{"id":46772,"date":"2016-05-20T02:11:07","date_gmt":"2016-05-20T06:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/?p=46772"},"modified":"2016-06-01T16:12:50","modified_gmt":"2016-06-01T20:12:50","slug":"anne-v","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/anne-v\/","title":{"rendered":"Anne V"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"cover\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_003.jpg\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1920\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46774\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_003.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_003-1267x1900.jpg 1267w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_003-133x200.jpg 133w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n#cover {\npadding: 10% 20%;\nbackground-color: white;\nposition:relative;\nmargin: 0 auto 30px auto;\ntext-align:center;\n}\n#covertitle {\nposition: absolute;font-family:'Neue Haas Unica W01',helvetica,sans-serif;\nbottom: 12%;\nwidth: 80%;\ncolor: white;\nfont-size: 4rem;\nfont-weight:100;\n}\n#introbox,#creditbox {border:1px solid white;padding:80px;max-width: 850px;margin: auto !important;}\n#introbox, #introbox p {font-family:'Open Sans';}\n#introbox{font-size:20px;text-align:center !important;}\n.coverpic {max-width:1280px;margin: 10px auto;}\n.photogtitle {font-size:2rem;}\n#introtxt {margin:80px 0;padding:0 40px;font-size:1.6rem;}\n.opensans,#introtxt, #introbox, .introcredits {font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;}\n#introbox .introcredits {font-size:.85rem;padding:40px 0;}\n.post p, .post div p:first-child {padding:0}\n.toppic {padding-bottom: 20px;}\n.txtdiv {padding: 0 40px;clear:both;}\n#introbox,.txtbox,.rside {margin:0px 0 10px 0;font-weight:300;}\n.title {font-size:4.2rem;color:black;font-weight:normal;margin:auto;padding:60px 0;text-align:center;text-transform: uppercase;font-family: 'Open Sans';font-weight: 600;}\n.title a {color:black;}\n#introbox .titlename {font-size:8.5rem;}\n#introbox .mdctitle {color:#999;}\n#introbox,.txtbox,.introblurb {text-align:justify;}\n.credits,.covercredits {font-size:0.7rem;text-align:center;}\n#portrait img {max-width:640px !important;}\n.center img {max-width:1280px !important;}\n.center,#portrait{text-align:center;}\n.interview {max-width:560px;\nmargin: 30px auto 60px auto;\nfont-family:'Neue Haas Unica W01',helvetica,sans-serif;\nfont-weight:300;\ntext-align:justify;\npadding:0 80px;}\n.pullquote {font-size:2.4rem;text-align:center;font-style:italic;}\n.coming {padding: 0 80px 80px 80px;margin: -20px 0 40px 0;font-size:2rem;text-align:center;}\n.designerquote {font-family:'Neue Haas Unica W01_n2',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:1.9rem;font-weight:800;}\n.designersig {font-size:1.8rem;font-weight:100;}\n.txtbox {\nclear:both;\nfont-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;\nfont-weight: 300;\nwidth:46%;\nmargin:40px auto;\npadding: 60px 5%;\ntext-align:justify;\n}\n.quote {width:65%;margin:40px auto;font-size:1.1em;}\n.center p {margin:0;}\n.featured {font-size:1.6rem;margin:30px 0;}\n.blackimg {background-color:black;}\n.framedimg img {margin:8% 0 0 15%;width:85%;}\n.padimg img {padding:10%;}\n.separ {clear:both;padding:40px;}\n<\/style>\n<link type=\"text\/css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/\/fast.fonts.net\/cssapi\/1ee7eecc-8318-40d7-9f60-2840770611c0.css\"\/>\n<!-- mdc set, L Futura W01,Linotype Didot W01,Neue Haas Unica W01 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"txtdiv\">\n<div id=\"introbox\">\n<div class=\"title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/sil\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Anne V<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"introblurb\">\nSo much can change in a year. No one knows this better than Russian supermodel <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/models\/Anne-Vyalitsyna'>Anne Vyalitsyna<\/a>, who got her rising start as a freckled, wide-eyed teen just looking to fulfill her biggest dream. A year into being discovered she was chosen to front Chanel\u2019s Chance fragrance campaign and a year or so after that she debuted in Sports Illustrated. Since then it\u2019s been non-stop appearances on the pages of Numero, Harper\u2019s Bazaar, Vogue, i-D, and yes, V Magazine for one of the sexiest muses in the business. Yet, at the height of her career she turned away to refocus and start the family she always imagined she would have.<\/p>\n<p>The Venus incarnate&#8217;s emblematic status means that her small absence made our hearts grow fonder. Today, she is ready to come back to the industry that embraced her for many years to make her momentous return into the spotlight. Abraham Studios captures the mother\/model exclusively for Models.com, as she turns up the heat in the sensual swimwear of the times.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"introcredits\">\nPhotographs by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/abraham_studio\/\">Abraham Studio<\/a> for Models.com<br \/>\nStylist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tarynshumway_stylist\/\">Taryn Shumway<\/a><br \/>\nHair <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/people\/Sasha-Nesterchuk'>Sasha Nesterchuk<\/a><br \/>\nMakeup <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/saeryunsong\/\">Sae Ryun Song<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Studio <a href=\"http:\/\/redhooklabs.com\/\">Red Hook Labs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Model <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/models\/Anne-Vyalitsyna'>Anne Vyalitsyna<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Interview and text by Irene Ojo-Felix<\/p>\n<div class=\"covercredits\">Above, Anne is wearing Swimsuit: Yves Saint Laurent courtesy of Albright Fashion Library \/ Shoes: Body Glove<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"txtdiv\">\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p><strong>Were you always interested in the fashion industry? Did you know about it before hand? