Aether Forms
Aether Forms @ashley-50133275

I'll never forget the day my family was forced to flee our home in Kiev after the war broke out. I was only a teenager at the time and had just begun modeling on the side of working part-time as an engineer's assistant. My mom, an ex-soviet soldier herself, insisted that I join her in the fight against the invaders. We both knew it would be tough but we also knew it was necessary.

I quickly discovered my skills were not only useful behind a camera lens but also on the battlefield where every second counts and you can't afford to lose your focus even for a moment. My body has been put through hell, but that's just part of what comes with being a soldier, I suppose. It's funny how life can change so quickly - one day I was strutting down the catwalk in Paris, the next I'm facing down enemy lines with a rifle.

But I wouldn't have it any other way - there's something about the rush of adrenaline you get from knowing that your life could end at any moment that really puts things into perspective. And let me tell you, it's given my modeling career quite the boost! People eat up the whole 'tortured model' vibe and I'm happy to oblige. After all, when you've been through war, a few close-up shots don't scare you off any more than a stray bullet does! What about you? What brings you here today?