Elena Shchapova de Carly is a model, poet and socialite with a very bizarre destiny. It contained everything: dizzying romances, hasty marriages, emigration from the USSR, friendship with the most famous people of their time, from impoverished writers to aristocrats.
Childhood and youth
The biography of Elena Kozlova (maiden name Shchapova) began quite unusually. She was born in 1950 into a very wealthy family, the girl's father was a prominent scientist and a staunch communist, and her grandmother was a minister of the church. Little Lena grew up in severity, her parents controlled her acquaintances. At the same time, the girl received a very superficial education, from an early age she was carried away by a completely different, brighter life.
At the age of 16, the slender beauty went to work in a model house, at the same time she became interested in poetry and began to write poetry. Working as a fashion model provided a wide circle of acquaintances, soon fate brought Elena to the famous Moscow artist Viktor Shchapov. He was 25 years older and did not differ in constant feelings, but he fell in love with Elena immediately. She doubted for a while, but eventually gave up and got married. The girl was only 17 years old.
Personal life and not only
The marriage made Elena one of the wealthiest ladies in Moscow bohemia. Her husband inundated her with gifts: imported outfits, fur coats, jewelry, a white Mercedes, which was a real miracle for the gray Moscow streets.
The life of a housewife, even a very wealthy one, did not suit the ambitious girl. She read a lot, continued to write poetry and received a good education. Working in a fashion house did not bring money, but ensured fame: in the early 70s, Elena was considered one of the most popular fashion models. A lot of interesting people came to my husband's house, which made it possible to expand the circle of acquaintances.
During one of the parties, Elena met the young poet Eduard Limonov. She was very impressed by the poems of the new author, and he was seriously interested in the young self-confident beauty. Soon the mutual interest grew into something more. Limonov had no fame, position and money, but Elena was not embarrassed: once she just left home with her beloved dog, and later filed for divorce. Shchapov was struck by such a betrayal, he had a heart attack. In 1973, Elena and Eduard got married.
Emigration
The young family lived on Elena's money: she was gradually selling expensive gifts from her first husband. Limonov's fame in dissident circles grew, gradually controlling bodies began to take an interest in his work. The next stage could be real persecution, the couple decided to emigrate.
They had to leave along the Jewish line, but the young people were not attracted by Israel, they were eager to go to America. The move was quick and surprisingly easy, and after a few months the couple settled in New York. Limonov would later write about the life of poor immigrants in the United States in his famous novel It's Me - Eddie. The main character of the book is completely copied from Elena and bears the same name.
Shchapova immediately began working as a model in one of the agencies. She was considered the most beautiful Russian on the catwalk - however, there were few emigrants from the USSR to the United States at that time.
Elena quickly made a career, but their relationship with Limonov was gradually declining. After that, the writer admitted that it was Shchapova who initiated the break, he also experienced the end of a whirlwind romance for a long time.
Elena's personal life was very turbulent and inextricably linked with the modeling business. She starred a lot, including in very frank projects. Shchapova was friends with interesting and unusual people, among whom were Salvador Dali, Yves Saint Laurent, Claudia Cardinale. At one of the shows, she met Count Gianfranco de Carli. After 3 days, the enchanted aristocrat proposed to Elena. On reflection, she agreed to the marriage.
After the wedding, the young Countess de Carly left the podium, settling in a luxurious house in Rome. She continued to write poetry, devoted a lot of time to travel and raised her daughter Anastasia.
Today Elena still leads an active social life. Comte de Carly died when their common daughter was very young, leaving his widow a decent fortune. In 1984, Madame Shchapova de Carly wrote the book "It's Me - Elena", which includes a very frank autobiography and a large selection of poems.
