The next day, Elena enrolled Anya in a local children’s modeling workshop run by a former runway star, Marina Kovalev. The studio was a bright loft filled with mirrors, wooden beams, and a runway that stretched the length of the room. The other kids were older—some already teens, others eight‑year‑olds who giggled as they tried on oversized jackets. Anya felt a flutter in her chest when she stepped onto the wood, the same feeling she had when she first saw a model’s poised walk on television.
The audience, composed of editors, designers, and photographers, responded with thunderous applause. A renowned fashion editor from Vogue Russia approached her afterwards, offering a spread in the upcoming issue. The photograph would feature Anya beside the historic Peter and Paul Fortress, dressed in a modern reinterpretation of a traditional sarafan. The editorial caption read: “From the Snow‑kissed Streets of St. Petersburg to the Global Runway—Anya Petrovich’s Journey of Light.” The next day, Elena enrolled Anya in a