Viktoria Modesta
Viktoria Modesta | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Viktorija Moskaļova |
| Born | 25 February 1987 Daugavpils, Latvia |
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Genres | Electronic, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, artist, model |
| Website | www |
Viktoria Modesta (born on 25 February 1987 as Viktorija Moskaļova in Daugavpils, Latvia) is a Latvian-born English singer-songwriter performance artist and model.
Early life
Modesta was born in Daugavpils in 1987 where she learnt singing aged six at a local music school.[1] Moskaļova moved with her family from Latvia to the United Kingdom when she was 12 years old.[2] Due to a doctor's negligence at her birth, Moskalova spent most of her childhood in and out of hospitals.[1] This accident led to a lasting problem with her left leg. In 2007, she had a voluntary below-the-knee leg amputation to improve her mobility and safeguard her future health. Her physicality has become known for challenging the modern perception of altered beauty.[3]
Career
Modelling
Moskalova began modelling at the age of fifteen. She has appeared on subculture magazine covers such as Bizarre[4][5] and Skin Two.[6]
On 10 January 2015 Viktoria signed with IMG Models worldwide.
Music
Moskalova attended a performance art school from the age of 6 in Daugavpils, Latvia studying piano, vocal performance and sheet music. In 2009, she launched her first musical writing collaborative project with musician/producer Nik Hodges. Their first written track "Jane Bond" was featured in Music Week Playlist.[7] In May 2010, Moskalova was selected as one of the six best unsigned artists in the UK by Evo Music Rooms presented by Edith Bowman, broadcast on Channel 4.[8]
On 19 March 2010 Moskalova released her first EP titled EP1.[9]
On 28 May 2012 Moskalova put out a digital, independent release of her debut single "Only You".[10] which was featured by iD,[11] Wonderland[12] and Notion[13] magazines.
On 12 December 2014 Launched a collaboration with Channel 4 for the campaign Born Risky [14] presenting her as worlds first Bionic Pop Artist supported by a track "Prototype"released on Spotify for streaming. The video for the campaign video was directed by Saam Farahmand. The video had received global attention with over 6million views on YouTube and over 16 million on Channel 4 Facebook. The story was publicised worldwide throughout news networks publications such as i-D Magazine, Upworthy, Forbes and Elle Magazine USA. Prototype video has received a Silver Lion Award at Cannes Film Festival
MIT Media Lab
Moskalova has joined the MIT Media Lab as a Director's Fellow.[15]
2012 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony
Moskalova performed as the 'Snow Queen' to a live performance of "42" by Coldplay at the 2012 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony in London directed by Kim Gavin in a 'Winter' section together with 6 warrior skaters from Dancing On Ice. Her performance wearing a Swarovski crystal-covered prosthetic leg was written about in The Times,[16] Grazia[17] and Look[18] magazines.
References
- ^ a b Viktoria Modesta Moskalova: The Modern Perception Of Altered Beauty, 5election, Retrieved 26 November 2016
- ^ "Modesta kāju zaudējusi Latvijas ārstu nolaidības dēļ" (in Latvian). Delfi.lv. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ Unconventional Beauty Article, Yahoo
- ^ 'Christmas Issue' 2009
- ^ June issue 2008
- ^ SKINTWO issue 58
- ^ Music Week playlist 20 July 2009
- ^ Channel 4 listing
- ^ [1]
- ^ Only You on iTunes
- ^ iD magazine article Archived 28 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Riseand Rise of Viktoria Modesta, Wonderland magazine, 12 April 2012, Retrieved 26 November 2016
- ^ magazine article
- ^ [2]
- ^ Announcement[permanent dead link]
- ^ The Times article[permanent dead link]
- ^ Grazia Magazine Article
- ^ Look Magazine article Archived 3 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine
External links
- Use dmy dates from August 2010
- 1987 births
- Living people
- Latvian emigrants to the United Kingdom
- Latvian people of Russian descent
- British people of Russian descent
- British people of Latvian descent
- British singer-songwriters
- British female models
- British amputees
- Latvian amputees
- Soviet amputees
- Models with disabilities
- BBC 100 Women