Sasha Pivovarova Biography

Sasha Pivovarova (born January 21, 1985) is a Russian model.

Modeling career

As an art history student at the Russian State University for the Humanities, Pivovarova never dreamed of becoming a model until friend and photographer Igor Vishnyakov took photos of her in 2005 and gave them to international modeling agency IMG, thus beginning her career. After signing with IMG, her first runway show was for Prada, who then signed her to a three-year exclusive advertising contract.

In the May 2007 issue of American Vogue she was featured on the cover with Doutzen Kroes, Caroline Trentini, Raquel Zimmermann, Jessica Stam, Agyness Deyn, Coco Rocha, Hilary Rhoda, Chanel Iman, and Lily Donaldson as the "World's Next Top Models." In her interview, she talked about her love for art and reading. She has also been featured on the covers of the Russian, British, and Australian editions of Vogue. As a favorite of renowned photographer Steven Meisel, she has appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia 5 times. Pivovarova appeared in the 2008 Pirelli Calendar. Spain's Marie Claire awards 'Prix de la Moda' awarded Pivovarova as "Prix International Best Model" on November 20, 2008. In December 2009, she became the face for Giorgio Armani and Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott photograph Pivovarova for Longchamp, alongside Kate Moss.

In May 2008, she opened the spring show for Chanel couture in Paris. In July 2008, she closed the fall show for Chanel couture in Paris and walked for Jean Paul Gaultier couture. In September 2008, she opened the show for rag & bone, Rodarte, and Pringle for Scotland in Milan and New York. In January 2009, she walked the Christian Dior, Chanel, Elie Saab, and Valentino couture shows in Paris. In February 2009, she opened the shows for Shiatzy Chen, Miss Sixty, Rodarte, and MaxMara shows in New York and Milan; closed the fall PHI, MaxMara, and Pringle of Scotland shows.

In early 2009, Pivovarova ranked 2nd on the Models.com Top 50 Models Women list, sharing the spot with Natasha Poly, but moved to number 4 on that list by March 2011. As of June 2013, she is not ranked. Vogue Paris declared her one of the top 30 models of the 2000s (decade).

Throughout 2011, Pivovarova has appeared in numerous ad campaigns, most recently for Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss, Paul & Joe, Alberta Ferretti, Miu Miu, Juicy Couture, Roberto Cavalli, and numerous others. During the Spring-Summer season she featured in 6 campaigns, while in the Fall she has appeared in 8, testament to her longevity within the fashion business. Today, Pivovarova is considered one of the fashion industry's biggest models and continues to star in ad campaigns for illustrious brands such as Prada and Chanel. Pivovarova was on the cover of French Vogue for the October 2011 issue.

Her agencies are: Unique Models in Denmark, IMG Models in New York City, and Donna Models in Tokyo. Took her own self-portrait for the new Rag & Bone Do-It-Yourself ad campaign spring 2011 along with models Abbey Lee Kershaw and Lily Aldridge.

Pivovarova made her acting debut in the science-fiction thriller In Time, opposite Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried. Pivovarova played Clara, the 130 year old mother-in-law of Vincent Kartheiser's character, Philip Weis, who is 90 years old.

Personal life

Pivovarova was born in Moscow. Her home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York doubles as an art studio. Pivovarova said in a Teen Vogue interview, "I was playing with pencils while the other girls were playing with dolls." In her free time, Pivovarova paints and draws. Her paintings have been displayed in a gallery in Paris, Mansion Grand in New York and have been published in French Vogue. She said in an interview with CNN that she uses anything as a canvas: hotel papers, casting and itinerary papers"?anything she can find.

Pivovarova is collaborating with Miuccia Prada to produce a book of her own artwork in the upcoming year. It will be in the form of a scrapbook and include drawings, photography, and collages. She is also illustrating a book for Karl Lagerfeld based on Russian fairy tales. She has created a sleepwear collection inspired by fairy tales for Gap, launching on December 1, 2011.

Pivovarova is married to long-time friend and photographer Igor Vishnyakov. They married in Thailand and recreated the scene for a photo shoot in June 2009 American Vogue with close family and friends, including Jessica Stam and Irina Kulikova.

Pivovarova has also been a vegetarian for 12 years.

She has 3 younger siblings; 2 brothers and a sister named Alyona.

Pivovarova gave birth to her first child in New York City, a baby girl named Mia Isis who was born May 2012 with photographer husband, Igor Vishnyakov.