Natalia endured difficult pregnancy, but decided to give birth without anesthesia. "I wanted everything to feel, to experience together with your child the pain" - she explained later. During labor, Justin had Natalia's hand and was very excited. Son Lucas was born in London, and within six weeks after his birth Vodianova again came to the podium. Motherhood has not changed its appearance - Natalia still looks young girls. But now she has a new attractive status - a young mother. It works just as much as before, but now with her everywhere go Lucas and Justin - just so the family can be together all the time. I must say that the family they have become even before the marriage. And the wedding, which took place after the birth of Lucas, was more a formality. Marriage Natalia and Justin Rada Lucas concluded that he was the rightful heir to the kind Portman. The wedding took place on September 1, 2002 in St. Petersburg. Wedding took place in a big way: celebrated for three days, with a banquet at Peterhof, where the newlyweds and their guests had been leased to the Throne Hall of the Grand Palace and included fountains. For the guests danced the artists of the Mariinsky Ballet. The bride was dressed in pearl-gray dress that she sewed for myself Tom Ford - designer and creative director of the House of Gucci. Families bride and groom are very pleased with each other. Lady Portman, Justin's mother, and before the marriage was positively disposed to the choice of his son: Natalia suitable girl, kind, wealthy, and most importantly - loves Justin, how can love only Russian women.

Today the young couple live in New York, in the Central district of Manhattan: they have a huge apartment in one of the skyscrapers. But Natalia and Justin showed Nizhny Novgorod - the husband must know life in Russia. Natasha is not shy about his past, especially because this is what led her to the present. She even taught a nobleman borscht, roach and drink vodka. In his first visit to Russia beloved English lord "lucky" to become intimately familiar with one unpleasant feature of the national character - with envy: in a nightclub in Nizhny Novgorod Vodianova attacked an old acquaintance, and almost disfigured. But even after such a cool reception compatriots Natalia does not intend to permanently settle in America or England. Moreover, a few years, she even plans to move to Moscow to Lucas was able to learn the Russian language and receive education. "Russian education abroad is very appreciated, - says Natalya. - In addition, from 7 to 13 years in a child is formed in nature, philosophy, and I want to at this time he was here. I love my country and for me it is important to give Lucas a chance to see Russia so much as to feel free here. But as it has developed in the future or life Lucas, he never left without support, as in his time, his mother. The future Lord more than loving parents of three godfathers and mothers who live in different countries and if necessary come to his aid.

"Children - our future", - she says, and the word "children" it involves not only her child. "I raised two sisters, one of which is disabled. And I know what it is - to have in our country a sick child, and what is related suffering. But I'll try to do everything we can to help not only children with disabilities, but also homeless, and talented kids. " So the idea to do charity work in Russia. Natalia has established its own fund - "The Naked Heart» (The Naked Heart Foundation) to help children with disabilities. "Maybe so, I will be able to change their future", - she said. In order to raise money, Natalia organized in New York, a charitable evening, sponsored by the company L''Oreal Paris. During the event, put up for auction a guitar Mick Jagger with his autograph, "dinner with a supermodel, who came up with girlfriend Natalie fashion model Helena Christensen, tickets for fashion clothes. Managed to collect 400 thousand dollars, and another 70 thousand Natalia invested from personal funds.

In a moment of candor, she admits that she would change in the lives of all people in Russia, but, alas, even Cinderella can not do it.

***

In just three years she has done path from an unknown girl from Nizhny Novgorod, to one of the leading models of the world. In the last decade, several of our fashion models appeared in the starry sky of the world of fashion - who had disappeared with him very quickly, someone continues to shine so far. But the success of Natalia Vodianova has not yet surpassed. She knows her worth, she knows how to work, and in addition, is able to live today and be happy. She does not put off "until tomorrow" no love, no privacy - unlike most well-known European models.

-------------

Source: Journal of Gala-Bio number 2 February 2006

Womenclub.ru

Thank you so much for your hard translating work CandyLady ! It gives a much deeper insight on Natalia's works.

Thank you too Cachet for some details I didn't know...

all from natalia-v.net (some are HQ and probably re-posts but the small ones I have never seen)

what? no panties??

Natalia Vodianova arrives at the Alexander Wang show at New York Fashion Week.

source: http://altamiranyc.blogspot.com/

5th part of the interview (1 more to come)

Strategy to survive

Back at her millhouse Natalia showed me her childhood photos. Some were from school where kids sit in rows one behind another.

"So where are you here?" - I asked.

"You have to guess" - flirted Natalia.

I couldn't guess and she gave me the clue:

"Don't look at the faces, look at the legs."

Indeed, one of 6-year-old girl had those dramatically thin, stork-like legs, the legs that later were fabulously walking down the runways all guccies and calvinkeins. Unlike the others that girl wore not a store-bought dress, but a hand-maid one and her blouse was decorated with lace.

"My grandmother raised me until I was 6", - Natalia explains her extraordinary dress. - "She used to dress me up and called her 'clever girl' when I read her a verse "Mukha-Tsokhotukha" by heart. And when I was 6 my younger sister was born, and she was disabled (Natalia's sister had the cerebral palsy). And my stepfather left us saying we had to choose him or this child. And my grandmother and grandfather left. And so there were three of us. My mother worked while I was watching my sister. But I was happy because we were together with my mother, because we really united, because I was really needed."

You can't really say that from 6 to 15 years the life of a girl from Nizhnii Novgorod named Natalia Vodianova was awful - there was actually no time to think about this life, how bad it was. Natalia almost stopped going to school, nearly never played with other children, but - thank God - she never had an opportunity to feel sorry for herself, she always had to do something for her ill sister. The same happened many years after her childhood, when she saw how Beslan school was highjacked and when she felt that she couldn't live in a world where something like that can happen. So Natalia didn't stop until she came up with the idea to build playgrounds for children - not just to sign a check on a charity auction, but occupy herself with some real work. And that is the strategy to survive - you have to physically care about someone - then you'll have a chance not to notice you are in hell.

All she wanted in her childhood was a place where she could take her little sister: maybe not for long, but to be happy, to be safe, not to be a living oasis in hell for her sister, but for someone to create this some kind of oasis for her, Natalia. And I asked her:

"Why you don't do charity for children with cerebral palsy? That would be so natural?"

"Natural - yes. But you know, Valera, my sister had quite a happy life. Ill children, if they were not abandoned, are actually quite happy. Those who are with them are unhappy."

She said that and I thought that she builds playgrounds for herself - or, to be clear, for the part of her who is still a little girl that stayed in Nizhii Novgorod. For a little girl with thin legs who wasn't taken to the glamorous world of fashion, but where they took only her face, hair, her body, hands and legs.

You see, that is why people like models: you may admire their sickly pallor, not knowing about their illness. You may be touched by their thinness, not knowing about their hunger. You may see the weird combination of angelic gentleness and devilish viciousness on their faces, not knowing about their vices and prayer.

In her wonderful country house a supermodel and a wife of a baron Natalia Vodianova told me:

"Life is there" - meaning the darkness of province Russian towns. - "Somehow I need to recharge there. Like a tree, I need to put my roots into the ground."

And I thought:

"She just told me how awful life there is - and now - bam! - confessed she needs this awful life like a tree needs good ground. No, princess, you just need that little girl from Nizhnii Novgorod to come here, to the millhouse, and reunite with you. But that girl isn't coming. She has a strategy to survive. She's afraid she's going to die if she stops caring about someone unhappy even for one second."

Translated by me

I have a question: why does Natalia keep talking about her sister Oksana in the past tense? It is not my translations, it was throughout the interview when she mentioned her...