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I knew nothing about the fashion industry, but I\u2019ve always wanted to be a model. I used to do ballroom dancing and when I was at a competition, one of the moms was like \u201cwho do you want to be\u201d and I said \u201cI want to be a supermodel\u201d and she laughed at me. Back in the day in Russia we had no Vogues, we didn\u2019t really have a fashion industry whatsoever. I grew up and there were like, only 5 channels on TV. I was really tall, really skinny, and had freckles everywhere! I think when I would tell people that I wanted to be a model, they would kind of laugh at me so I never felt comfortable talking about it. <\/p>\n<p>When I was 13 or 14, I started talking to my mom about it and she said, \u201cAbsolutely not\u201d because A) we didn\u2019t have any modeling agencies in Russia and B) back in the day you would hear in Moscow that all the \u201cmodel girls\u201d were prostitutes. We had a trusted family friend who owned a modeling agency in my city and my mom got fed up with me begging for so many years and was finally like, &#8220;fine let\u2019s go and see.&#8221; Pretty much that\u2019s how it took off. I met IMG through them and then I went to do a modeling contest in Milan with IMG &#038; MTV and I won that. I thought, oh my god it\u2019s my first time on a plane and I&#8217;m outside of Russia. <\/p>\n<p><strong>You weren\u2019t expecting that level\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>No! For me at that time, I was just so excited to go to Milan. I didn\u2019t really care if I won or not, I was so psyched! When I was 15, I went with my mom. There was no bone in my body that thought that anything would come out of it. Then I won. <\/p>\n<p>At that time, I didn&#8217;t speak a word of English. They called my name and I was so checked out and no one was going up and they kept saying \u201cYou! You!\u201d I feel so grateful because dreams do come true. <\/p>\n<p><strong>How were those first years? It sounds like you really enjoyed it. Sometimes it can be harder for girls who are younger in the industry. Were you excited by all of the new experiences that you got to partake in?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Of course. I remember when I first came to New York I was 15 years old and I was in this huge city! I had never traveled in my entire life except to Milan that time with my mom for the competition. I was by myself, I was at the models apartment and that was a different time when cell phones were just coming in. I had no idea how to deal with any of it. It was harder in a way because you couldn\u2019t really communicate with your family as much and I still had school. I was a straight-A student and it was very hard for me to do both. But, I was so incredibly committed to do both that I finished with straight A\u2019s and I went back and forth for 2 years. I think at 15 years old you\u2019re really cocky and think \u201cI can do everything, I got it, I\u2019m an adult!\u201d Then you look back at it, and I have no idea why my mom let me go! <\/p>\n<p>Honestly, I look right now at kids who are 15 and I\u2019m like, you\u2019re a baby. I was raised in a really wonderful home and my parents and grandparents were amazing. For the first 2 years I definitely did not treat it like a job, it was like &#8220;oh my god I\u2019m flying here and flying there!&#8221; &#8220;There&#8217;s champagne backstage at fashion week, this is amazing!&#8221; When I finished school and I was deciding whether to go to college or go to New York, it was hard for my parents. For me, I think I still have a hard time that I never went to school and it\u2019s something that I want to do at some point. But this was my dream and I\u2019ve got to see where it takes me. At that point, I was shooting for Sports Illustrated. I had really amazing opportunities and you can\u2019t just give up on that. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"small-12 columns padimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_004.jpg\"  width=\"1280\" height=\"1920\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46782\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_004.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_004-1267x1900.jpg 1267w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_004-133x200.jpg 133w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Cami &#038; Underwear: Hanro<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p><strong>So at that moment was that when it really clicked for you that this was something that was really becoming a career?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I think I looked at it and I was like, I\u2019m 17 years old and if a 17 year old can provide for herself and her family? I always was full, I always knew that I was very determined and I was smart and hard working and if things didn\u2019t work out I had my family and I could always go back to school. Honestly, I feel like it was yesterday but it was 16 years ago. I have no idea how the time flew by.