Daria Werbowy is a Canadian fashion model of Ukrainian descent. Toronto is a multicultural city, home to many who have immigrated from various parts of the world over the years, including a significant number of refugees. The Ukrainian diaspora in Canada is considered one of the largest. Today, we’re talking about Daria Werbowy, a Canadian fashion model of Ukrainian heritage. You can read more about the model’s life story on torontonka.com.
Childhood and Youth
The future model was born in Poland in 1983. However, when Daria was three years old, she and her family moved to Canada, settling in a suburb of Toronto. Daria is of Ukrainian descent but is deeply grateful to Canada for everything. She believes she wouldn’t have had the same opportunities in Toronto as she might have in Poland or Ukraine.
When Werbowy was 13, she caught the attention of a classmate’s mother, who was the director of a modeling agency in Toronto. Just a year later, the young Ukrainian won a local modeling contest and began working with the “Susan J. Model & Talent” studio. Daria later signed a contract with “Elite Models” agency.
Her real breakthrough came when she was 19. She gained significant attention during the Fall/Winter 2003 shows and signed a contract with Miuccia Prada, which marked the beginning of her major modeling career.
Career Development and Rise to Prominence
Werbowy’s modeling career truly began to flourish when Elmer Olsen, then the head scout at Elite Toronto, founded his own agency. Daria started working with this new agency, and within a few years, under the management of IMG Models, the Canadian of Ukrainian descent achieved international fame.
Notably, Daria Werbowy holds the record for opening and closing the most shows in a single season. It’s also worth mentioning that in her debut Fall/Winter 2003 season, Werbowy appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia three times.
Throughout her career, Werbowy has graced the covers of over 150 fashion magazines and worked for numerous famous brands. In fact, The New York Times named Daria “the number one model” in the United States. In 2008, the model received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. Furthermore, Werbowy is known for having one of the best portfolios in the world.
Collaborations with Brands and Designers
Throughout her professional career, Daria Werbowy has collaborated with many renowned fashion designers and brands. Key among them include:
- Gucci: Daria became the face of the advertising campaign for the new Marina Chain jewelry collection in 2023.
- Céline: Werbowy was Phoebe Philo’s muse during her tenure at Céline.
- Prada: The model first gained widespread popularity in 2003 as the face of Prada.
- Lancôme: Following her collaboration with Prada, Werbowy signed a contract and became a Lancôme ambassador, reportedly worth approximately $1 million.
Daria Werbowy has also participated in advertising campaigns for Céline, Chanel, Balmain, Diane von Furstenberg, and Isabel Marant, and has worked with fashion houses such as Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Pepe Jeans, Roberto Cavalli, Hermès, and Chanel.
Daria Werbowy has set many records throughout her professional career:
- She walked the runway 55 times (referring to a specific, notable count).
- Vogue Paris included her in their list of the top 30 runway models of the 2000s.
- She has appeared on the cover of Vogue 50 times.
Daria Werbowy is a Canadian model of Ukrainian heritage who was born in Poland. She successfully built an impressive modeling career far beyond her original homeland, with Canada becoming her true home. Daria seized the opportunities Toronto offered and achieved remarkable international success.
This is the life story of the celebrated model. We hope you found this article informative and learned more about this well-known Toronto personality.
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