Natalia Vodianova: ‘It’s Better to Be Skinny Than to Be Fat’

Natalia Vodianova. Photo: Francois Durand/Getty Images

Natalia Vodianova took part in a panel discussion at the British VogueFestival over the weekend, where she made some ballsy statements about women and weight. The comments were sparked by British Vogue'sexecutive fashion director Calgary Avansino's question: "It's undeniable that models are very thin, expected to be very thin, and thinner than 99.9 percent of the population. What message should you be sending out?" Vodianova didn't hold back; see what she had to say about her diet, losing weight after childbirth, and how she trains (or doesn't) before running a marathon each year.

On how images of thin models affect women: "Come on, guys, it's better to be skinny than to be fat! We eat well, we exercise — please, do the same and you will look like this. I'm sorry, but today the NHS [Britain’s National Health Service] are fighting against obesity, children are taken away from their parents because they’re too fat … And here we are, defending that we are healthy and skinny."

On her diet: "I respect my body — my body is my temple. If I eat like a pig, I feel like a pig."

On losing weight after childbirth: "I must say I actually came to [an event at] the V&A after giving birth to [my son] Victor, three days later, and I was wearing Givenchy Couture."

Her advice to women who want to lose weight: "I don't want to offend people who are trying to lose weight — if you want my tip, everyone should look into the only diet I've ever done. When I was little I had ulcers in my stomach from not eating very properly. I had really bad digestion and suffered from it for a long time. Then somebody recommended the blood type diet. Ever since, I have more energy and I've been doing it for five years now. It really works for me. It's not about eating more protein or more carbohydrates — it's which protein you eat, and which carbohydrates."

AmfAR Throws Dinner in Paris

The charity event raising money to combat HIV/AIDS feted its first Paris edition on Sunday night, though the party’s hostess Carine Roitfeld insisted: “This is totally different. We just wanted to say thank you to all those people who have supported us year after year after year,” she said in a body-hugging black Versace gown, which turned out to be the evening’s hottest brand.

“I came straight from the Versace couture runway,” said Karlie Kloss, still wearing her exit look, which was matched with a pair of chunky Seventies platform sandals.

“I know you are tall, but I might be shrinking,” exclaimed Marc Jacobs, peering at the model from below.

Kloss was her self-effacing self. “On a regular night I’m around 6-foot-1, but tonight is a special night — these shoes must be at least 7 inches. I’m an avatar tonight,” she laughed, before posing with Donatella Versace, Doutzen Kroes, Joan Smalls, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Mariacarla Boscono — all in Versace — for a group picture.

The Italian designer also provided the winning bid for a unique Polaroid print Andy Warhol had taken of her brother Gianni, part of a bunch of art works that were auctioned off for the good cause.

Naomi Campbell and Natasha Poly were bidding for a sensual Douglas Kirkland photograph of Marilyn Monroe, though it was eventually Chopard’s copresident Caroline Scheufele who went home with the piece.

Other guests at the event, which also featured a live act by Gladys Knight, included Michelle Rodriguez, Lily Donaldson, Anthony Vaccarello, Dita Von Teese, Goga Ashkenazi, Antoine Arnault and Natalia Vodianova, who was spreading the word about her difficult advancements with The Naked Heart Foundation.

“We are opening 10 more playgrounds in Russia this summer and are expanding our educational program for children with autism to under-school-age children, starting at two years old,” she stated in a pale green Ulyana Sergeenko gown. “You know, in Russia it’s still an experiment — the government accepted autism as a [neurodevelopmental] disorder only in 2007,” said the model-turned-philanthropist.

Nicky Hilton divulged she was in town for the final fitting of her bridal dress. “I’m getting married on Friday — in London,” said the hotel heiress, who is engaged to James Rothschild of the Rothschild clan.

“It’s traditionally beautiful, and it’s my dream dress. I’ve been imagining it since I was a little girl,” said Hilton, but kept mum about the designer.

“It’s a French house,” she smiled secretively.

Paz Vega said she had the pleasantly difficult task of scouting some red carpet looks for the upcoming premieres of “Emperor,” also starring Adrien Brody, and “All Roads Lead to Rome,” a romantic comedy in which she appears opposite Sarah Jessica Parker.

“I play an Italian journalist, who goes to where the action is. It’s fresh and it’s funny, it’s great,” said Vega, adding: “You know that I studied journalism, right? But I don’t know what happened. I guess I thought acting was more fun.”

Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week: Supermodels flock to amfAR dinner

From Karlie Kloss to Naomi Campbell models dressed to impress at the Haute Couture amfAR dinner hosted by Carine Roitfeld.

Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture, is well underway, with some of the most expensive clothes ever made making their way down catwalks.

To kick off the week amfAR held a charity dinner at Pavillon Ledoyen on Saturday night hosted by ex-French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld and Milutin Gatsby, which attracted a whole host of fashionable folk.

Supermodels were not in short supply at the evening with the likes of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Natalia Vodianova and Naomi Campbell all attending the event.

Taking place just shortly after the Atelier Versace autumn/winter 2015 show, many of the models including Karlie Kloss and Doutzen Kroes made the best of their job, arriving in the very same gowns they wore on the catwalk.

Also in attendance the lady of the evening, Donatella Versace who posed alongside the bright young things wearing her designs.

Paris Fashion Week continues with highlights including the Dior show later today and Chanel tomorrow morning.