Anastasia Taylor-Lind, UK
Russia: Young beauties for the world’s catwalks
They live in Siberia, they are still children and they dream of becoming top models in the world’s fashion capitals. They attend modeling schools – which is an expensive investment for their parents – and hope to get a shot at one of Russia’s ‘Top Model’ TV shows. They train for a career in front of the cameras of renowned photographers and picture themselves as long-legged beauties on the catwalks of famous fashion designers.
But it’s the so-called ‘talent scouts’ of international model agencies who will make use of their hopes and dreams. These scouts know how extremely the lure of far away places, thirst for adventure, glamour and the promise of money dominate the dreams and actions of these girls. Although some of these delicate teenagers might even make it in the brutal world of mere appearance, they will pay a high price.
The English photographer Anastasia Taylor-Lind was often struck by sadness when she visited modeling schools, night club fashion shows and bikini shoots in the company of the aforementioned ‘talent scouts’. She loathes the idea of using one’s own body as a profitable commodity. Nevertheless, she understands that a child will do everything to flee from melancholic Siberia.
Curriculum Vitae: Anastasia Taylor-Lind
Anastasia Taylor-Lind (b. 1981) is an English/Swedish documentary photographer who is a member of VII photo agency. She is based in London and works for clients such as GEO Germany, The Telegraph Magazine, The Observer Magazine, The Sunday Times Magazine, Marie Claire, ELLE France, Newsweek, Time and The New York Times.
Anastasia’s work has been exhibited internationally, in spaces such as The Saatchi Gallery, The Frontline Club, and The National Portrait Gallery in London, Fovea Exhibitions in New York and at the Lodz photo festival in Poland.
She has received a number of photography awards, from a diverse range of organisations including a FNAC grant for photojournalism, which was presented at the Visa Pour L’Image photojournalism festival in 2011, a Canon Young Photographer award in 2010 and the Royal Photographic Society Joan Wakelin Bursary in 2009. This year Anastasia was selected to participate in the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass.
Anastasia has degrees from the University of Wales Newport and the London College of Communication.