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In your career, when did you realize that you had gotten to that next level? What moment stood out in your head where you realized \u201cI\u2019m Anne V.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You know, I never really feel this way because the thing is I really love my job and I don\u2019t really love the term \u201csupermodel.\u201d I\u2019m a working model and I have an opportunity to do really amazing jobs but I feel like the &#8220;super&#8221; part makes you not human. I feel like I\u2019m very personable and I just don\u2019t really like to treat myself that way. I also really wish that I enjoyed it a little bit more back then. People always ask, oh what could you recommend to young models? And I always say enjoy and really be present. Even if it\u2019s crazy, find the beauty in it. Literally I\u2019ve had so many amazing moments. <\/p>\n<p><strong>What are your favorite moments?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I mean, doing the Victoria\u2019s Secret show&#8230;that was for sure. I enjoyed it but you work so hard to get to that point. You are so healthy, you work out every single day to look that amazing and sometimes you would do that show and the next day you\u2019d have to wake up at 4AM in the morning to go to work and I\u2019m like I don\u2019t want to go to work, I want to party and celebrate that I did this damn show!<\/p>\n<div class=\"quote\">I\u2019m like I don\u2019t want to go to work, I want to party and celebrate that I did this damn show!<\/div>\n<p><strong>Exactly but not every model gets the opportunity to do so\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Yeah and that\u2019s where I felt like it was unfortunate that I really didn\u2019t get to enjoy it those moments. If I could go back it would have been nice to savor every single experience. I think we also get a little bit jaded. We work in New York, we get on a red-eye and work in Paris and then get on a train and go to work in London that night, then wake up to go to work and fly back to New York. We do crazy things.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You talk a lot about when you\u2019re a model at a certain level you feel a lot of pressure to maintain a certain body image. How have you dealt with body image working for Victoria\u2019s Secret, Sports Illustrated, and various fashion magazines? As a model how do you deal with it and stay body positive?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I think it definitely took me a while to figure out. I never went like, crazy big but I was big for our industry. When I came to New York and put on weight I was like, I did track and field my whole life but I had never been to the gym. I had no idea what a gym looked like or how to eat a salad. So, for me it was so hard because, I never really had a mentor. When you\u2019re 15 years old or even 17 years old, you have your agents and you hope that they\u2019re wonderful enough to help you but we really don\u2019t have a big support team of girls who are like, \u201cI got you. Don\u2019t worry. It\u2019s not the end of the world. Your boyfriend broke up with you? Don\u2019t worry you\u2019re going to have 5 more\u2026\u201d It was so hard for me because literally my agents were like, you\u2019ve got to lose weight and I didn\u2019t know how to do it! I was 17 years old what was I supposed to do? I think more too it\u2019s a big mental thing and when your industry takes you the way you look and then you put on weight and then people don\u2019t take you. It can make you think there is something wrong with you.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"small-12 columns padimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_006.jpg\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1920\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_006.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_006-1267x1900.jpg 1267w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_006-133x200.jpg 133w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Swimsuit: Onia \/ Wetsuit: Lisa Marie Fernandez courtesy of Albright Fashion Library<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p><strong>You take it personally?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You do take it personally because you don\u2019t come from a secure place like, \u201cOkay. I\u2019m in this industry and I need to be a certain size because people pay me a lot of money and that\u2019s okay!\u201d They don\u2019t think that there is something wrong with me and they don\u2019t think I\u2019m a bad person. But when you\u2019re 17 years old you don\u2019t know that so it\u2019s so hard. I eat very healthy and I work out. That works for me and that\u2019s the only thing that works for staying healthy. I do have a lot of loyal people who have really embraced me at any shape and form. I feel really really grateful for that. <\/p>\n<p><strong>You seem incredibly grounded. How do you keep your peace of mind in dealing with rejection and industry pressure? What keeps you focused on the important things?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I think it really came with age. I did a lot of self work because I think we are so incredibly interesting and complicated as individuals. Not even just in the fashion industry but living in New York. Sorry but to get a date here, you need to be a supermodel. And we can\u2019t even find guys! How are other people supposed to find anyone? It\u2019s not even based on looks but you really have to be a secure being and know what you want. On that you kind of really need to look within yourself and be really present and be really confident. <\/p>\n<div class=\"quote\">\nSorry but to get a date here, you need to be a supermodel. And we can\u2019t even find guys! How are other people supposed to find anyone?