In the 70s of the last century, Elena Shchapova was one of the most famous fashion models of the Soviet Union. In her native country, a long-legged girl with an unusually bright appearance was predicted to have a bright future, but together with her husband Eduard Limonov, she emigrated to the United States and became the first Russian model to conquer the fashion catwalks of New York. Subsequently, Elena married a noble Italian aristocrat and, having received the title of countess, remained forever in Rome.
Childhood and youth of the future model
Elena Kozlova (the fashion model bore this surname before her first marriage) was born in Moscow in 1950. Her father Sergei Kozlov was a scientist, he was engaged in secret developments in the field of radiotelephone communications and invented a wiretapping system that was used by the KGB. The girl grew up in a we althy family and never knew anything was denied. According to Elena herself, she received a rather strange upbringing. On the one hand, the girl was under the control of her grandmother,who served as a church warden and tried to instill in her faith in God, on the other hand, under the influence of a strict communist father. Little Lena's parents categorically forbade playing with the boys. Instead, she was supposed to be friends with the daughters of a minister and a priest.
In her school years, Lena was fond of poetry and at the age of 17 she began to write her own poems. In addition to literary talent, fate rewarded the girl with bright beauty, a slender figure and long legs. Model appearance led her to the capital's Fashion House of Slava Zaitsev, where she began working as a fashion model from the age of 16.
Marriage with the artist Shchapov
At the age of 17, Elena Kozlova married the richest artist of the USSR, Viktor Shchapov. Lena from early childhood was familiar with her future husband, who was a family friend. When the girl grew up, Shchapov began to look at her with interest. The artist liked the young fashion model so much that he, forgetting about the 25-year age difference, began to aggressively look after her. At first, Elena was embarrassed by signs of attention from an adult man, who was followed by the glory of a womanizer, but soon she agreed to become his wife.
Victor spared nothing for his young wife. He gave her rings with diamonds and expensive fur coats, fulfilled her every whim. The young fashion model was the only owner of a luxurious white Mercedes in Moscow. During the years of living together with Shchapov, Elena met many representatives of Moscow bohemia and receiveddecent education. The husband and his friends read literature banned in the Soviet Union, which was either published illegally or smuggled in from abroad. Elena quickly became addicted to her husband's hobby and on this basis began to communicate closely with people who are part of Viktor Shchapov's entourage. Being the wife of a famous artist, the girl continued to write poetry and perform at fashion shows. In the early 70s, she was considered one of the most promising fashion models in the Soviet Union.
Meet Limonov and divorce Shchapov
Once, in the company of mutual friends, Elena Shchapova met a novice dissident writer Eduard Limonov. At first she fell in love with the poems of the young poet, and soon he himself became her lover. The chosen one of the long-legged fashion model was the exact opposite of her husband: modest and timid, he had neither money, nor influence, nor position in society. However, Elena didn't care. Having filed for divorce, she took her white poodle and went to a new lover. For Viktor Shchapov, the trick of his young wife ended in a heart attack, after which he recovered for a long time. Having recovered, he, in spite of Elena, married a young fashion model, but this marriage did not bring him happiness.
Emigration to the USA
In October 1973 Elena and Eduard got married. They lived on the money that Shchapova received from the sale of jewelry and French outfits inherited from her first husband. By that time, E. Limonov had already become quite a well-known person in dissident circles. For reading and sharingbanned literature in the USSR could go to jail, and KGB officers began to look closely at the young spouses. To avoid the sad fate of many Soviet dissidents, Eduard and Elena emigrated to the United States in 1974. To get to America, they were forced to leave the Union on Israeli visas. Surprisingly, they were released from the country quite easily.
In the first half of the 70s, few people decided to emigrate from the USSR. Elena Shchapova and her husband were among the first who wished to try their luck abroad. After settling in New York, the couple began to look for work. Extravagant Elena managed to get a job as a fashion model in the Zoli modeling agency. Limonov found a job at the New Russian Word newspaper.
Limonov's first novel
Things went differently for the spouses: Shchapova was able to quickly conquer the foreign audience with her spectacular appearance, but Eduard's luck did not want to smile. His poetic talent went unnoticed for a long time, and only after the release of the scandalous novel “It's me - Eddie” in 1979, Eduard Limonov gained long-awaited popularity. The published book became a kind of cry for the writer, who was terribly homesick and dreamed of returning home. The plot of the novel tells about the fate of a Soviet immigrant in New York, who is trying with all his might to survive in a foreign country. Abandoned by his wife, he receives social assistance, works as a loader and handyman and realizes that no one in America needs him. Limonov generously flavored his work with profanity and descriptionpornographic scenes.
