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Milking Goats, Rocking the Runway (Again) — a Look at All of Julia Lemigova's Jobs
The former Russian beauty queen took a timeout from modeling to run a spa, launch her own skincare line, and run a farm to sell eggs and goat milk, before launching a second modeling career this year.
Julia Lemigova may be a glamorous former Russian beauty queen, but that hasn’t stopped her from hustling on the farm she shares with wife, Martina Navratilova, to sell fresh eggs. The Real Housewives of Miami cast member has worn many hats over the years, including being a mother to daughters Victoria and Emma.
Take a look back at all of Julia Lemigova's jobs over the years.
Julia Lemigova's international modeling career
Julia was an international fashion model when she first met her future wife, Martina, in 2000, and continued her fashion career until 2005. The former beauty queen was crowned Miss USSR in 1990, and in 1991 she was the second runner-up in the Miss Universe Pageant in Las Vegas, according to her Bravo bio.
She first left Russia as a teenager six months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, she said in an interview with Bloomberg in October 2014.
“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 recalled to the outlet.
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She worked as an international model for years for brands such as Giorgio Armani, Jill Sander, Nina Ricci, and Ungaro, according to her Bravo bio. She has since posted photos to her Instagram of various shoots and runway shows, including this snapshot from a shoot in Los Angeles.
She also posted her short hair look as a model in Paris, rocking skintight black leather shorts and matching black leather boots.
Julia looks back at her time as a model in Paris fondly.
“While I often think about my modeling days, being in Paris has brought back so many more memories,” she posted in February 2023 to her Instagram, along with a modeling photo. “From the cafes lining the city streets, to the old buildings and shops, every step takes me back to those early days. How time flies!”
Julia Lemigova launches her own beauty care line, Russie Blanche
While living in Paris as a model, she owned her own spa for 10 years, and that inspired her to move into the beauty side of the business and launch her own skincare brand, Russie Blanche, she told Bloomberg.
“Skincare started there,” Julia said to Bloomberg. “Had my own spa after traveling for a modeling career. I launched myself into the new beauty world and started cosmetic skincare research and development.”
Her family was also her inspiration for starting her own skincare line.
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“Remembering my Russian heritage, seeing my mother and other Russian women back then trying to create some beauty treatments with what they had, it was not very much, you know?” she told Bloomberg. “Putting yogurt on your face and something like that—creating little remedies. Russie Blanche came to me in inspiration from Russian beauty secrets mixed with French refinement, elegance and technology.”
Her products ranged from $65 to $230 dollars and were carried by brands like Neiman Marcus and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, according to Bloomberg.
Julia Lemigova's farm life, selling eggs and goat milk
Julia launched another new career during RHOM Season 5, sharing that she and Martina bought a new farm. But this is no passion project for Julia — this is a working farm.
“My farm is not just my hobby,” she said during the show. “I do sell eggs and avocados and guavas and whatever is in season.”
Julia admitted the farm is like a retreat to her.
“I talk to them, all of them, even my multiple numbers of chickens,” Julia told the Washington Blade of her farm animals. “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 passionate about the farm (and all the animals that come with it), she did reveal Martina does not share her feelings.
“Martina complains about me leaving in the morning and coming back after the sun goes down,” Julia said on the show. “Martina has mixed feelings on the farm. Farming is not really her thing. So Martina and I are doing things separately.”
Julie Lemigova launches a second modeling career
After ending her modeling career in 2005 to focus on motherhood, Julia found herself back in the model spotlight in March 2023, posting on her Instagram, “How fun it was to be in front of a camera again” for Select Model Miami.
In April, she shared photos from the session, and wrote, “While diving back into modeling is always a little scary, I am so glad I did it.”
The same month, she also posted about being photographed in a maroon one-piece bathing suit for the first time in a long time, sharing video from her shoot to Instagram, writing, “I decided to go beyond my comfort zone and try it out. Life is too short.”
Julia even tackled a runway show in June, posting video of behind-the-scenes footage of the SHAN runway show to her Instagram.
"So thankful to have the opportunity to work with such an amazing team that helped me feel confident to walk again after 25 years,” she wrote with the video.
She also posted pictures of herself in various outfits walking the runway, writing, “Back in the game!”
See more of Julia’s journey back into modeling during Season 6 of The Real Housewives of Miami, airing on Wednesdays at 9/8c on Bravo, and the next day on Peacock.
