Welcome to our annual Beauty Issue! And, as the face of Lancôme for almost 11 years, who better than the supremely beautiful, yet refreshingly down to earth Daria Werbowy to front our November edition?
A self portrait on Daria’s Instagram account
She’s been in the modelling industry for over a decade, describing those early days in three simple words: “Night and Day.” But Daria Werbowy, who upped sticks to Ireland in 2011 in search of a quieter life, no longer works relentlessly and has managed to find a far more balanced existence. “Those early days were a whirlwind,” elaborates the model who this month turns 32. “Planes, trains and non-stop running. I am very fortunate to now have more freedom with my schedule which enables me to really appreciate the creative process when I am working.”
“My life is beautiful for so many different reasons,” she continues, telling us stories of sailing, travelling and her passion for photography.” Documenting her travels on Instagram, Daria says of her favourite countries, “I love living in Ireland and I love travelling through Portugal, Peru and India. And there are surely far off lands that I have not even explored yet that I am excited to explore…”
A keen photographer, Daria captures her travels beautifully
Her dreams and aspirations may be a million miles away from the runway – today you’re more likely to find the model in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt than you are in a sweeping designer dress on the red carpet – but that’s not to say that the timeless model, who happens to be everyone’s beauty crush, is ready to turn her back on her glittering career. Speaking of her experience as the subject of Kate Moss’ first shoot as a fashion editor, Daria enthuses: “I have always enjoyed working with Kate, she was just as exceptional as a fashion editor as she is as a model which is no surprise to me.”
Daria is famed for her fresh-faced beauty
She is also inspired by the now 71-year-old American model and actress Lauren Hutton. “I had the pleasure of working with her once and felt very lucky.”
Daria insists that material things have become less important to her over the years. As an avid reader, she can’t live without books and you’ll always find a couple of these in her bag along with tea, some small rocks, minerals and crystals that she travels with along with a sketchbook, pencils and paper – not your average star staples then!
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Incognito in a field of rapeseed oil flowers
She’s incredibly grateful to Lancôme for allowing her to broaden both her mind and horizons. And to grow as a person. “Being a Lancôme ambassadress I’ve been able to travel a lot, and as I was travelling to a lot of places, I’ve learnt a lot about women in different places… I’ve also had the pleasure of becoming a woman with the brand. It has been almost 11 years of transformation for me, and it has been a blessing to have that transformation being embraced by the brand as well.”
Daria on her idea of beauty:
“I don’t think you can define beauty… Beauty resides in so many shapes and colours, it’s an ever-evolving thing.”
Daria on working with designer Anthony Vaccarello on his new collection for Lancôme:
“We hit it off and he is extremely talented.”
Daria on her malleability:
“I like the playfulness which women can have with their femininity – I don’t like the idea of being one way. In a photo shoot like I like to embody as many characters as I can, to learn from them… It’s a little bit like acting.”
The supermodel is an avid sailor
Five things you didn’t know about Daria Werbowy
* She was born in Poland, is of Ukranian descent, grew up in Canada and now lives in Ireland.
* Daria features in the top 10 of Forbes magazine’s highest paid supermodels of 2015
* A keen sailor, she spent three months in 2008 sailing across the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea
* On September 6, 2008, she was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame – the second Canadian model, after Linda Evangelista, to be given a star
* She has appeared on the cover of Vogue Paris 11 times
What you will learn from the November issue
* The truth behind the sparkle in your eye make-up
* How a handful of people are offering a glimmer of hope to Syria’s refugees
* Why we can’t get enough of 70s style
* What men really should know about women (and why feminism is beneficial to them)
* That couture gowns just got even sparklier
For the full interview buy the November issue of Emirates Woman, out on newsstands now.
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The November issue is out now:
