The tragic story of Kazakh-Russian model Ruslana Korshunova, who leaped to her death from her Manhattan apartment in June 2008, has resurfaced with disturbing details about her involvement with a shadowy cult known as Rose of the World. Before her suicide, the 20-year-old model made a final call to her ‘life coach’ Vladimir Vorobeyv, who had introduced her to the cult months prior. Korshunova’s life was a whirlwind of high-profile modeling gigs and parties with billionaires, one of whom was the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Newly released documents revealed that in June 2006, Epstein flew her to his private Caribbean island on his ‘Lolita Express’.
The Rose of the World cult, led by flashy Russian millionaire Vladislav Novgorodtsev, promised seminars to teach how to achieve goals and gain material wealth. Korshunova, seeking solace at a vulnerable point in her life, enrolled in a three-day course costing $900. She continued her association with the cult for three months, along with her friend, fellow model Anastasia Drozdova, who also tragically jumped to her death in 2009. After returning to New York, Korshunova’s social media posts became increasingly concerning, hinting at her inner turmoil and despair.
On the last day of her life, Korshunova attempted to reach Vorobeyv again but was unable to speak with him. Mere minutes later, she cut through construction mesh and jumped from a building in Manhattan’s financial district. The Rose of the World cult, also known as Roza Mira, originated from the teachings of Russian mystic Daniil Andreev. It grew from a group known as Lifespring in the US in the 1980s but faced lawsuits for causing mental health damage to its members.
Investigations and testimonials about the cult reveal a disturbing pattern of psychological manipulation and exploitation. Author Peter Pomerantsev, who studied Rose of the World, described intensive seminars designed to break down individuals’ psychological barriers. Participants were subjected to intense emotional experiences, often revealing their most traumatic memories. Korshunova was reportedly the most enthusiastic participant, openly discussing her father’s death and failed romances.
Despite the cult’s claims of helping individuals, several former members and friends noticed negative changes in Korshunova and Drozdova’s behavior. The models lost weight, became aggressive, and displayed signs of emotional instability. Korshunova’s social media posts reflected her growing despair and loneliness, often questioning the purpose of her existence and expressing feelings of being lost.
After Korshunova’s death, the cult’s leader, Novgorodtsev, claimed to have shut down Rose of the World due to the negative publicity. However, investigations suggest he continued to run a similar organization under a different name, boasting of his ability to understand human motives and offering expensive seminars for stressed individuals.
Korshunova’s connections to high-profile individuals like Jeffrey Epstein add another layer of complexity to her story. Documents from Virginia Roberts-Giuffre’s 2015 defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s right-hand woman, revealed that Korshunova had been on Epstein’s infamous ‘Lolita Express’ to his private island. Although Roberts-Giuffre stated she never met Korshunova, the model’s involvement with such a notorious figure highlights the dangerous circles she found herself in.
Ruslana Korshunova’s tragic end is a haunting reminder of the potential dangers lurking behind the glamorous facade of the modeling world and the vulnerability of young individuals to psychological manipulation by predatory organizations and individuals. Her story continues to raise questions about the responsibility of those who exploit the vulnerable and the need for greater awareness and intervention to prevent such tragedies.
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