I’m not sure if anyone really cares about Natalia Vodianova at a gossip-level. Which is weird, because she’s somewhat scandalous. Natalia is one of the top models in the world, or at least she was before she started having lots of babies with two different, wealthy men and now she’s famous for being beautiful and rich. She covers the September issue of Vanity Fair, The Style Issue, and she gave the magazine a lengthy interview about her life and loves. It’s hard to believe she’s only 32 years old, honestly. She’s two years younger than Gisele Bundchen.

Anyway, the story of Natalia is that she was born in the last throes of the then-USSR. Her family was very poor, her mother struggled enormously and Natalia set out on her own at 15/16. She was discovered at 17 and by the age of 18-19, she was a major model. She was once married to one of the wealthiest aristocrats in England, Justin Portman, and they have three kids together. They split in 2010 and now she’s with Antoine Arnault, who is part owner of the enormous fashion company LVMH. She’s having his babies too (she gave birth in May). To her credit, no one says she’s a grifter or a diva. She’s just a beautiful woman who attracts powerful, wealthy men. Anyway, you can read the full VF interview/article here. I found it interesting but I didn’t like how VF pulled away from really examining the idea that there was some overlap between her marriage and her current relationship with Arnault.

Being scouted as a model: “I was excited, but I was also afraid no one would pick me if I went. So I pretended I didn’t care. It’s a very Russian way of protecting yourself. You turn up your nose and you hold your head high and you have this proud air. I was a very different girl back then. I was kind of tough and easily sparked into an argument. I was very defensive.”

The first time she ever traveled to Paris: “The plane ride to Paris was absolutely incredible. It was Air France and my first taste of a different language and a different culture. Everyone was so smiley and polite—and the food! Lovely vegetables in a creamy sauce with pasta. You got a little starter, then the main course, and then a little Camembert, a little dessert, a chocolate, and a piece of bread and butter.”

Her split with Justin Portman: “If you try really hard at something and it doesn’t work, then you have to let go because it means it is not the right thing,” she explained very softly. “You have to try really hard to make it work, but at the same time you have to know how to let go of something when it is time.” Now the kids live with Natalia and Arnault in Paris and spend half of their vacations with their father.

Getting together with Antoine Arnault: “He made himself noticed. Men are good at that.” Their first date was in front of the building where they now live. She explains, “We couldn’t go anywhere together, so we just met on a bench and sat and talked. We knew if we go somewhere, in Paris, then the whole world would know.”

Moving fast: “When I moved [to be with Arnault] in Paris, the year before last I moved with my children, and my grannie, who stayed for eight months. That tells you a lot about Antoine as a future husband, or as a father or as a partner in life. He’s one of the most patient people. It’s not like we have a big house. We’re all in an apartment together. He gets up at eight A.M. and goes to work with a big smile on his face. He loves what he does, loves my children so much, is a great father and stepfather and boyfriend. I guess he is still a boyfriend. I want to call him my husband because it feels right, whether we have the papers or not. He feels like a husband already, although it doesn’t make a difference, does it? I feel blessed. He is everything I love and respect.”

[From Vanity Fair]

There’s an emphasis several times on how Natalie only got with Antoine well after her marriage was over. Maybe that’s the case. I don’t know. But I do know that many people in the fashion world were shocked when her first marriage ended and many still feel like there’s much more to the story. Russian drama or English drama? Who knows? Anyway, I do like Natalia. She’s a great model.

Photos courtesy of Vanity Fair.