\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>In order to project that out into the world\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Totally. Putting out into the universe a specific thing has always worked for me. If you\u2019re like, well I want to meet a great guy the universe will send you a bunch of guys. And you\u2019re like, no not this one, not this one. Well, you need to tell the universe specifically what you want! Give the list! I\u2019m a true believer in that. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve picked up meditating in the past couple of years and I really feel like taking time to yourself and really loving yourself is super important. For me now, I have a family that is so incredibly supportive and I have an amazing daughter. Before, obviously when I was single and I didn&#8217;t have a family, it was hard. You don\u2019t get a job and you come home and you&#8217;re like, shit this sucks and now I\u2019m by myself and I don\u2019t have a job\u2026now what? I think when you have a family it\u2019s like, you know what? I didn\u2019t get a job but I\u2019m going to come home to my beautiful daughter and she\u2019s going to smile at me and it\u2019s fine! This is where I\u2019d rather be anyway. The wonderful experience that I have work wise, if I get it it\u2019s amazing! But if I don\u2019t get it, who cares.<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\nYou mentioned that you have now redirected yourself to San Francisco because of your family and your daughter, her name is Alaska, right? And she&#8217;s\u2019 getting ready to turn 1? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Yes! She\u2019s 9 months. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"small-12 columns padimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_001-1.jpg\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1897\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46784\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_001-1.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_001-1-135x200.jpg 135w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Swimsuit: Lisa Marie Fernandez courtesy of Albright Fashion Library \/ Jacket: Terra New York<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p><strong>What has redirecting your life to San Francisco for your family taught you differently? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s been really an amazing experience. In general, I really love being in San Francisco because people are awesome. They are so incredibly smart and they\u2019re go getters. They have amazing ideas and the amount of creativity that\u2019s happening there is really fun to be around. People are incredibly nice. If they\u2019re successful they are just so incredibly normal. It\u2019s nice to see because obviously New York is very showy. In terms of moving away, it was very hard. When you live in New York for 15 years and you know a certain life and you have your certain friends\u2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>You have your special diners and places to go to\u2026 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I mean, it is a shock. But I really really needed it. I think sometimes you\u2019ve got to shock your system with crazy things. Nothing changes and it\u2019s because you don\u2019t actually change your life. It was really cool because it kind of makes you learn how to trust yourself. I thought, I\u2019ve always wanted to have a kid and I\u2019m so incredibly happy. But I\u2019ve worked for 15 years old since I was 15 years old. How am I going to take a year off??? <\/p>\n<p>All my friends were like, can you chill out? Can you just enjoy it? It took me so long to feel like it\u2019s okay and allow myself to take this time off. But it\u2019s also like, you\u2019re not going to miss anything. So having that and having a kid and moving to San Francisco, it really shocked my system but hey I pulled through it and the experience makes me feel now that I can conquer anything I want. It\u2019s a nice reminder to get yourself out of your comfort zone. <\/p>\n<div class=\"quote\">I think sometimes you\u2019ve got to shock your system with crazy things.<\/div>\n<p><strong>Like you said, you have done so much in 15 years. You\u2019ve worked with some incredible photographers, and been on the covers of the most reputable magazines. Having done that and then having a child, what drew you back to the industry? Is it a deep love or passion for your job? Is there something that you want to accomplish that you haven\u2019t yet? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve always felt like there is so much more to me that I have done. I truly love my job. I really love being creative. For me, modeling is in so many ways like acting and performing.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest thing for me is that I really want to mentor and be that support for young girls out there. I\u2019ve been on the top and on the bottom. I want to kind of be that voice for young girls and come back to them with- I hear your struggles and I want to figure out if there is a way that I can be supportive to the young generation out there. I feel like nowadays it\u2019s a lot harder than it was when I first started. