Katia Elizarova

Katia Elizarova (born Ekaterina Igorevna Elizarova, 1986)^[3] is a Russian model and actress.

Biography

Elizarova was born in 1986. Her father and mother are both of Russian origin. Her great-grandfather married Vladimir Lenin's sister.^[4] Elizarova's grandfather was a former head of the KGB.^[4] She attended No.1 School in Saratov before moving to Moscow to attend Moscow State University. She also trained as a ballerina at the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow.^[5] Elizarova studied Law at Queen Mary, University of London.^[6]

Personal life

As of November 2013, Elizarova lives with her businessman boyfriend in Chelsea, London. The couple have been together since 2009.^[7][8]

Career

Early modeling career

At 14, Elizarova was spotted by modeling scout Guia Jikidze in her hometown,^[9] after which she appeared on the cover of Jalouse and star in Russian television commercials and campaigns for brands including Pepsi, Kirin, La Forêt and Sok Dobriy.

By the age of 15, Elizarova worked for extended periods in London, Paris, Milan and Tokyo. Some of her early work included commercials for Pepsi and working with Versace, Valentino, and Preen.^[10]

Full-time modeling career

Elizarova became a full-time model after graduating from university in 2009. Clients and photographers Elizarova has worked with include Ellen Von Unwerth, Rankin, Kim Knott, Commes des Garcons, Guy Laroche, Kirin, Laforet, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Valentino, Versace, Ines Valentinitsch, Etienne Aigner, Karen Walker, Preen, Jasper Conran, Dsquared, Ghost, Avon, Shu Uemura, Swarovski, New Look, Miss Selfridge, Fornarina, Victoria's Secret, Made by Niki, Babyliss, Trevor Sorbie, L'Oréal, and Wella.^[11][12]

Elizarova has worked with several agencies, including Why Not Model Agency (Milan), City Models (Paris), M4 Models (Hamburg), View Management (Spain), Vivienne Model Management and Clear Model Management.^[1][13][14]

Campaigns since 2010 include Esprit, Triumph, GHD, Toni & Guy,^[15] and launching George Davies' luxury fashion brand GIVe. She has also appeared on the cover of Fabulous Magazine^[16] and S Magazine and had features in InStyle Magazine, Marie Claire, T3, GQ,^[17] Sky Showbiz.^[10][18] In early 2011, Elizarova shot a television campaign for Rimmel London alongside actress Zooey Deschanel.

In August 2011 she signed with IMG Models.^[19][20][21] In November, Elizarova was hired by US fashion company Max Studio as the brand's new face and first ambassador.^[9] She replaced past faces of the brand Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Lily Cole.^[22][23][24] Elizarova has fronted and creatively consulted on campaigns for Max Studio in its Spring/Summer 2012, Fall/Winter 2012 and Spring/Summer 2013 seasons supported by fellow brand models Erin O'Connor, Suki Waterhouse, and Victoria Zuban.^{[25][26][27][27][28]}

Photographer David Bebber chose his photo of Elizarova taken during Spring/Summer 2014 London Fashion Week as his top picture for the The Times' annual "Year in Pictures" feature in 2013.^[12]

Acting career

In 2006, she appeared in the Russian music video Sky by Diskoteka Avariya.^[29]

Elizarova made her theatrical debut on the London stage in Belka Production's adaptation of Chekov and Bunin short stories Sunstroke, in August / September 2013.^[30][31] She also appeared in Fox UK's reality show Meet the Russians, about Eastern Europeans living in London.^[32]

Charity and social action

A campaigner for models' rights, she addressed the Oxford Union on the world of modelling, its pitfalls, rewards, and health issues in 2009.^[33] She is a supporter of UK charity Fashion For Good and the Red Cross.^[34][35] In October 2013, Elizarova addressed a forum in the British Parliament on the future of the fashion industry, focusing on support for young talent.^[36]

References

External links

• Slater, Lydia (September 24, 2013). "Katia Elizarova: Model's Profile". The Times (London). Retrieved 2013-12-27. At 27, she is a veteran of the modelling industry... (subscription required)