Tell Us About Yourself?
I’m a 43-year-old redhead living in the Netherlands with my husband and two kids. I am a child and family health nurse by profession; I studied Child Development at University. I am very creative and design and make my own clothing and have been modeling since 19.
My husband and I lived in Australia for 6 years. He got a job offer straight out of university. Naturally (being very much in love and following my heart), we moved to Australia together. But not before I asked him to marry me. 🙂 Which we did two weeks before immigrating down under.
Both our kids were born in Australia, and we had a fantastic time. I had a small business in Australia, making and selling handmade kids’ clothing.
When I was pregnant with our second child, I got very homesick, so we moved back to the Netherlands. I stopped with my business to be a full-time mom and doing some modeling jobs on the side.
I really enjoy being a stay-at-home mom, but I always kept on sewing and modeling to stay mentally sane. 😉
A year ago, I went back to school, sewing and pattern drafting school, and I love it! I have just released a sewing pattern together with a friend of mine, and when both the kids are in high school, I am going to set up my own business again!
What would you say is the strangest thing about becoming older?
Kids talking to you like you are an old lady.
You are a professional fashion model. Can you tell us about your career as a model?
I was ‘discovered’ when I was 19 years old and traveled the world for 2 years as a full-time model. I worked for notable magazines and brands in those years and lived in Milan, Paris, New York, and Tokyo. But as a small-town girl, the changes were too significant, so I couldn’t cope. I literally run away during fashion week in Milan.
I was optioned to walk shows for big companies, but I just couldn’t take the fashion world anymore and felt so homesick. My modeling agency at that time (Paparazzi) was terrific and supported me in the choices I made (sometimes with grind teeth… hahaha…), but they always stood by me. I have worked as a model on the side since then. And I still do. 🙂
What is, according to you, the best part of getting older?
I do not worry so much anymore about what other people think about me. I was bullied a lot when I was a kid. Because of my red curly hair, being so skinny and pale, and wearing handmade clothing. It took me quite some time to overcome the insecurity inflicted on me because of that.
I was not an insecure kid by nature. But I was taught by the bullies to think of myself as ugly and not worthy. I have had a fantastic therapist, and living abroad for a while helped me overcome my insecurities. And also, having babies, I think, has made me stronger. The fact that my body had grown a human being and that I fed both babies for the first months of their existence made me think very differently of my body.
I love that part of getting older, getting in touch with my body, and accepting my skinniness, my very flat chest, and curls just as they are.
And the worst?
Definitely chin hairs! 🙂
What kind of advice would you give your younger self?
Enjoy life! Stop worrying; it is all going to be okay.
Do you have any regrets?
Sometimes I regret not taking my modeling to a higher level. I sometimes feel I chickened out, that I could have gotten so much more out of it. But in the end, I think I made the best choice for myself to step away from that world because it just didn’t make me happy.
And I don’t think I would have met my husband if I would have continued modeling full time, so no… no regrets.
What’s your latest Google search?
Hahaha… wooden garden box. Ours just broke down 😉
Any favorite beauty product we should know of?
Clinique facial soap and sun hats!
What’s your age, and how old do you feel?
I’m 43 and feel 43. I have never set many stores to my age, as I have never really minded getting older. Apart from the chin hairs. 😉
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Blue lace dress by Self-Portrait
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Pink suit by Frankie Shop
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Blouse by @sewitcurly | Cardigan by &Other Stories | Pants by Adidas | Glasses by Celine
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Top by @sewitcurly
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Blouse by Drykorn | Pantalon by Scotch & Soda | Hat by Gucci
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Pink suit by Frankie Shop
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Dress by modström | Earnings by Jennifer Behr
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Blouse by Drykorn | Pantalon by Scotch & Soda | Hat by Gucci
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Top by @sewitcurly | Earrings by Jennifer Behr
Styling by Dayenne Bekker
Makeup and hair Romy Legger @houseoforangeagency
Mijke @2rmodelmanagement