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Getting 16 year old girls is nothing new in the industry but is it right? Should we wait for the girls to get older? I know you\u2019ve mentioned that when you were starting you didn\u2019t have a support group and I know when you worked with Naomi (Campbell) you were a mentor on The Face. Has your current interest to provide a mentorship for young models spawned out of that experience? Or did you always feel that way?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>No, I always felt that way but that experience really got me thinking a lot. Because it really doesn\u2019t take that much time and it really makes a big difference. I really feel like we have such a wonderful industry, that is so supportive in so many ways but is still unsupportive in so many ways as well. The girls on the top, they never were like \u201coh before I got on top I worked for this and this for 10 years slaving and not being able to pay my bills and then it hit me.\u201d There\u2019s a lot of those great stories and I feel like girls should really talk about it more. In those ways, even younger generations are like hang tight! If you really believe in yourself, you can go and it can happen. I feel like there is not that much support for the young girls and I\u2019m trying to figure out what ways and avenues I can go through to be more supportive. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"small-12 columns padimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_005new.jpg\"  width=\"1280\" height=\"1920\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_005new.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_005new-1267x1900.jpg 1267w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_005new-133x200.jpg 133w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Cami &#038; Underwear: Hanro<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p><strong>Switching gears a little bit, and talking about your lovely daughter who is about to turn 1. How have you eased your way back into working? So many people across so many different industries now you have to juggle being a mother, you know\u2026 being great at your career. Has it been hard? Especially now that you\u2019re based in San Francisco does she come with you? What is that like?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You see so many amazing moms who have their kids and they run marathons and they\u2019re CEOs of companies. They juggle everything and seem to do it all! I\u2019m like\u2026 this is so incredible but can you just say that shit, it\u2019s hard! You really feel like you\u2019re never doing enough. I think the more time that passes the more you understand how to figure out a schedule and balance both. In a way that\u2019s where having a family comes in. When you don\u2019t get things, it\u2019s important to go home to them &#8211; it\u2019s just a different level of support. You feel a lot bolder being able to take risks and I\u2019ve never felt that way before. I never felt like I could take big risks and now I literally feel like I could fly to the moon and it\u2019s an amazing feeling. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Through your experience in getting your body back. What did you do to stay fit and healthy and make yourself feel confident to feel like, yes I can go back to the modeling world? What did you do during or after your pregnancy? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You know, I was very healthy during my pregnancy. I worked out a lot. <\/p>\n<p><strong>I saw your Instagram! Doing Pilates, I thought &#8216;Jesus, I need to do that normally.&#8217;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>My friends were always like, when you ever get pregnant you\u2019re going to get so incredibly big because you\u2019re going to sit and eat ice cream and cheese all day long because you never had the opportunity to do that before! When I got pregnant though I didn\u2019t want to do that, I really enjoyed working out. I had a really wonderful pregnancy I got so lucky. Having a birth is like running a marathon you have to be prepared. You don\u2019t want to overdo it, you have to listen to your body and be mindful but you also want to be strong and prepared. My body bounced back really quickly because I worked out like 6 days a week until I was 9 months pretty much!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Now you\u2019re at this point in your life. You\u2019ve been on our <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/rankings\/ui\/TopSexiest-All\/3023#3023\">Top Sexiest list<\/a> for God knows how long. How have you redefined sexy now as a mother and top model? Are you ready to bounce back into the game?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I think it\u2019s just being confident. I think that\u2019s pretty much what it\u2019s about, really trusting yourself and really loving yourself. I mean, unfortunately I love to do it all. I\u2019m a very do-it-all girl if I can. The two sides of the business, high fashion editorial and commercial work, are so different. With commercial stuff going to The Maldives to do a Sports Illustrated shoot? It doesn\u2019t get any better than that! Every girl wants to feel sexy and have big boobs in a tiny bikini with big hair. To walk in the Victoria\u2019s Secret show and wave to everyone is an amazing moment. The high fashion I absolute love because I get a chance to create and be weird and be funky. I get to have no eyebrows or wear black lipstick. <\/p>\n<div class=\"quote\">Back in the day, you were a mannequin and no one cared what you believed in. They cared about how you looked, if you\u2019re pretty, and the rest is whatever.