Despite the scandalousness, the novel turned out to be largely autobiographical, but the writer asked not to identify himself with the main character. In the book “It's me - Eddie”, Eduard Limonov made Shchapova the prototype of the immigrant's wife. Elena, recognizing herself in the image of one of the main characters of the novel, did not resist his publication. By that time, she managed to make a good modeling career and broke up with Edward.
Elena's life in America
Elena worked hard, actively participated in fashion shows, starred for popular glossy publications (including in the nude), thanks to which she became the most famous Russian model in the United States. The profession allowed her to get into the circle of the aristocratic elite of New York, where she gained many influential acquaintances and admirers. She was in the homes of such famous people as Roman Polanski, Marlene Dietrich, Claudia Cardinale, Yves Saint Laurent, Peter Brook, Jack Nicholson.
Meeting with Salvador Dali
Elena Shchapova claims that Salvador Dali himself was a fan of her beauty. Seeing a Russian fashion model at one of the fashionable New York parties, he called her a “charming skeleton” and offered to become his model. The Spaniard had a special passion for Russian women, because his wife Gala was from Russia. Shchapova agreed, which caused the disapproval of her inner circle. The Lieberman aristocrats, with whom Elena was especially friendly in New York, dissuaded her from contacting the Spanish outrageous genius, stating that he would ruin her reputation. unknownthe Russian model would have agreed to pose for Dali, but on the eve of the meeting with him, she went to bed with a severe form of pneumonia. The artist, without waiting for the girl, became very angry with her and no longer offered her cooperation.
Meet the Comte de Carly and third marriage
In 1980, Shchapova was invited to the Italian representation in New York for the premiere of the film. Suddenly, a short man approached her and invited her to his birthday party. This is how the Russian model met the noble Italian Count Gianfranco de Carli, who was 11 years older than her. 3 days after they met, he invited Elena to marry him. Shchapova repeatedly refused him, but the Italian in love with enviable perseverance continued to court her and finally got his way. Elena agreed to marry him, receiving, along with a marriage certificate, Italian citizenship, a high position in aristocratic society and a luxurious house in Rome. Mother Gianfranco really liked the Russian daughter-in-law, she was delighted with her beauty and aristocratic manners. Soon after the wedding, Countess Elena Shchapova de Carly left the modeling business and devoted herself entirely to poetry and her husband. And she got the opportunity to travel a lot and enjoy the life that a beautiful woman deserves. In a marriage with de Carly, Elena in 1996 had her only daughter, Anastasia.
Edition of Shchapova's famous novel
In 1984, a biographicalShchapova's novel "It's me - Elena", which became a kind of answer to Limonov's Eddie. In it, the former fashion model tells readers her version of the love story told by her ex-husband. Like Limonov, she did not hesitate to reveal the intimate aspects of her personal life and filled the work with spicy descriptions of erotic scenes and details of working in the modeling business. In addition to the novel itself, the book includes a solid selection of poems by Elena Sergeevna, written by her in different years. The frank work of the Countess de Carly caused a great stir in the West and made us once again remember who E. Limonov is and what he became famous for. In Russia Shchapova's book was published only in 2008
Relationship with cinema
Despite her attractive appearance and close acquaintance with the world's creative elite, Elena Shchapova was not invited to act in films. But even before meeting de Carly, she had a chance to become a world movie star, if she accepted the courtship of the creator of the sensational film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" Milos Forman. But the Russian beauty did not want to become the mistress of a famous film director, and the door to Hollywood was closed to her.
However, once Shchapova still managed to visit the set. Italy, France and England in the late 80s filmed a joint film "Spring Waters", created based on the work of the same name by the Russian writer I. Turgenev. The main characters in it were played by Nastassja Kinski and Timothy Hutton. Shchapova, director Jerzy Skolimowski, entrusted an episodic role. In 1989The film took part in the competitive program of the festival in Cannes. Although Shchapova played a small role in it, her work was noticed and highly appreciated by critics. The film "Spring Waters" with the participation of the model was among the best adaptations of the works of Russian classics, created by Western filmmakers.
Gianfranco's death and former model's life today
At the moment, Elena Sergeevna Schapova lives in Rome and considers Italy her second home. Having buried Gianfranco when her daughter Nastenka was only 3 years old, she realized how dear this man was to her. Left with a small child in her arms, she never thought about returning to Russia. In Rome, she has a large four-room apartment located within walking distance of the Vatican. She lives on the money left to her by her husband, writes poetry and takes part in all social events. He also willingly communicates with journalists, revealing to them the details of his busy personal life.
