Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova is adding another baby to her family. The 44-year-old model revealed her pregnancy on the cover of Vogue France‘s summer issue, showing off her baby bump in a blue mini dress. This will be her sixth child and third with her husband, Antoine Arnault, the 48-year-old CEO of Christian Dior.
The news came as a surprise to many fans. Vodianova, who already has five children, announced her pregnancy at an age when most models are slowing down their careers. The Vogue France cover story features the supermodel confidently displaying her growing belly, making a powerful statement about motherhood later in life.
Who Is Antoine Arnault? Meet The Dior CEO Married To Natalia Vodianova
Antoine Arnault is not just any businessman. He runs Christian Dior as its CEO, one of the most famous luxury brands in the world. But his family background makes him even more notable. He is the eldest son of Bernard Arnault, the 84-year-old chairman of LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy).
The Arnault family controls about 75 luxury brands. These include Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Tiffany & Co., Sephora, and Givenchy. According to Forbes magazine, Bernard Arnault‘s wealth is around $190 billion, placing him among the richest people on the planet.
Antoine met Vodianova in 2008 during a Louis Vuitton campaign shoot. But they started dating in 2011, the same year she ended her first marriage. The couple kept their relationship mostly private for several years before getting engaged in 2019.
A Love Story That Started On A Photoshoot Set
The couple‘s romance began in a very fitting way for two fashion industry insiders. Vodianova was working on a shoot for Louis Vuitton when she first crossed paths with Antoine. At that time, she was still married to her first husband, British real estate heir Justin Portman.
After her divorce from Portman in 2011, Vodianova and Antoine became a couple. They had their first son together, Maxim, in 2014. Their second son, Roman, arrived in 2016. The couple finally married in September 2020 at Paris City Hall in a small, private ceremony.
Vodianova once described her relationship with Antoine in a very honest way. She said that since their first date, being with him has felt “like riding the best roller coaster—thrilling and happy”. Antoine also spoke about his first impression of her, admitting, “When I first saw her, my jaw dropped internally”.
From Russian Fruit Seller To Global Supermodel And Philanthropist
Vodianova‘s personal story is a true rise from poverty to privilege. She was born in Gorky, Russia, in a poor part of the city then part of the Soviet Union. As a young girl, she helped her mother sell fruit on the street to bring in money for the family.
Her modeling career took off after she was discovered at age 17. She moved to Paris and quickly became one of the most in-demand faces in fashion. She has walked runways for Chanel, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. But her Calvin Klein campaigns made her a household name worldwide.
Beyond modeling, Vodianova started the Naked Heart Foundation. The charity builds playgrounds and supports families of children with special needs in Russia. Her work as a philanthropist has earned her as much respect as her modeling career.
The Russian Cinderella Story: From First Marriage To LVMH Royalty
Media outlets have long called Vodianova the “Russian Cinderella” because of her life story. Her first marriage was to Justin Portman, a British aristocrat and real estate heir. They wed in November 2001 when she was eight months pregnant with her first child.
Together, Vodianova and Portman had three children. Her oldest son, Lucas Alexander, is now 25. Her daughter Neva is 20, and her youngest son from that marriage, Viktor, is 18. The couple separated in 2011 after ten years of marriage.
Her second marriage placed her inside one of the wealthiest families in the world. The Arnault family’s fortune and influence in fashion are unmatched. But Vodianova has maintained her own identity and career throughout.
Vogue France Editor Shares Emotional Backstory Of Pregnancy Cover
Claire Thomson-Jonville, the editorial content head of Vogue France, shared a touching story about the cover. She revealed that Vodianova told her about the pregnancy earlier this year. Thomson-Jonville knew right away that the model had to be on the summer cover.
“Between two runway shows, at the start of the year, Natalia Vodianova confided in me that she was pregnant. Her sixth child, at 44. I knew immediately that she had to be our summer cover star.” – Claire Thomson-Jonville, Vogue France Editor
The editor also noted how thoughtful Vodianova was about the pregnancy. She wrote that Vodianova “incarnates this kind of motherhood, chosen and fully owned”. The model reflected on how “fortunate” she feels to have this chance at 44.
A Powerful Message About Motherhood And Choice
In her interview with Vogue France, Vodianova opened up about what this pregnancy means to her. She said having a large family is part of her story. The model admitted she felt prepared for this pregnancy to be different from her others.
“This cover is also a message I want to send to women: motherhood should always be a choice of love and they should be able to have children when they are ready, not under pressure.” – Natalia Vodianova to Vogue France
She shared that the early weeks of the pregnancy were difficult. But she said she is doing better now and is ready for what comes next. Vodianova feels that age and experience have given her wisdom to handle this pregnancy differently.
The model also pointed out that she feels like she is becoming a mother for a “third generation of children” all under one roof. Her oldest child is 25, while her youngest from this pregnancy will be born more than two decades later.
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What This Pregnancy Means For The Growing Arnault-Vodianova Family
This baby will be the third child for Vodianova and Antoine together. The couple already shares two sons, Maxim who is 12 and Roman who is 10. Vodianova‘s three older children from her first marriage live with them as well.
The supermodel already has a full house with five children. Adding a sixth will make family life even busier. But Vodianova has never shied away from balancing motherhood with her career.
Throughout her life, she has proven that having children does not stop her from working. She became a mother for the first time at just 19 years old and continued modeling at the highest level. Now at 44, she is showing that motherhood has no age limit.
The pregnancy announcement came through a major fashion magazine cover, not a standard celebrity social media post. This choice shows Vodianova‘s deep ties to the fashion world and her ability to control her own narrative. Vogue France fully supported her decision to share the news this way.
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