<\/div>\n<p><strong>Speaking of no eyebrows, I saw when you last walked in Alexander Wang. Nobody had eyebrows, every looked like this gothic role but it was so dope how you got to transform. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It was amazing! What I really enjoy is I\u2019ve been so lucky that I\u2019ve been on different billboards and I barely ever get recognized. The only time I got recognized was when I had a DKNY underwear campaign on phone booths and people knew it was me because I had a bang and no makeup. But throughout my whole 15 years none of my friends ever knew who I was. In a way I always felt like that was kind of cool. I felt like I was able to transform into all of those different characters. In a way that\u2019s what fashion is about. It makes me feel like I\u2019m good at my job because I\u2019m able to do that. But it also makes me feel that I\u2019m not here just because I\u2019m a pretty face, that I actually can give something to the designer or the magazine that they weren\u2019t able to get without me.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How was it doing Victoria\u2019s Secret? Everyone knows it\u2019s an amazing moment in a model\u2019s career but no one really talks about the energy and what it is that makes it so prolific. What was it like working for them as a brand? What did you love about walking all of those shows?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re young and you might be more insecure and book a job like this then go on that runway wearing the sexiest thing ever? People are screaming your name and your hair is blowing with fans in front of you &#8211; you literally feel like you are the best version of yourself. What I love about Sports Illustrated and Victoria\u2019s Secret which is a totally different side from high fashion, they really make it about you. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Yes it\u2019s about the model.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Back in the day, you were a mannequin and no one cared what you believed in. They cared about how you looked, if you\u2019re pretty, and the rest is whatever. But those two brands really care about you and your personality shining through. It was just very special because everyone else treated you like a model. Someone who can play these different characters and sell clothes and represent brands. This was something else, so for me to have that balance of both was awesome. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"small-12 columns padimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_007-1.jpg\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1992\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46779\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_007-1.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_007-1-1221x1900.jpg 1221w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_007-1-129x200.jpg 129w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Swimsuit: Norma Kamali \/ Sunglasses: Haze Collection<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p><strong>What are some of your favorite brands\/designers that you\u2019ve worked for in the past? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Well, Sports Illustrated for sure. I\u2019ve been in 10 years in a row and I feel so incredibly grateful for that. Working with Prada has also been awesome. I\u2019ve had such a long career with them as well. I\u2019ve worked with them since I was 15 years old and I had been in their runway so many times. The clothes every season are so different, the runways, the music, the looks. You get there and it\u2019s like\u2026 this is going to be a show! That\u2019s so exciting and you really play a character there. Working with Chanel Chance fragrance, and shooting with Jean Paul Goude was so incredibly exciting. He is such a true artist. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Everybody talks about his energy and what he brings to set. I can only imagine. What other creatives have been inspiring to work with?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are so many, it\u2019s hard to say. I\u2019ve worked with Irving Penn and I wish that I had that opportunity now because I would have probably kissed him to death! You know, sometimes when you\u2019re so young you\u2019re also so shy and you don\u2019t want to ask creatives questions. You feel uncomfortable, but now I would say, \u201cso\u2026 tell me about your life!\u201d They are legends. Speaking of artists, he\u2019s amazing and being in American Vogue and Italian Vogue, working with Steven Meisel\u2026 these are people that are incredible. There are way too many favorite people. Honestly, I really enjoy working with young photographers too. There is so much new talent and new people where I\u2019m like, wow I\u2019ve never seen this before and it\u2019s really exciting.<\/p>\n<p><strong>As a model, how do you kind of ask for what you want in this industry? In retrospect as far as speaking up for yourself &#8211; would you do anything different? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I probably would. I feel like I\u2019d probably go out of my way a lot more than I should. If someone wants to take one picture for 6 hours, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a nice way to be like, &#8220;OK we\u2019re done! We\u2019ve got this picture!