Iuliia Bazhan went from being a girl diagnosed with autism to gracing the covers of fashion magazines and founding a charity for children with developmental differences. We spoke with Iuliia about transformation, resilience, and the magic of chance
Iuliia, you’ve come a long way — from a child with a diagnosis to a successful model. What played the key role in this transformation?
I believe it wasn’t so much a matter of overcoming as it was a metamorphosis. It wasn’t a fight — it was an inner unfolding. As a child, I was indeed diagnosed with autism, and the world felt foggy, foreign. Verbal expression was hard for me, but my body always spoke — through dance, through movement, through inner rhythm. I intuitively sensed beauty, space, people.
With time, I began to realise that my difference wasn’t a weakness — it was a gift. It just required special care. I didn’t need to be “fixed”, I needed to be heard. Maybe that’s why I’m so sensitive to children with developmental differences today — I remember what it’s like not to be understood, while knowing deep down that you’re different for a reason.
My modelling story began with something almost like a fairytale: friends invited me to Fashion Week as a guest. I was sitting in the audience, watching the runway, and suddenly I knew — I didn’t want to be a spectator. I wanted to be part of that world. Not for the fame. Because I felt I had something to bring to it — something unique. And in that moment, something inside me clicked into place.
The fashion world didn’t accept me right away. But I didn’t force my way through closed doors. I simply kept moving toward the places that felt like mine. And step by step, shoot by shoot, moment by moment — the life I have now came together. But honestly? This isn’t a story about the runway. It’s a story about how a girl who once felt like an outsider became someone who could light up a room just by being in it.
What was the hardest moment in your childhood, and how did it shape you?
Honestly, there were a million of them. Sometimes when I think back, I shiver. It felt like someone was trying to carve Aphrodite out of a block of stone. So many iterations, so much pain, so many doubts.
What were the biggest challenges you faced as a model in London?
I didn’t know anyone. I had no idea how to present myself to agencies. No clue where to find castings. Everything started from zero. But I learned, I tried, I failed — and I gradually found my way into that world. I wasn’t afraid to be myself, and maybe that’s what gave me an edge.
What achievement in your modelling career are you most proud of?
Probably the fact that my career isn’t just a spark, but a steady, international journey.
Over the years, I’ve had shoots with some of the industry’s leading photographers — including names like Jan Gillian, Malcolm McDowell, and other global fashion photography icons. I’ve worked with designers from South America, Asia, and Europe, appearing in their campaigns, collections, and lookbooks.
My face has appeared on billboards in Moscow, on magazine covers and in spreads. I get invited to fashion projects all over Europe, and I regularly walk in Fashion Weeks in Paris, Milan, Dubai and London — wearing collections by world-class designers.
Currently, I’m in talks to become the face of an upcoming campaign for the legendary brand COS — and it feels like the natural next step in my career.
You’ve done ballet and ballroom dancing since childhood, and now you’re competing in Ironman races. What does movement and the body’s potential mean to you?
No one ever told me I could stop training after a childhood full of sports. So I just kept going. To me, sport isn’t an obligation — it’s a natural state of being.
Your calling is to support families with neurodivergent children.
What did you feel when the first child you mentored lost their autism diagnosis?
It was incredible. A breathtaking feeling. It felt like the world got a little brighter.
I consider this one of the most meaningful achievements of my life.
What does being a model mean to you today?
Being a model is like being a living piece of art. When people come up to me on the street, in airports, in restaurants, and ask, “Are you a model? How can I become like you?” — I realise that my job is not just about appearance. It’s about the impression you leave behind.
Recently, I had dinner in Tokyo with two geishas — masters of their craft with over 15 years of experience. And even they — women whose profession is built on grace, refinement, and the art of presence — were asking me how I create my image, how I manage to be elegant, beautiful, confident, and still so open. It was a deeply touching moment.
To me, being a model is not about runways and photo shoots. It’s about being in your best form — every single day. Not just outwardly, but inwardly too. Taking care of yourself, growing, inspiring — and simply being a joy to look at. Like a painting in a gallery that makes your day a little brighter.
I want people around me to feel that beauty can be kind, alive, and real.
What’s the next defining step in your modelling career?
Honestly? The next step is more joy. More creative collaborations, more travel, more moments that feel meaningful. I want to keep growing — with the right people, the right brands, and in the right energy.
The next defining step for me is stepping into global brand campaigns — not just as a model, but as a storyteller.
Model: Bazhan Iuliia @bazhan_ulia
Photographer: Yanna Yaa
Stylist: Anna Subaeva @annasubaeva
Hair and make up: Vika Osychenko
Retoucher: Ragamanyu Herlambang
Editor Fashion: Michael Pondaag
Dress: Retrofete
Shoes: Alaïa
Hair products: Phyto pro style
Makeup: Dior Forever Glow Star Filter in shade 2,Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Awakening Concealer Click Pen in shade 2,
Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer in shade 2, Bronzer/Contour, Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream in Soleil Tan Bronze,
Highlighter, Merit Day Glow Dewy Highlighting Balm in Champagne;Cheeks, Valentino Eye2Cheek Blush in Call Me Coral;Eyes, Dior Backstage Eye Palette in 001 Warm Neutrals,
Saint Laurent Radical Volumizing Mascara,
Eyeliner, Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Longwear Waterproof Eyeliner in Cocoa;
Lips, Saint Laurent Tatouage Couture Velvet Cream Liquid Lipstick in Nude Emblem.
