Viktoria Modesta
Viktoria Modesta | |
---|---|
Born |
Viktorija Moskaļova February 25, 1987 Daugavpils, Latvia |
Other names | Viktoria Modesta |
Occupation | Singer-songwriter, artist, model |
Website | |
www |
Viktoria Modesta (born on 25 February 1987 as Viktorija Moskaļova in Daugavpils, Latvia) is a Latvian singer-songwriter and model.
Early life
Born in Daugavpils in 1987, Moskaļova moved with her family from Latvia to the United Kingdom when she was 12 years old.[1] Due to a doctor's negligence at her birth, Moskalova spent most of her childhood in and out of hospitals.[2] This accident led to a lasting problem with her left leg. In 2007, she had a voluntary below-the-knee leg amputation to improve her mobility and safeguard her future health. Her physicality has become known for challenging the modern perception of altered beauty.[3]
She said: "I have always felt comfortable thinking of myself as disabled and this has inspired me to actively challenge old-fashioned views and create a platform in mainstream pop-culture, with other artists, where I have always known I belonged."[4] "The time for boring ethical discussions around disability is over. It's only through feelings of admiration, aspiration, curiosity and envy that we can move forward."[5]
Career
Modelling
Moskalova began modelling at the age of fifteen. She has appeared on subculture magazine covers such as Bizarre[6][7] and Skin Two.[8] In 2008, she took Torture Garden Clothing to Zagreb for the high fashion week "Croa Porter" show.[9]
Her nude portrait by James Stroud was featured in the National Portrait Gallery.[10]
On the 10th January 2015 Viktoria signed with IMG Models worldwide.
Music
Moskalova picked up her musical roots in 2002 and took a one-year course for vocal technology at London Music School. In 2009, she launched musical writing collaborative project with musician/producer Nik Hodges. Their first written track "Jane Bond" was featured in Music Week Playlist.[11] In May 2010, Moskalova was selected as one of the six best unsigned artists in the UK by Evo Music Rooms presented by Edith Bowman, broadcast on Channel 4.[12]
Moskalova has been mixing her fashion work with music performing at London Fashion Week 2009[13] in a finale of Ziad Ghanem and Firetrap's fashion show "THE IMMORALIST".[14]
On 28 May 2012 Moskalova put out a digital, independent release of her debut single "Only You".[15] which was featured by iD,[16] Wonderland[17] and Notion[18] magazines.
On 12 December 2014 Launched a collaboration with Channel 4 for the campaign Born Risky [19] presenting her as worlds first Bionic Pop Artist supported by a track "Prototype"released on Spotify for streaming. The video for the campaign video was directed by Saam Farahmand.
2012 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony
Moskalova performed as the 'Snow Queen' to a live performance of "42" by Coldplay at the 2012 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony in London directed by Kim Gavin in a 'Winter' section together with 6 warrior skaters from Dancing On Ice. Her performance wearing a Swarovski crystal-covered prosthetic leg was written about in The Times,[20] Grazia[21] and Look[22] magazines.
References
- ↑ "Modesta kāju zaudējusi Latvijas ārstu nolaidības dēļ" (in Latvian). Delfi.lv. December 16, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
- ↑ Viktoria Modesta Moskalova: The Modern Perception Of Altered Beauty
- ↑ Article by Nadia Lev, Coilhouse Online Magazine
- ↑ Daily Mail.
- ↑
- ↑ 'Christmas Issue' 2009
- ↑ June issue 2008
- ↑ SKINTWO issue 58
- ↑ JAVNO article
- ↑ Moskalova's nude portrait
- ↑ Music Week playlist 20th July 2009
- ↑ Channel 4 listing
- ↑ Ghanem talkes Modesta
- ↑ The Immoralist by Firetrap
- ↑ Only You on iTunes
- ↑ iD magazine article
- ↑ Wonderland magazine article
- ↑ magazine article
- ↑
- ↑ The Times article
- ↑ Grazia Magazine Article
- ↑ Look Magazine article
External links
- Official website
- Template:IMG MODELS