Ruslana was born in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, and was technically Russian. Ruslana’s father, Sergey Korshunov, died in 1992 when she was 6 and she lived with her mother Valentina and brother Ruslan, guess the parents loved that name.

In 2003, an asian magazine ran a story about a German club that Ruslana was in. In a crazy “hollywood dream” type scenario, her picture was seen by Debbie Jones of Models 1. Ruslana was tracked down and her modeling carreer and maybe downfall began. Any young girl dreams of something like that happening to them, it happened to Ruslana at the age of 15.

After her “discovery” Ruslana travelled the world and modeled for the top designers and magazines. Ruslana was nicknamed the Russian Rapunzel, Ruslana had extremely long, almost knee length hair.

Ruslana Korshunova was represented by IMG, Marilyn, Beatrice, Traffic Models and other agents in her short career.

British Vogue called Ruslana as “a face to be excited about” . Ruslana Korshunova modeled for many including covers for French Elle as well as the Polish and Russian versions of Vogue. Ruslana worked for Clarins, Ghost, Girbaud, Blugirl by Blumarine,  Moschino, Old England, Pantene, Kenzo, Marithé & François, Max Studio, and Vera Wang. Ruslana’s career was on the rise and at the age of 20 she was only beginning. Ruslana also scored a gig in a perfume commercial for Nina by Nina Ricci.

And then came this story June of last year…

On June 28, 2008 at around 2:30 p.m., Korshunova died after falling from the ninth-floor balcony of her apartment at 130 Water Street in Manhattan’s Financial District. Police stated there were no signs of a struggle in her apartment and concluded that Korshunova’s death was an apparent suicide, although no suicide note was found.

No one really knows what happened that night and why a Beautiful top model with the world at her feet would do such a thing but messages she left on some websites seem to suggest that she was not all that happy. Actually, no one will ever know what happened but Ruslana’s death was called a suicide by police and investigators.

The mornings headlines may have read something like this…

Ruslana Korshunova dies: “Russian Rapunzel” jumped out of her window this weekend. Why? It is a tragic mystery so far. The shocking death of the beautiful model has left many wondering what might have made Ruslana Korshunova, fall to her death from her Manhattan apartment Saturday.

Ruslana seems to have had a few bouts with depression and a few mood swings. In an internet note Ruslana wrote  “I’m so lost. Will I ever find myself?”

“It hurts, as if someone took a part of me, tore it out, mercilessly stomped all over and threw it out.”

but she also wrote:

“Love is the sun, desire – only flash,”
“Desire dazzles, and the sun gives life.”
“Love does not take away from one in order to give to another.”

Anyway, Ruslana, we remember you on this month and your beuty should not be forgotten.