Poly was born on 12 July 1985 in Perm, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union and began modeling locally in 2000. She was discovered in Perm by Mauro Palmentieri and invited to Moscow to participate in the Russian model search competition "New Model Today", where she took the second prize. She made her runway debut with Why Not Model Agency after walking for Emanuel Ungaro in 2004. The year would prove to be her breakout year; she walked in 54 fashion shows in Milan, Paris and New York City, and modelled for the cover of Vogue Paris twice consecutively.
