A few weeks ago, I saw a photo of an attractive woman with red hair, blue eyes and lots of freckles and tried to figure out who she was.
Long story short: I was not successful.
I’m now hoping that I can solve the mystery by posting this article and seeking feedback. (Feel free to reply in the moderated comments section below or by emailing me.)
The first time I saw this redhead’s photo was with a sponsored link by Taboola titled “5 online dating sites that actually work.”
Doing image searches I was able to find the photo and others from possibly three photo shoots. Those photos were at one time available on stock image services like Shutterstock and Fotolia.
Her photos have really gotten around online. She has been used to promote dental hygiene, dermatology, cosmetics and online dating.
Her photo is even used on the author page for a mystery writer named M.C. Grant on Amazon.com. Grant has written three books about the “action-packed adventures of Dixie Flynn, a wise-cracking reporter for San Francisco’s top alternative weekly.”
But unlike hardnosed reporter Dixie Flynn I was unable to crack the case of the stunning redhead.
A photographer named Alexis Zimmermann, based in Strasbourg, France, included one of the redhead’s photos on his website. But he told me via email that he did not take that photo, but obtained it through a stock photo service.
Another artist, Raidenphotos on DeviantArt, did some touchup work on the picture, but is not the originator of the photo.
Max Petrov, a photographer in Samara, Russia, included three photos of the woman on his website. He identifies her as Julia, but provides no details.
I reached out to Petrov, but he has yet to respond.
Can anyone solve this mystery?
April 25, 2020, update: The model's name is Iuliia Ciari. See comments below.
Follow-up article: Meet Iuliia Ciari, the stunning redhead behind a host of online ads
Hello Patrick. Is there any respond from Max? I am very curious too. Thank you
ReplyDeleteHi Patrick. Do you know who is she already? I'm very curious too.
ReplyDeleteThank you
I never received a response from him.
ReplyDeleteDamn. Got here because I was searching for the source too. She's extremely pretty!
ReplyDeleteSee 67 images of her on Adobe Stock here:
ReplyDeletehttps://stock.adobe.com/search?model_id=200955749
Ludivine Williams (?)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.voxingpro.com/ludivine-williams
Nice find, but I suspect that this "Ludivine Williams" is a fictitious person, and that this website has just used this name and the same Max Petrov photos for promotion of their website. Apart from which, given that Petrov took these photos in Samara, Russia, and in one place used the name "Julia", a French name doesn't seem quite right. See (English version):
ReplyDeletehttps://www.voxingpro.com/en/actors
Incidentally, the identity of "Julia" is from Max Petrov's work on 500px:
ReplyDeletehttps://500px.com/photo/112205637/julia-portrait-by-max-petrov?ctx_page=1&from=user&user_id=652175
And there's another example of these photos being used to promote Voxing Pro on Medium here (English and French):
https://medium.com/@voxingprofrance/tout-savoir-sur-voxing-pro-144a9bc41356
Thanks, Keith. Looks like you're right. Another example of "Julia"'s photos being used for the promotion of an unrelated business. The mystery continues.
ReplyDeleteShe may not be really really really called Ludivine Williams, instead a stage name but her profile shows a lot of voice over work and more. Would be unlikely to fake such as. But hey! call her agent, below.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.voxingpro.com/ludivine-williams
Her agent
Cécile Limal
Agence Cecilou
+33685945656
Have to say a pretty poor effort for a journalist - first thing you do in this situation is find the photographer's Facebook or Instagram and then investigate...and here she is:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.instagram.com/leeloo_mango/
https://www.facebook.com/Iuliia.Kurdina
The mystery is solved. Thanks "Unknown." I didn't think to check social media for the photographer. Good call.
ReplyDeleteSee also https://www.modelmanagement.com/model/iuliia-kurdina/.
ReplyDeleteNo problem Patrick - it's basic OSINT and if there are some good resources on the web to learn about OSINT - very useful for reporters! Took me less than 5 minutes after coming to your blog. Even better she added me on Instagram...unfortunately she's very married..but still very beautiful
ReplyDeleteThanks again for your help.
ReplyDelete