&#8221; A lot of people do that and I wish I could but I can\u2019t and I probably would have been a little bit more enjoyable at times for me. However, if someone pisses you off and you\u2019re rude you\u2019re not going to get anything from the other person but if you say it in a really thoughtful way, a miracle could happen from that. At the end of the day you have to do what makes you happy. I think trusting your instincts as well. If it doesn\u2019t make you happy, do something else. Find another client or find another agency. Don\u2019t let someone else run your life\u2026 really listen to yourself. <\/p>\n<p><strong>In your mind, how long do you want to be modeling? There are so many different answers to this question. Some women want to do this forever, but you talked about doing it until you\u2019re not happy anymore\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I think, there are definitely other things that I want to do. Would I want to fly 5x per week to go to jobs? No, it\u2019s exhausting. But do I want to still do it? Yes! I really love it. I\u2019m probably going to do it until people are like, damn you look too old. I think having the right balance with other things is like\u2026 why not? If I have an opportunity and it still inspires me and I inspire people I don\u2019t want to be like, I\u2019m sick of this. Pretty much the fashion industry gave me every single thing that I have. I was able to move me to America, I was able to provide for my family and me, I was able to give me my houses. I have a lot to be grateful for.<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\nDoes it get easier? Or less nerve wracking as you progress?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When I\u2019m in front of the camera I really trust my gut. You don\u2019t have to give me complete \u201cdo whatever you want\u201d but I don\u2019t like people who are like, \u201cput your hand on your hip\u2026 turn your head to the left\u2026\u201d why did you hire me? I know how to do this. It\u2019s a natural reaction &#8211; sometimes you look at pictures and you\u2019re like whoa I would never do this normally but I guess I did! You come up with like the craziest poses and craziest pictures.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is it a natural process? When you first go on set, and you\u2019ve looked at the clothes and looked at the setting do you develop a character in your mind? Do you disassociate yourself that much away from what you\u2019re doing or is it more organic? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s organic, I put stuff on, I like to look in the mirror for a glimpse of what I\u2019m wearing and have an idea of what I might do. Obviously it depends on the story, if people say we\u2019re doing a super boyish story there\u2019s a different character. I\u2019ve never been able to come on set and be like, &#8220;ehhh I don\u2019t know what to do with myself.&#8221; And that&#8217;s when you have to just trust yourself &#8211; know that you\u2019ve got it and tap into a really powerful feeling. Taking that gut feeling and trusting yourself carries through your whole life. <\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s the craziest shoot you\u2019ve ever done? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One of the shoots that comes to mind, was this shoot with Irving Penn for American Vogue. It was an unrecognizable picture and we had candy all over. We were laying down and they would put candy in the shape of our face on the face. I thought, &#8220;okay I\u2019m working with Irving Penn but this shit is so weird.&#8221; It\u2019s amazing because you look in there and he knows exactly how it&#8217;s going to turn out. That\u2019s the only photographer, well, him and Steven, where I thought they have that vision! That\u2019s so cool to me because they\u2019re so strong in what they want. <\/p>\n<p><strong>And what about acting? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I feel like when it has to do with pictures, I really love to act. But, the minute it comes to speaking I really want to be who I am. I\u2019ve tried a little bit of acting and I really enjoyed it but it wasn\u2019t for me. I felt like I\u2019d rather show people what I\u2019m about truly. I\u2019m so opinionated and I have so much to say that\u2026 I don\u2019t know. I feel like I would be better at improv perhaps. But when people tell me exactly what to say and act I feel like I overplay it and it sucks haha. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"small-12 columns\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_002.jpg\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1920\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46783\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_002.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_002-1267x1900.jpg 1267w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/05\/ABRAHAM_AnneV_002-133x200.jpg 133w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Swimsuit: Yves Saint Laurent courtesy of Albright Fashion Library \/ Backpack: Mansur Gavriel \/ Shoes: Body Glove<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Russian supermodel returns to the industry&#8217;s spotlight<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":46816,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[155,99,1538],"tags":[1133,2227],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46772"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46772"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46772\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47223,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46772\/revisions\/47223"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}