Ruslana Korshunova, once hailed as the "Russian Rapunzel" for her flowing chestnut locks and ethereal beauty, tragically ended her life by leaping from her Wall Street apartment. This heartbreaking event has resurfaced with new pertinence as unsealed court documents linked her to the notorious Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted pedophile known for his exploitation of young girls.
Korshunova, who had graced the world's most prestigious runways and featured in ads for Marc Jacobs, DKNY, Vera Wang, and Nina Ricci, was just 18 when she was a passenger on Epstein's so-called Lolita Express on June 7, 2006. This flight to Epstein's Little St. James island, a place now synonymous with his heinous crimes, was almost exactly two years before the Kazakh-Russian beauty leaped to her death from her ninth-floor balcony. Her ex-boyfriend, reflecting on her tragic demise, told The Post, "She had problems that she kept bottled up."
The unsealed documents reveal that alongside Epstein, Korshunova was accompanied by three of his staffers and a few other unidentified individuals. However, the nature and extent of what occurred during her time on the island remain shrouded in mystery and speculation. In a poignant email exchange revealed in the court documents, Virginia Giuffre, a key figure in the Epstein case, expressed her condolences upon hearing of Korshunova's death, stating, "I am so sorry to hear the news of Ruslana, and my condolences are with her family and friends."
Ruslana Korshunova was a Kazakhstani-Russian model. She flew to the Jeffrey Epstein's island in 2006 in lolita express. She was a young Russian Model. Less than two years later, she was found thrown off her balcony in Manhattan and her death was ruled a suicide. This is being… pic.twitter.com/HzDds91CAo — Real Mac Report (@RealMacReport) January 5, 2024
This revelation has cast a pall over the fashion industry, highlighting the vulnerabilities and dangers that young models face. Korshunova, discovered at the tender age of 17, was quickly thrust into the limelight, her face gracing covers and her presence demanded on runways. Yet, beneath the surface, there was a struggle, a sense of being lost in a world that simultaneously adored and exploited her beauty.
As her career began to wane, Korshunova reportedly sought help from an extreme "self-help group" in Russia, known for its controversial and potentially harmful methods. Author Peter Pomerantsev, in his book "Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: The Surreal Heart of the New Russia," noted that Korshunova was driven to Rose of the World as her modeling gigs slowed, and personal relationships failed. "She looked like something out of a fairytale!" Debbie Jones of London-based Models 1 had once said. But for Korshunova, the fairy tale had turned dark.
The tragic end of this young model's life and her fleeting connection to Epstein's sordid world have reignited discussions about the safety and well-being of models in the high-pressure, high-stakes fashion industry. It raises critical questions about the support systems in place for young individuals thrust into the limelight and the responsibilities of those who manage and mentor them.
As the fashion world reflects on the life and untimely death of Ruslana Korshunova, her story serves as a cautionary tale and a call to action. It's a stark reminder of the need for vigilance, support, and ethical practices to protect the young and vulnerable who dream of stardom, only to find themselves navigating a world filled with hidden dangers and predators lurking in the shadows.
