Antoine Arnault’s wife, a model, revealed to the American version of Vogue magazine the incredible story of her younger sister who was put up for adoption in Russia and adopted by an American couple. The two found each other thanks to a site offering DNA tests.
It is a powerful and touching story that Antoine Arnault’s wife, Natalya Vodianova, shared with the American version of Vogue magazine on Thursday, November 17. The Russian model, the daughter-in-law of Bernard Arnault, executive director of the French luxury group LVMH, told in an interview how she found her younger sister, who was adopted by an American couple 23 years ago.
The story begins in 1999, when Natalia Vodianova’s mother, Larisa Kusakina, gives birth to a daughter, Maria Mashinka, named Masha, in Nizhny Novgorod, a dark industrial city in Russia. “My mother has had several unhappy relationships, including my father,” Natalia Vodianova told the magazine. Because in addition to the top, Larisa already had two daughters with another man: Christina and Oksana. The latter was born with serious developmental problems, suffering from autism and cerebral palsy.
Natalia Vodyanova in the video. “Becoming a model allowed me to give back”
Poor childhood
When 36-year-old Larisa gives birth to Masha, she is financially ruined. In debt, he has to turn to the local mafia to borrow money on exorbitant terms. Now a single mother, she accommodates her family in a very poor 20 square meter room. Sixteen-year-old Natalia convinces her mother to give up her fourth child. Little Masha is then put up for adoption. “I remember saying to my mother. “There is a line of parents who want this child. He will be loved, he will have a much better life than with us,” he admits. In Vogue.
Later, Natalia will start looking for her missing sister. After getting rich, he hires detectives, but these searches are unsuccessful. It turns out that Masha was adopted by an American family from North Carolina. And that her name is now Jennifer Burns, known as Jenna.
DNA tests
Meanwhile, Jenna, who knows she’s adopted, is curious to learn more about her Russian ancestry. Sure enough, as a teenager, he signed up for an online genealogy site that collected DNA data from its users. In 2019, he is informed of a correspondence, a “match”, and after some research on the Internet, discovers that he has a half-sister with a very public profile, the famous supermodel Natalya Vodianova. He sends her a message with his birth place and name. “I am well. I hope you are well too.” A message that does not reach its intended recipient.
It’s one evening in July 2021 when Jennifer receives email alerts. It was his half-sister, Christina, who registered on this same DNA site, who found him. Natalia and Christina immediately write to the American.
reunion
Correspondence begins timidly, continues with a video call. The sisters talk for about three hours. Natalia asks a lot of questions about Jenna’s childhood and reveals some details about the complicated circumstances that led to her adoption. In the end, Natalia offers Jenna to visit her in Paris. The two women kiss for a long time at the airport. In the video published by Vogue, it can also be seen that Antoine Arnaud, whom Natalia married in 2020 and with whom she had two sons, is very excited.
Natalya Vodianova planned to travel to North Carolina to meet Jenna’s parents. The latter promises to show him many childhood videos. “You’re going to cry,” she told her sister. “I’m ready,” Natalia replied.
Source: Le Figaro
