Viktoria Modesta

Viktoria Modesta
Born Viktorija Moskaļova
February 25, 1987
Daugavpils, Latvia
Other names Viktoria Modesta
Occupation Singer-songwriter, artist, model
Website
www.viktoriamodesta.com

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

External links