Once again, waking up in the warm and comfortable bed, Natalia Vodianova pinched herself under the covers.
It wasn't a dream.
The room was still dark, but she could smell a faint fragrance in the air.
Reflecting on her experiences over the past few months, Natalia felt as if she were in heaven.
Born in a small town in the now-defunct Soviet Novgorod region, living in the most dilapidated neighborhood, Natalia had been raised by her mother alone since she was very young. When the Soviet Union collapsed, she was 9 years old, still naive and unaware of the implications. She heard many people say that good times were coming and felt their excitement, which made the little girl happy as well.
However, good times did not arrive.
The new Russian Federation's economy plummeted. Her mother's factory suddenly closed, and they had to rely on selling fruits to make a living. She had to drop out of school after the ruble collapse last year to help her mother.
As most people couldn't afford food, they certainly couldn't buy fruit. The scarcity of supplies meant they could only get a small amount of stock from wholesalers. Often, they couldn't earn even 10,000 rubles a day, which could only buy two loaves of bread at Russia's current high prices. Since last year, they had often gone hungry, sometimes relying on her equally impoverished grandparents for help.
Despite selling fruit, she couldn't recall the taste of what she sold. If they couldn't sell the surplus fruit, it would be returned to the wholesaler to be canned.
Two months ago, her friend Nia showed everyone a job advertisement printed in a newspaper. A prestigious American modeling agency was recruiting trainees, and she was the right age.
One of the most popular topics in the country recently was emigration.
For those at the bottom of society, the word "emigration" seemed unattainable. Still, if there was even a one-in-a-million chance to leave Russia, no one would pass it up.
This time, even her mother didn't object, scraping together some money to help her create a resume and send it off.
Because of the unplanned expenses for photos and postage, they didn't have enough to eat for a few days. Seeing many other girls attempting the same thing, she felt resentful towards Nia for sharing the job ad too widely, knowing that she wasn't particularly beautiful or tall compared to others in their circle.
Sending off so many resumes made her chance seem slim.
After dreaming for over half a month without any response, she and the other girls lost hope.
Indeed.
There were certainly more outstanding girls in big cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. How could a girl from a small town like hers have a chance?
When a black luxury car, rarely seen in her town, stopped in front of her house with the resume she had sent two weeks ago, she almost fainted with joy.
However, it wasn't a modeling trainee position but a personal assistant role.
The term sounded formal, but her straightforward mother saw through it immediately: "Isn't that just a maid?"
The middle-aged man explaining things didn't deny it, saying it could be understood that way. However, it was for a big family, so they needed to start training early, and not just anyone could do it.
Mother and daughter didn't hesitate much.
Given their current situation, even being a maid was fine, as long as it was in the United States.
Still, her mother cautiously asked about the salary.
The successful-looking man said that if selected, she could earn $200,000 a year, with other benefits.
Her mother immediately objected.
"Do you think we're fools?"
Even Yeltsin's salary wasn't $200,000.
How much was $200,000 anyway?
While listening, she calculated in her head, knowing from conversations about exchange rates that the newly issued rubles needed 4,000 to exchange for one dollar.
$200,000 was 800 million rubles.
They made about 300,000 rubles a month. 800 million rubles... hmm.
Her mother seemed dizzy too.
Thinking it was a scam, her mother still didn't give up. She just wanted her daughter to go abroad for a decent job, not asking for much more.
After all, a scammer with a luxury car had to have some ability.
The man patiently explained that he wasn't a scammer. The $200,000 salary was real, but getting the job wasn't easy. Their boss would select only ten girls from tens of thousands. He was just giving her an initial interview opportunity, with thousands of girls already in the initial selection.
Mother and daughter were stunned.
When asked who the boss was, the man said he didn't know, being just a junior clerk.
Then came another question.
What if she wasn't selected?
The man regretfully said he couldn't do anything about it.
So, it would be the same as before.
That was awful.
Mother tried to probe how to get selected. She, sitting on a small stool, noticed her mother moving closer to the man and quickly lowered her head, pretending not to understand.
The man didn't stay long, formally explaining some details and saying they could go to Moscow for the interview if interested.
Moscow.
How would they get there?
How much would it cost?
They couldn't afford it.
Fortunately, the man said all expenses during the interview stage would be covered.
So, they felt relieved.
Scammers usually tried to get money from people. If it didn't cost anything, it probably wasn't a scam. Besides, Moscow was Russia's capital; nothing too terrible could happen there.
After agreeing, the man had them sign an agreement and left.
They found out that seven girls from their small town were heading to Moscow. Both of her friends, Natalia and Nia, were among them. She felt competitive, resenting Nia for sharing the ad too widely.
