What is on your nightstand?
On my bedside table you’ll find essential oils, a Buddha with Malas (prayer beads) around his neck, some gemstones, and there is an incense holder with Guanyin.
What do you see as your biggest achievement?
My biggest achievement really is my 21-year-old daughter who has become a beautiful, pure and honest young woman.
What do you regret most in life?
I don’t regret anything. Everything has taught me something in life, and I’m still learning.
Tell me something about your career.
I was a dancer from a very young age. I danced at TV shows as TopPop and the Willem Ruisshows. Through dance I was asked to participate in a fashion show. One of the make-up artists told me that I needed a modeling agency. Ulla was the first modelling agency I approached, and Ulla itself took me on-board and became my modelling mother.
Three years later, multiple models, including myself were asked to compete in the Miss Holland election. I especially took part , because it involved a lot of dancing. Something, I since I became a model no longer had time for. Never expected I would actually win! Thereafter, I went to the Miss Universe election and later The Miss World and in both competitions, made it to the finals.
Designer Oleg Cassini was a member of the jury at the Miss World elections. He flew me to NYC where I worked for him a little under 10 years. The modelling agency I was registered at, was also based in NYC, which made it possible to work for both at the same time.
Because my boyfriend and I lived together in Amsterdam, I continued to travel back and forth. Two to three months in NYC, followed by two to three months in Amsterdam. When I was 33 I gave birth to my daughter and suddenly desired a sense of stability. I started working at a high fashioned kids clothing shop in Amstelveen, Burgeoned. From there I moved to Claudia Strater, Armani, and Gian Franco Ferre. In my time at Gian Franco Ferre, I followed a 4-year-long yoga training to become a yoga teacher. At the moment, I’ve got 15 years of experience as a yoga teacher under my belt, next to that I’ve studied card reading and healing. Occasionally I still work as a model.
Your oddest recent midnight thought?
I don’t have any!
If you could tweet something to your younger self, what would it be?
Things will get better.
If you had a warning tag, what would it be?
No bullshit, please!
During a “first date”, what would you not say about yourself?
I don’t like games. What you see is what you get. Everything is negotiable.
If you don’t like it, quit or finish it straight away, otherwise it’s an extreme waste of time.
What do you wish for the coming year?
I work with essential oils, and therefore need to travel quite a bit. To that, I’m really looking forward. I would also like to do more modelling work.
How old are you Nancy?
I am 54.
