Romanian Models: The 10 Most Famous
Romanian models are gracing catwalks and magazine covers worldwide. Here are ten of the nation’s most beautiful women.
Rest assured, though, you can meet one just like them if you know where to look. But more on that later, now let’s look at some Romanian beauties!
10 Famous Romanian Models
Catrinel Menghia (now Catrinel Marlon)
Catrinel Menghia or Catrinel Marlon is an Iași native who is not afraid to bare it all. She appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue twice – in 2006 and in 2009.
She is the face of French luxury lingerie brand Lise Charmel and she has also posed for Giorgio Armani.
Catrinel was only 16 when she got third place in Ford’s “Supermodel of Romania” competition.
Soon after, she made her music video debut for Romanian band Krypton. She soon signed in Milano and started her mainstream career.
Over the years, Catrinel has posed for Maxim, FHM, and various sports-related issues. She relocated permanently from Romania to live in New York.
Antonia Iacobescu
Romania-born Antonia Iacobescu moved to the US at just 5 years old. She ventured into modelling after she finished high school and she posed in hundreds of photo shoots, magazine issues, and ad campaigns.
More notably, though, Antonia is also a singer and an entrepreneur. She launched her own clothing line back in 2013.
Her song “Roses on Fire” was created when she moved back to Romania at the age of 18. It gained international recognition, topping the charts in Poland and the Netherlands.
Antonia’s next single, “Morena” climbed charts even faster and it was soon blasting in clubs throughout Romania (and Europe). Since then, she became one of Romania’s most popular singers.
And to top it all off, Antonia also has two kids – one with ex-husband Vincenzo Castellano and a son with her current partner. You wouldn’t tell by the killer shape she is in, though!
Alina Văcariu
Alina Văcariu is among the most famous Romanian models but she also appeared on TV and in movies.
At just 14, Alina became Romania’s Model of the Year. This is where international agency Elite noticed her.
Since the beginning of her career, Alina contracted for companies like Abercrombie & Fitch, Bare Necessities, JC Penney, John Frieda, L’Oréal and much more.
Her magazine covers for Cosmopolitan Mexico gained her international fame. She also appeared in Maxim and Stuff.
Her breakthrough appearance on TV was the Time Warner Cable commercial “Roommate Wanted”.
Her cameo role in indie film Death of a Dynasty followed. Currently, Alina is focusing on both acting and modelling.
Mădălina Ghenea
Dubbed Romania’s Monica Belucci, Mădălina Ghenea is among the country’s most desired women.
Ghenea started her career in modelling when she was 15 years old, and started presenting for the designer Gattinoni in Milan, Italy.
Her over a decade-long career brought her to fashion shows throughout Europe, as well as Japan, and South Africa.
Ghenea’s ads for Peroni, New Yorker and Quelle gained significant attention. She also appeared in music videos and the Romanian version of TV show “Dancing with the Stars”.
For over 7 years, Ghenea has been the face of mobile operator TRE-Italy, dance clothing DEHA, and vintage racing cars Mille Miglia.
Mădălina’s acting career first took off in 2011 when she appeared as Irina in the Italian film I soliti idioti.
In 2013, she appeared alongside Jude Law in Dom Hemingway. Ghenea also played in Paolo Sorrentino’s drama film Youth. She then had a more important role in All You Ever Wished For in 2019 and we can only hope that we’ll see a lot more of her in the future.
While she is yet to catch up with her Italian doppelganger, Mădălina is quickly achieving the same status.
Norvina Claudia
Norvina may not be a catwalk model or a Sports Illustrated hottie but she has made hearts around the world race.
Her eccentric style and top-notch makeup skills made her a YouTube and Instagram sensation.
Norvina has hundreds of thousands of YouTube and Instagram followers. She recently launched her own palette, teaming up with Anastasia Beverly Hills.
The product was an overall success, although it provoked some controversy in the beauty and makeup community.
