Jun 29 2008
Supermodel dead in apparent suicide
Model Ruslana Korshunova was found dead outside her apartment in Manhattan yesterday, after falling from her ninth-floor balcony. The death is believed to be a suicide, as her balcony was surrounded by construction netting that appears to have been ripped. There were no signs of a struggle inside her apartment; indeed her boyfriend said he had left her early that morning, after the two had watched the film “Ghost” together.
Korshunova was days away from her 21st birthday, and according to those who knew her, she showed no signs of depression. Family and friends were stunned at her death, saying that she hadn’t fallen prey to typical model traps like drugs or excess partying.
The booker who discovered Korshunova in her hometown of Almaty, Kazakhstan, said she “looked like something out of a fairytale.” She soon landed a contract with IMG, the modeling agency of Kate Moss and Heidi Klum. Known as the “Russian Rapunzel” for her long, luxurious locks, Korshunova was recently featured in ad campaigns for big-name designers like Marc Jacobs, DKNY, Vera Wang and Christian Dior.
Police continue to investigate this puzzling death.
This is such a sad story. She had so much promise, and so much more life to live.