October 9, 20159 yr Author How Social Media Landed Liza Ostanina on Prada’s RunwayGetting discovered via social media is a dream of so many people who post their images online—whole Marc Jacobs campaigns exist for that very purpose—but for Liza Ostanina, it actually happened. “I was discovered on Russian social media by my current mother agency, Star System,” says the model. “I went to Japan with Wizard the following summer and worked so much there that Ashley Brokaw spotted me on some Japanese blog. She then contacted my agency, Next, where I was requested for Prada.”Brokaw’s seal of approval doesn’t come easily, and Ostanina wouldn’t have caught the Prada casting director’s attention without having an incredible look. With wide-set eyes and features that call to mind modern art imagery, Ostanina is a wholly original beauty. The looks that fashion embraces aren’t always met with a favorable response outside the industry. Growing up, Ostanina viewed herself through a different lens: “Since I was a kid, I watched modeling TV shows and always wanted to be a part of it, but I thought of myself more as an ugly duckling. When my agency contacted me, I didn’t believe it was for real. Now I am a lot more confident, which I think is important.”Accomplishments like closing Dior's couture show and walking for Prada are certain to provide a confidence boost, but for Ostanina, it was more about the beauty of the collections themselves. At Prada she got lost in the opulence of her surroundings. “I was in love with everything,” she says, “the decor, the ambience, lots of people, this thrill of thinking you are about to go on a runway for Prada—it was magical!” style.com
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