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The early aughts were characterized by two very opposing looks on the runway: a postpubescent, almost baby doll cuteness exemplified by Gemma Ward versus an angular Eastern Bloc beauty. While it was possible to have a foot in both worlds—hello, Natalia Vodianova!—most models fit neatly into one. Of the Russians, Eugenia Volodina served as the template for success. With her prominent nose, strong brows, and unapologetically womanly physique, Volodina radiated feminine power. Though she was discovered after walking into an open call back in the late ’90s, Volodina’s career didn’t take off until the new millennium rolled around, and her look became the look. Beautiful girls are a dime a dozen, but the right girl, at the right moment, can create a maelstrom. Rising to the top alongside fellow brunette bombshells such as Daria Werbowy and Diana Dondoe, Volodina quickly became a recurring presence in the images of Steven Klein, Irving Penn, Patrick Demarchelier, and fashion’s model whisperer, Steven Meisel.
A talented model with the ability to pull off Tom Ford–era Gucci and Victoria’s Secret angel wings with equal grace, Volodina thrived in front of the camera because she gave everything to create the best picture, and in a time before the social media era, a model’s posing skill was all that mattered. While she still models quietly and regularly updates her Instagram with alluring shots of herself and friends including Natasha Poly and Irina Shayk, these days Volodina keeps a low profile. The industry may have changed, but nothing can take away the resonance of the now legendary Vogue editorials Volodina was a part of. Looking back at her greatest moments in the pages of this magazine offers a peek at everything that was exciting about early-aughts fashion.