Ruslana Korshunova

Ruslana Korshunova: A Tragic Tale of a Rising Fashion Icon

Ruslana Korshunova was a Kazakhstani-Russian model who rose to prominence in the fashion industry in the early 2000s. Despite her burgeoning success, her life was tragically cut short at the young age of 20 under mysterious circumstances.

Korshunova was born on July 2, 1987 in Almaty, Kazakh SSR (now Kazakhstan). Her father, Sergey Korshunov, passed away when she was just 5 years old in 1992. Korshunova and her elder brother Ruslan were raised by their mother Valentina (née Kutenkova) in Kazakhstan.

Ruslana Korshunova

Korshunova was discovered in 2003 when a local German language magazine in Almaty featured her photograph, catching the eye of Debbie Jones of the Models 1 agency. Jones signed the 15-year-old Korshunova, who became known for her long, chestnut-colored hair that earned her the nickname "Russian Rapunzel".

Korshunova's modeling career quickly took off. She was represented by top agencies like IMG, Beatrice, and Traffic Models, and graced the covers of prestigious magazines like French Vogue. She also appeared in print ads for high-fashion brands such as Nina Ricci, Blugirl, Clarins, and Vera Wang.

Despite her rising fame, Korshunova's life tragically ended on June 28, 2008 when she fell from the 9th floor balcony of her apartment in New York City. The police investigation concluded that her death was an apparent suicide, though the circumstances remained controversial. Korshunova's mother Valentina did not believe her daughter had taken her own life, noting that Korshunova had recently expressed a desire to quit modeling due to work-related problems.

Ruslana Korshunova Death

Korshunova's unexpected and untimely death at the height of her career sparked international attention and discussion around the pressures and challenges faced by young models in the fashion industry. Her legacy continues to be remembered as that of a talented and beautiful young woman whose life was tragically cut short.