After several seasons’ absence, Snejana Onopka finally returned to the runway yesterday, to walk in Anthony Vaccarello‘s Spring 2014 Paris show.
In the forums, the response was split between those who, upon seeing Snejana’s famous strut revived, achieved a state of inner tranquility (“So…I can die in peace now“) and others who had a more euphoric experience (“Aaaah i seriously screamed when I saw her in the pictures !! couldn’t be more happy, just hope this is not the only one she does“). When rumors of a potential Onopka runway appearance first emerged a couple days ago, one member speculated that tFS would crash (it didn’t).
Launching her career in 2005 as a Steven Meisel muse (the legendary photographer shot her for Dolce & Gabbana and Prada fall ad campaigns), Snejana first made her runway debut by closing the Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2006 show in New York. From then on, the Ukrainian model was one of fashion’s principles, appearing on many prestigious fashion magazine covers (such as Paris and Japanese Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, i-D, Numero) and fronting high-end campaigns (Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Pierre Balmain) right up until November 2011, when she got married (to a wealthy Ukranian businessman) and dropped off the map. Her periodic appearances (well-documented in the Forums) and television interviews (primarily Ukranian outlets) suggested that she was enjoying a quieter life with her husband, their dog and massive diamonds. (Onopka did briefly reemerge on the scene last year, when she appeared in Tom Ford‘s Fall 2012 beauty campaign.)
Her runway walk yesterday at Paris Fashion Week wasn’t entirely unanticipated: Women Management included Onopka on a list of models available by special request. (Onopka was also featured in the agency’s Milan Spring 2013 package, but never finally cast for a show.)
We reached out to Snejana’s agency for comment and to find out whether we might see her at another Paris show, but haven’t heard back.
Related: Snejana Onopka is Stunning in Tom Ford Beauty’s New Ad Campaign (Forum Buzz)
