Russian super model Ludmila Isaeva

model Ludmila Isaeva at Dolce & Gabbana Fall Winter 1991-92
At Dolce & Gabbana Fall Winter 1991-92
Lyudmila Isaeva at the Sonia Rykiel show, 1991
Lyudmila Isaeva at the Sonia Rykiel show, 1991
Lyudmila Isaeva in an advertising campaign for Christian Dior, 1990s
Lyudmila Isaeva in an advertising campaign for Christian Dior, 1990s

In the 2000s, the modeling business was ruled by girls from Russia: Natalia Vodianova, Sasha Pivovarova, Natasha Poly, Evgenia Volodina and other Russian women were the faces of big brands and replaced the supermodels of the 90s. But where did it all start? Who paved the way for future Russian stars? The first truly successful model from the former USSR was Ludmila Isaeva, who became the protagonist of advertising campaigns, catwalks and covers back in the late 80s.

Lyudmila began her great career in fashion back in 1989, having moved from Moscow to Paris. The Russian beauty with an aristocratic face and high cheekbones was instantly noticed: in the very first season, she signed a contract with her first modeling agency and began to conquer the catwalks. But real success began for her with a move to New York and a contract with Elite Model Management in 1991. It was at this time in her life that there were advertising contracts with the Bergdorf Goodman department store and the brands Christian Dior, Guerlain, Guy Laroche, Escada, Laurèl, MaxMara, Perry Ellis, Shiseido, Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent, shooting for dozens of magazines (including, of course, The Symbol) and participation in key fashion weeks.

Ludmila Isaeva Malahova by Jean-François Jonvelle for Elle France November 1990
Ludmila Isaeva Malahova by Jean-François Jonvelle for Elle France November 1990

For a girl from the USSR, everything that happened was a dream come true. Her face was seen from magazine pages and advertising billboards around the world. By and large, it is she who opens the way for other Russian girls to the heights of modeling: without her, there would be neither Natalia Vodianova, nor Sasha Pivovarova, nor all other superstar models from Russia. Isaeva became a pioneer and the first Russian model on the covers of all the big gloss. True, her career was short-lived. But it was her personal choice. In 1995, the supermodel married hockey player Vladimir Malakhov and decided to focus on her family. Today she lives in Miami with her husband and two children, but archival photos still remind of her former glory.

model Ludmila Isaeva by Pamela Hanson for Vogue Paris September 1991
Ludmila Isaeva Malahova by Pamela Hanson for Vogue Paris September 1991

They had a private wedding in New York, which was attended by two guests – their witnesses. “I do not like partying, loud parties. In this my wife and I are similar”

Russian ice-hockey player Vladimir Malakhov
Russian ice-hockey player Vladimir Malakhov
model Ludmila Isaeva for Dior, 1991
Ludmila Isaeva Malahova for Dior, 1991

 

Russian super model Ludmila Isaeva
Russian super model Ludmila Isaeva