In Moscow, they stayed in a nice hotel and found many other girls and parents from across Russia, over 30 in that batch alone.
Indeed, food and lodging were covered without restrictions.
Her mother always asked for extra cookies to take home. She wanted to stop her, not because of embarrassment but in case it affected the interview. Seeing many others doing the same, even stuffing bread into bags, and the supervisor saying nothing, she let her mother continue.
Russia was in its coldest season.
Moscow, expected to be bustling, had many people queuing for food in the cold.
The first interview was the next day.
Actually, it was a medical examination.
Having experienced Soviet-era exams, she found this one more thorough, lasting two days, with six blood samples taken. Even her teeth, armpits, and feet were checked. The medical team included many foreigners speaking English.
After the exam, they waited again.
Parents, having accompanied their children through the exam, joked that even Yeltsin might not get such detailed care.
She worried.
Strict screening meant many would be eliminated.
Her mother shared her concern, asking for more cookies at every meal to stock up in case they were sent home.
This wait lasted five days, with everyone growing anxious.
On the sixth morning, another staff member gathered everyone at a nearby hall to announce the results. Those who passed would stay, while those who didn't would receive 100,000 rubles and a free return ticket.
Everyone was nervous.
The elimination was harsher than expected.
Out of 36 girls, only 11 passed the first round, the rest had to leave.
Luckily, she was among the selected.
Of the seven girls from their town, only three passed, including Natalia, but not Nia.
She wasn't surprised.
Nia, the prettiest of the three, had body odor. She knew from the armpit check that Nia would be rejected. While body odor was common, strict screening wouldn't allow such issues.
As the results were read, she regretfully hugged Nia but couldn't help feeling relieved, losing a competitor. Unfortunately, Natalia remained, prettier and taller than her.
There were complaints, pleas, and demands for more compensation.
The staff called the police.
Everyone fell silent.
The hotel was half-empty by afternoon, disappointing the owner. Hotels had little business, and this group were big customers. The owner knew about the extra food taken and was happy to see it.
Food was the most profitable commodity in Russia then.
More waiting followed.
Asked about the next test, the staff wouldn't reveal it.
On the sixth afternoon, they were taken to a high-end office building in central Moscow, entering different rooms for over an hour of questions, some ordinary, some strange.
A camera recorded everything.
The girls were tense.
The woman questioning her was gentle, but she stayed vigilant, even for simple questions about her favorite foods, answering carefully. For a map question asking her to choose a route between two points, she hesitated, fearing a mistake.
She chose the shortest route, hoping to appear straightforward.
Back at the hotel, those with some knowledge called it a psychological test.
The next test followed soon.
The 11 girls were divided into three groups by age and education for an IQ test. She answered most questions but still felt uneasy, finding many questions easy, unsure how others did.
Trying to probe other girls after, everyone kept silent.
This wait was longer, two weeks, leaving only her and Natalia.
Hearing no more tests, they were overjoyed. Natalia's uncle Yuri drank two bottles of vodka and sang loudly that night, with no complaints in the empty hotel.
However, recalling the initial man's words, she realized this was just the beginning.
Indeed.
They moved to a better hotel, with 10 girls gathered again, a new supervisor occasionally hinting there were over 50 girls selected from Russia.
The good news was free food and lodging continued, with a stipend.
Previously, eliminated girls received 100,000 rubles each.
This time, they got 10 million rubles, equal to three years of their fruit-selling
income.
She thought again about the promised $200,000 salary, 800 million rubles.
How much was 800 million rubles?
She couldn't grasp it but knew it was a huge amount, enough for a lifetime.
Seeing her mother counting the thick stack of bills, she wanted a share but was refused. Arguing got her a slap, though her mother stopped mid-slap, making her laugh.
Mother feared hurting her now.
She was valuable.
Other selected girls were likely treated as treasures at home.
After a busy half month, signing contracts she didn't understand and getting passports and visas, she knew she was going to London, not America.
London was fine, closer to Russia.
But they didn't leave immediately.
The supervisor explained that preparations in London were still underway, so they would wait until January. If they didn't want to stay in Moscow, they could return home.
The lure of free food and lodging was strong, most choosing to stay, though some had to leave temporarily. Those leaving were mostly parents, the girls stayed.
She and her mother stayed, having nowhere else to go.
Yuri asked her mother to look after Natalia while he returned home.
With seven people in his family, Yuri was the breadwinner, secretly sending food home several times during their stay. If not for the rare opportunity for Natalia, he wouldn't have stayed away so long.
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