Why did Julia Lemigova quit modeling? 'RHOM' star returns to runway after 24 years with Miami Swim Week
MIAMI, FLORIDA: In a sneak peak of 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills', Julia makes her return on the Miami Swim Week runway. Julia's modeling career ended in 2005 to focus on parenthood, but she returned to the model limelight in March 2023, stating on Instagram, "How fun it was to be in front of a camera again" for Select Model Miami.
She posted photographs from the shoot in April, writing, "While diving back into modeling is always a little scary, I am so glad I did it." Even though Julia had never seen Miami Swim Week, she was expecting a "total surprise" to be walking in the event.
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Julia even participated in a runway show in June, uploading behind-the-scenes footage from the SHAN runway event on Instagram. She also uploaded photographs of herself walking the runway in various ensembles, with the caption, "Back in the game!"
Julia made her comeback to the runway after 24 years with this inside event.
When her wife, Martina Navratilova, was diagnosed with cancer, Julia put everything in her life on hold. She halted all personal and professional goals, including the couple's intention to adopt a baby.
"But now my first show is nothing else but a Swim Week."
As it turned out, Julia was even asked to end Miami Swim Week. Even when she was 18 years old, she never had the opportunity to conclude the performance, demonstrating that we now live in a world that allows women of all ages and sizes to feel good about themselves.
"It's a big deal."
'RHOM' star Julia Lemigova was in the same modeling agency as Kate Moss
Julia was an international fashion model when she met her future wife, Martina, in 2000, and she kept modeling until 2005. According to her Bravo bio, the former beauty queen won Miss USSR in 1990 and finished second in the Miss Universe Pageant in Las Vegas in 1991.
In an October 2014 interview with Bloomberg, she revealed that she fled Russia as a teenager, six months before the Berlin Wall fell.
"I’ll never forget, the 13th of January 1991. I landed in a London airport, didn’t speak a word of English, and had to slowly, slowly, make my life and days learning English and modeling," Julia told the source.
In the preview for the January 17 episode, Julia mentioned that she worked at the same agency in London as Kate Moss. "We were found the same year, actually."
According to her Bravo bio, she has worked as an international model for companies including Jill Sander, Giorgio Armani, Nina Ricci, and Ungaro for many years. She has subsequently shared photographs on Instagram from several sessions and runway events, including this one from a shoot in Los Angeles.
She also shared her short hair look as a model in Paris, wearing skintight black leather shorts and matching black leather boots. Julia remembers her time as a model in Paris fondly.
'RHOM' star Julia Lemigova debuts beauty care line Russie Blanche
She operated her own spa in Paris for ten years while working as a model, which encouraged her to branch out into the beauty industry and start her own skincare line, Russie Blanche, according to Bloomberg.
Her family also inspired her to launch her own skincare business. According to Bloomberg, her items varied in price from $65 to $230 and were sold by retailers such as Neiman Marcus and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
'RHOM' Julia Lemigova now sells eggs and goat milk from her farm
Julia began a new job during 'RHOM' Season 5, when she and Martina purchased a new farm. However, Julia's initiative is not a hobby; it is a thriving farm.
"My farm is not just a hobby," she explained throughout the show. "I do sell eggs, and avocados, and guavas and whatever is in season."
Julia stated that the farm is like a getaway for her.
"I talk to them, all of them, even my multiple numbers of chickens," Julia told the Washington Blade.
"I love milking my goats. Right now, three of them are pregnant, so I’ll have a lot of milk. I cannot wait to start showing my cast-member friends how to make goat cheese."
Although Julia is enthusiastic about the farm (and all the inhabitants that come with it), she has revealed that Martina does not share her sentiments.
"Martina complains about me leaving in the morning and coming back after the sun goes down," Julia explained on the show.
"Martina has mixed feelings on the farm. Farming is not really her thing. So Martina and I are doing things separately."
Season 13 of 'The Real Housewives of Miami' airs Wednesdays at 9 pm ET/PT on Bravo. New episodes will be available the next day on Peacock.