Nati Abascal

Natividad Abascal y Romero-Toro (Spanish pronunciation: [natiβiˈðað aβaˈskal i roˈmeɾo ˈtoɾo]) (formerly, The Duchess of Feria; born 2 April 1943, in Seville, Spain), more commonly known as Nati Abascal ([ˈnati aβaˈskal]), is a Spanish socialite and a former fashion model. She is also a member of the International Best Dressed List since 1984.

Her modeling career started when Spanish fashion designer Elio Berhanyer asked both her and her twin sister Ana Maria to model some of his designs at the International Exhibition in New York in 1964. The couple caught Richard Avedon's eye and he decided to photograph them in Ibiza later in 1964 for his 'The Iberians (The Blaze in Spain)' editorial in Harper's Bazaar. By 1965 Abascal was on the cover of this publication in another photograph signed by Avedon. After this, her modeling career took off and she fixed her residence in New York. Among others, she worked for Oscar de la Renta from his very early days -in fact they met while he was still working for Elizabeth Arden- and became great friends, a friendship that lasts to the present day.

Designer Valentino met Abascal in 1968 at a party when she was 25 years old. By then, she had already been working as a model in New York for at least 3 years and had a full-time contract with Ford model agency; years later she would also be employed by Wilhelmina model agency. Valentino brought her to the island of Capri for modeling shoots and, ever since, they've remained close friends.

In 1971 Abascal married Murray Livingston Smith, a Formula One driver, and the Vice-President of an advertising agency, although this has been disputed. They met at Cartier in NYC, maybe, and a few months later Smith sent a red Ferrari to her house with a note saying "Marry me". They did, but split up in 1975.

In 1971 she also had a short role within Woody Allen's 1971 film "Bananas" as the guerrilla girl Yolanda. This same year she posed naked for Playboy magazine and was also the cover of Andy Warhol's iconic magazine "Interview".

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