While Norvina’s is far from natural, she is considered to be one of Romania’s most beautiful exports (along with a great makeup artist).
Alice Peneaca
Alice Peneaca is a Transilvania-born model who quickly made a name for herself as an international model.
She blew up in 2014, after first appearing for FHM. She was discovered by Guess and appeared in various campaigns, including ones for Guess Lingerie, Guess Accessories and Guess Handbags.
Alice went on to grace Glamour Romania’s cover; and was featured in international editions, such as ‘Glamour Italy’, ‘Vogue Portugal’, ‘Linea Intima’ and ‘Teen Vogue’. Her June 2015 photo shoot for Elle magazine was yet another big hit.
Her acting career began with shorts and a couple of ads in Romania. In 2015, she appeared as Beatrice Popescu in the movie Pioneers’ Palace, written and directed by her husband Bobby Păunescu.
Andreea Diaconu
Andreea Diaconu one of the most popular Romanian models, having appeared for magazine covers and ad campaigns throughout Europe.
She posed for Vogue on various occasions and was featured on their YouTube channel. Her 2014 spring campaign for Belstaff had her appearing alongside David Beckham.
Diaconu is the second Romanian, after Diana Moldovan, to pose for the Victoria’s Secret catalogue.
Andreea was discovered at just 11 years old. Her first big fashion show was Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2006 for Dolce & Gabbana when she was only 14.
But she is not just a pretty face. Diaconu speaks five languages and studied social psychology in university.
She has also done philanthropy work with the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Art and Abolition NGO. Romanian models can do it all, Y’all.
Diana Moldovan
Speaking of Romanian models in Victoria’s Secret catalogue, meet Romanian beauty, Diana Moldovan.
Diana has graced editorials in Numero, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle Germany, and various different Vogue editions, including Brazil, Spain, France, Russia, and South Korea.
Her cover for Elle Romania is considered to be one of the magazine’s hottest covers ever. She also appeared on the front of Glamour Italy.
Her work with high-end brands like Chanel has made her one of the most desirable faces of the Romanian modelling industry.
She has appeared for Dolce&Gabbana, Gucci, Dior, Chloé, Emilio Pucci, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Mugler, Guy Laroche, Kenzo, Anteprima, Vionnet and much more.
Ioana Mihalache
Ioana Mihalache is a relative newcomer among Romanian models. She was crowned as Miss Universe Romania 2017 and represented Romania at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant.
Before fame, Ioana was just a student at the Ovidius University in Constanţa. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and a master’s degree in European Regional Development Policies.
Ioana is fluent in three languages and she is working as an economist alongside her modelling.
Even though she is now one of Romania’s most desirable women, Ioana has stayed down-to-Earth about all of it.
Media consistently is praising her for her humble and friendly demeanor. Romanian models are known to have a bit of a diva attitude so it’s nice to see that the fame hasn’t gotten to her head just yet.
Diana Dondoe
Last but not least, Diana Dondoe is a personal favourite among Romanian models.
She broke through in Bucharest but she soon moved on to an international career. Her appearance in the 2005 Pirelli Calendar, set against the beautiful scenery of Rio de Janeiro is among her most famous work.
Diana also worked with an impressive list of high-end brands. These include Chanel, Miu Miu, Prada, Celine, Donna Karan, Moschino, Jean-Paul Gaultier, La Perla, and Balenciaga.
Her covers for French, Japanese, and Spanish Vogue made her internationally recognizable. Diana was also on the inaugural cover of WSJ.
Romanian Models – Closing Thoughts
Romanian models might be turning heads in the fashion industry but plenty of lookalikes walk the streets of Bucharest. This is what you should expect from women in Romania (and, truth be told, Moldavian women too.)
Finally, if you are traveling long-term or relocating to Romania, it would definitely be smart to learn a few words in Romanian. It will help with meeting Romanian models but it’s also a great survival strategy in general!
Whatever you do, don’t forget to share your experiences and thoughts about Romanian models down below and share any favorites you might have!
