Snejana Onopka

[j'adorekapusta]

here's the interview my friend did with Snejana last fall. Translation by me, so you know who to blame. enjoy!

OURS EVERYTHING!

She needs no introduction. One single moment is all it takes to understand how this beauty managed to conquer the fashion world. An ordinary girl from Severodonetsk moved to Kiev only five years ago and now she’s one of the most successful models in the world who flies to the capital to see her mom and friends, to take a break from the shoots and runway shows and to show what she can afford…
In a café we had to meet there was no free seat. But when the top-model arrived, cruising on her navy blue Bentley, the very best table was waiting for us. While drinking green tea we chatted about Snejana’s world wide beauty and much more…

-Having Snejana Onopka in mind, how can a girl become one of the most successful models in the world?

- It’s much more simple today than it was in the past. First of all, you have to be at the right place at the right time, meeting the right people. Secondly, you have to behave the right way and to stay down to earth even if you’ve got noticed. But the most important thing is, naturally, to keep on working all the time, so that people could notice you and not forget.

-But are there any criteria of what kind of girls can make it to the top?

-Those criteria change every season. When I started American and Brazilian girls were the most popular. Today all the hype is about Slavic girls, because our girls are very beautiful. Also the way you look at the castings really matters. You can count on nothing if you come wearing ‘diamonds and furs’. In Europe when you go to castings you have to look and behave very simply. The girls who go there must understand it and be ready for it.

-Did you understand it?

-I didn’t. I arrived totally unprepared, but my agency changed all my clothes. They told me what to do, what to say. I followed all the instructions and, as you can guess, it worked. I got noticed and wasn’t forgotten after the very first casting.

-What is the ideal relationship between a model and an agency?

-It does matter who you are, how you communicate with people, how you work. I’ve worked for four years already, I’m signed with the best modeling agencies in Milan, New York and Paris and I can say that I have good relations everywhere. Also it’s not that the agency work for me, or I work for the agency. We work together, we’re one team that builds productive relationship and tries to benefit from that for both, me and the agency.

-Your modeling career won’t last forever…

-Actually it doesn’t really bother me. Till I have this opportunity I will try to do my best, to work hard and to earn money. Besides, there’s a lot of girls who are in their 30s and they are still in this business. Look at Kate Moss.

-Do you have a style icon?

-I don’t think so. I like Victoria Beckham but I can’t say she’s my style icon. I like Kate Moss, but she is in no way an idol for me. It’s just that I like their style, the way they dress up.

-What else, apart from money, do you get from your job?

-Lots, lots of clothes and shoes (laughs). I have my New York apartment full of clothes from the shows, shoots and shops. It’s simple: if you like a certain piece in the show you can inform your agency and you will get it. Some girls come up to the designers themselves and just ask. Also I have really big discounts in lots of shops, because I work with Chanel, Dolce&Gabbana, Gucci.

-What would you like to do after you retire from modeling?

-I haven’t thought about it yet. For now I plan to study. I could become a lawyer or a banker. But I certainly won’t act like other models, trying to become an actress or a fashion designer. I’ve already found my place in this business and I’m happy with it.

-Who are your favorite fashion designers and photographers?

-All the photographers are very nice people so I can’t name the exact one. As for the designers, I really like Marc Jacobs, Dolce&Gabbana, Prada. There are lots of very talented people who create very beautiful clothes.

-Last year you participated in the Andre Tan show at the Ukrainian Fashion Week. Why did you agree to work with Tan and what do you think about the Ukrainian fashion designers in general?

-I worked with Andre Tan because he’s my friend and he’s the most competent designer in Ukraine. All the others do what they want paying close to no attention on what’s happening in the real fashion world, in Milan, Paris and New York. I think Andre is the only one who tries to keep in touch with the international trends, to be equal.

-Are there any other friends among fashion designers?

-Well, everyone I work with is my friends.

-Can you be picky about the jobs you’re offered?

-I can now. It’s been more than a year that I’m my own mistress and nobody can make me do what I don’t want to do. But there are managers and agency’s interests I simply can not ignore. I did declined offers few times. For example when they called me to work in Russia, offering some magazine covers, I didn’t go. I didn’t see any sense in that! Ukraine is totally another story. It’s just my country!



Dress Code Magazine, Ukraine

 

[miu_miu]

Thank you so much for sharing

 

[kriszti.md]

Thank you Interesting style muses

 

[The_Ida]

-What would you like to do after you retire from modeling?

-I haven’t thought about it yet. For now I plan to study. I could become a lawyer or a banker. But I certainly won’t act like other models, trying to become an actress or a fashion designer. I’ve already found my place in this business and I’m happy with it.

She's a smart girl

 

[capt.charly]

wow nice interview !!!
thank you very much j'adorekapustaB)

 

[jlp99]

thanks for that, it was really interesting to read

 

[á la Balenciaga]

-But are there any criteria of what kind of girls can make it to the top?

-Those criteria change every season. When I started American and Brazilian girls were the most popular. Today all the hype is about Slavic girls, because our girls are very beautiful. Also the way you look at the castings really matters. You can count on nothing if you come wearing ‘diamonds and furs’. In Europe when you go to castings you have to look and behave very simply. The girls who go there must understand it and be ready for it.

lmao, she threw some shade there!!!!!!! LMAO i love snejana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mchunu]

the interview is indeed interesting. i like how she answers..she's straight to the point! Divanopka<3

 

[chanterdanser]

Thanks for the interview! I wish Snejana accepted the Russian covers but oh well.

 

[sethii]

Thank you so much

It’s simple: if you like a certain piece in the show you can inform your agency and you will get it.

They know how to please Divanopka.

She comes across very well in this interview: hard working; pragmatic; serious and mature.

It's great to have something done in her native language so she can explain herself well

 

[Starry]

j'adorekapusta, tahnks so much for the interview! So interesting!

Actually I wish Snejana can accpet the offer of the Russian magazines(I hope it's Vogue Russia!), she should be amazing featured in such a magazine. But it's her own choice and I'm glad she can manage what to do in the business now.

 

[Faith Akiyama]

Rebecca Summer 2008 Campaign HQs

Scanned by me

 

[sethii]

Thank you where did you find them?

 

[SirSunday]

that second photo in HQ is phenomenal. the photos previously posted just don't compare to these. thank you, faith

 

[Faith Akiyama]

Thank you where did you find them?

Flair June...

 

[j'adorekapusta]

2 everyone:
you're kindly welcome. that was not hard at all.

 

[pinnie]

j'adorekapusta, thank you so much for the interview.it's absolutely a excellent interview i really like it

and thank you Faith for the scans even more beautiful in that quality

 

[sethii]

Did Heidi Slimane photograph that campaign? It looks so much like the shots of her he took for VOGUE Paris - the lighting and poses are just like his style. Except it's in colour.

 

[pinnie]

yeah it's so Heidi 's style but i'm not so sure about that anyway the previous campaign of Rebecca's shot by Tom Munro

 

[The_Ida]

Isn't he called Hedi? Just got this image of a German mädchen with braids and lederhosen designing Dior Homme