Meet Alina Ilina, Maxim Africa’s Smoldering Cover Model
“The beer factory workers were distracted by my half-naked body.”
Say hello to Alina Ilina, the curvaceous cover girl of Maxim Africa’s April issue.
Having been a model since she was just 14 years old, Alina has had a breadth of experience strutting the catwalk at countless fashion shows and striking sultry poses for photo shoots all over the globe.
It’s no surprise, then, that the Russian-born babe looks seriously stunning in these exclusive shots from her Maxim Africa shoot. Check them out in the gallery above.
While you’re at it, take a look at her interview below to get the skinny on her burgeoning lingerie line, why she doesn’t believe in androgyny, and which ’90s supermodels served as her biggest inspiration.
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How did you get started in the modeling industry?
I started modeling at an early age. At 14 years old, my parents sent me to a modeling agency. My career began in fashion shows and photo shoots. I already knew as a child that my future would be on stage. Alas, I was not able to fully realize my dream of becoming an actress or singer. But I’ve made it as a model. Also, my clothing brand Boudoir is gaining popularity, becoming incredibly famous and successful.
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What do you love most about being a model?
The opportunity to travel and experience new sensations. Each shoot is a separate story, fascinating and incredibly interesting. On top of that modeling has allowed me to network with interesting personalities. It’s helped me incredibly with creating my clothing brand.
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What legendary models inspire you?
The famous supermodels of the ’90s: Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington and others. I believe they embody what a true model should be.
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What was your most memorable photo shoot?
It was definitely my shoot for Maxim Russia. We did it at a beer factory. I posed nude in the production area where there were various metal objects. It looked like a spacecraft. Naturally, the factory workers were distracted by my half-naked body. But it turned out to be incredibly beautiful!
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Have you ever done anything dangerous during a shoot?
I was in Dubai, which could be considered dangerous since the United Arab Emirates is a very religious country. We took risks and faced challenges. People even called the police, who then wanted to confiscate the memory card from the photographer.
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What was the vision behind Boudoir?
To embody female beauty and natural sexuality. I am against androgyny. I am an ambassador for femininity. The idea came spontaneously. A friend persuaded me to design clothes—I originally created a range of swimwear. The audience immediately loved my work, and the first collection generated a storm of excitement and interest.
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Give us five words to describe Boudoir.
Elegant, quality, comfortable, desirable and sexy.
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What type of clothes does Boudoir create?
We make beautiful lingerie that will give every woman confidence. I want to create quality garments. I also want to make affordable lingerie, cause as you know, branded lingerie can be quite expensive.
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What are your plans for the future?
I have big plans! I want to launch a line of shoes and accessories. I also plan on opening boutiques in different parts of the world.
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What personally motivates you at work?
Successful people. There is always someone to look up to. There is always something to strive for. A huge inspiration is my mother. She’s the main woman in my life.
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What’s your secret to success?
Failure in not an option. I use it as a stepping stone to reach new heights. Unfortunately, some people lose their determination as soon as something bad happens. They stop believing in themselves. I work contrary to that. In a period of hard trials, I am able to prove to the world and myself that I can achieve great things!
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