Kira (model)

Kira or Kira D. (Full Name: Kira Dikhtyar, Russian: Кира Александровна Дихтяр), born in Moscow, Russia, is a Russian model and former rhythmic gymnast.

Early life

Kira was born on March 17, 1989 in Moscow, Russia. She became involved in rhythmic gymnastics at the age of 6. After competing in the 1998 Junior Olympic Games, Kira became a member of the junior Russian National Team, and a student of a legendary coach Irina Viner at the Olympic Center in Moscow.

In 2002 Kira received a Master of Sports degree from the Sport School. She received Gold Medals in both Sports and academics and attended Moscow State University studying Geography and Ecology. However in 2005 Kira decided to end her education and gymnastics career and travel to the United States to pursue a career as a fashion model.

Modeling career

Kira's modeling career began in Los Angeles, where she did a variety of sports ads. She was initially signed by Photogenics Model Management a boutique top-modeling agency run by Nicole Bordeaux. Her first major modeling job was a shoot for Abercrombie and Fitch by photographer Bruce Weber. Her first major editorial was by Ellen Von Unworth for Italian Vogue. Kira was subsequently featured in numerous publications such as Marie Claire and Vanity Fair.

She also appeared in ads for Louis Vuitton and a worldwide television commercial for Samsung Electronics. Kira's collaborations with such renowned photographers as Ellen Von Unwerth, Patrick Demarchelier, Bruce Weber, Tony Duran and Mark Baptist produced several photo series, which earned acclaim in the world of high fashion.

In 2007 Kira appeared in several publications in the US and Europe, including Italian Vogue Husky Advertorial, Italian Vogue Sport, Citizen K Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Marie Claire, and Tank Magazine. She also participated in the New York and London Fashion Weeks, doing runway shows for several international couture houses.

In 2007 Kira changed her US representation from MC2 Model Management to Elite Model Management. Kira is also represented by Storm Model Management in the UK, and Why Not Milan in Italy.

she is currently dating director Tony Hickox, who she met when she was 16 on the set of his tv show 'shoot me!'. They only started dating recently though, when they met again on a casting for his new model horror: 'Catwalk'.