Hong Kong Cinema Icon, Actress and Famed Beauty Rosamund Kwan: Interview and Cover shoot

For Hong Kong cinema buffs, here's an all-too-familiar face; the effortlessly elegant Rosamund Kwan Chi-lam. Born into industry royalty as the daughter of Shaw Brothers icon Kwan Shan and actress Cheung Bing-sai, beauty was practically her birthright. Yet, as audiences across the globe would soon discover, Kwan was far more than an heiress to cinematic lineage; she was the undisputed face of nineties screen glamour.

Making her feature film debut opposite Chow Yun-fat in 1982’s The Head Hunter, Kwan’s porcelain features and expressive, almond-shaped eyes instantly captivated directors. Throughout the boom years of Asian cinema, particularly Hong Kong cinema's movie empire, she became the ultimate leading lady to the region's biggest titans. 

Whether trading banter with Jackie Chan in high-octane blockbusters like Armour of God or matching romantic sparks with Andy Lau in sleek urban dramas, her presence elevated every frame.

Her career reached mythical heights when auteur Tsui Hark cast her in Once Upon a Time in China. As Thirteenth Aunt, a spirited, Westernised beauty straddling the divide between tradition and modernity, Kwan delivered an iconic performance opposite Jet Li. Wearing minimal makeup on screen to highlight her natural elegance, she transformed a classic period archetype into an enduring cultural icon.

Stepping away from movie sets in 2007 after a career spanning more than 60 films, Kwan pivoted gracefully into entrepreneurship, fashion design, and high-profile real estate investment. Today, she remains a timeless fixture in Hong Kong’s social register - a living testament to an unrepeatable era of cinematic magic. 

Giddy, would be the word to describe the team as we photographed for the cover of LIfestyle, the perfectly divine Ms Kwan. Here's our exclusive conversation. 

Before this interview I spoke with a film critic who said, “Oh Rosamund, she was so beautiful in her movies.” That’s the enduring image that’s etched on moviegoers’ minds: how lovely you looked.
Rosamund Kwan: That’s sweet. Of course I’m happy that people are saying nice things about me, but it’s a bit of a pity that people always say I’m pretty in movies but they aren’t saying that I’m a good actress, except for a few films like Once Upon a Time in China – that got me a lot of compliments for my performance. Actually, there are times when I do wish people would think, oh I can act also! I always wanted people to appreciate my talent.

Did you enjoy working in the movie industry?
To be honest... no, not really. When I started, it was all the martial arts movies. I really appreciate Maggie [Cheung]. She had a really good time in that period. She did some wonderful movies. In the 1980s and early ’90s, there were few women’s movies. I felt that of the lot, Maggie got some of the best roles. I got all the commercial movies, the action and so on.

What do you consider beautiful?
I can’t tell from the face of people what’s beautiful. I only find beauty these days in art, in paintings, in sculptures. When it comes to people, I don’t think about beauty. I look at pictures when I look for beauty. I think what’s beautiful is also very abstract. From the scenery I see when I travel, to watching children playing in the street, and of course in galleries around the world.

Is your house filled with art?
Hopefully it will be. I’m just in the process of moving into a smaller house, so I don’t know. I don’t know why, maybe my ex-husband gave me some inspiration, but I really love colours these days.

Now that you don’t have a busy movie schedule, are you enjoying travelling?
Very much so. Recently I went to Paris and Venice. Earlier I went to India, and I saw the colours varying from street to street – that was really beautiful. I was in New Delhi and beautiful Bodh Gaya. The faces of the people were so serene and so beautiful.

In Hong Kong, you’d be recognised on any street. Did the anonymity in India help you just be?
It was nice that no one knew me or recognised me, so I did whatever I liked, went wherever. I wasn’t bothered. Here in Hong Kong I’m aware of being looked at. But I enjoy living here now. I was born here, brought up here, I went to Maryknoll School. This is definitely my home.

Haven’t your fans asked you to act again? Do they wonder why you stopped?
I don’t know what the perception of me is. When people come to me, they’re always saying, “I hope you’re happy and hope you’re living well and are healthy.” Some fans ask me to come back to movies, but I don’t miss it. I don’t feel it, not even a little bit. I don’t think I did any great work. There are so many newcomers in this business who are doing well, so I don’t think I’ll do any more.

I think you’re being modest. You did some wonderful films. Wasn’t there anything about the Hong Kong film industry that you enjoyed?
I did enjoy the process when I started. I was very young, aged 18. My father was in the business. He didn’t really encourage me, but I did it anyway.

When I was young, all my father’s friends and family were in the film industry, my auntie and uncle, and they were all perfect looking, in my eyes. Only the most handsome men worked at Shaw Brothers Studio and the prettiest girls in China were there. Maybe I was a bit dramatic when I was young, so I wanted to join the film business.

My point of view of the film industry was very different then. When I grew up, when I knew what the world was about, I found it a bit cruel. It’s a hard industry. But I think I was lucky. I did enjoy parts of it.

You acted with all the big stars of the time.

All my co-stars and colleagues really treated me well and with respect. I was always treated like a princess on set. I don’t know if it was because I was second generation, because my family was in the industry, or because they found me attractive. They weren’t gay! But my co-stars were always very nice to me. Andy [Lau] took good care of me. Jet Li, Jackie Chan, all were good and we’re still good friends.

It would be hard to ignore the fashion of that era. Has your fashion evolved drastically since your movie days?
I don’t think I wore too many of those terrible, over-the-top ’80s fashions. I don’t look back and cringe or laugh. There were definitely some weird things I wore, especially as a teen. When I was 18, I had a long, thick perm. I never wore wigs when I was working in movies; that’s all me. The wigs back then were terrible quality and itchy. I always styled my own hair. When I look back at photos, I think, it’s OK, it’s not too bad. Fashion always changes and evolves, but I changed and evolved, too.

Now it’s a lot simpler. I like to buy a lot of fashion. I think I have too many things now. As I’m moving homes, I can see how many things I have. I think I’ll have to rent storage to sort everything out, so I feel I need to stop buying things. I’m going to mix and match what I have and keep things simple and easy.

What advice do you have for women today?
I think women should have their own work, business and money. I know most women have their family and kids to take care of – unlike me. It’s just me and my dog! I know it isn’t easy to manage a household, but still I feel that women should be independent. There’s power and beauty in a self-sufficient woman. Women should take care of themselves – as well as their kids and husband, but not put themselves last.

Finally, when you see yourself in the morning, do you see how beautiful you are?
When I look at the mirror in the morning, I think, “My God, it’s a disaster!” [She laughs.] That’s why I said beauty’s not in the face, not from the exterior but from within.

More from this cover shoot and feature at PrestigeOnline. 

Photoshoot, my dream team;

Photographer: Olivier Yoan
Stylist: Tasha Ling

對香港影迷來說，這絕對是一張再熟悉不過的面孔——優雅得毫不費力的關之嶺（關之琳）。出生於演藝世家的她，父親是邵氏影帝關山，母親是女演員張冰茜，美貌彷彿是她天生的特權。然而，正如全球觀眾很快就發現的那樣，關之琳絕非僅僅是電影世家的繼承人，她更是九十年代大銀幕港產片璀璨風華的代名詞。

1982年，她與周潤發合作主演《獵頭》（又名《再見江湖》）踏入影壇，精緻如瓷器的輪廓與靈動的大眼睛瞬間征服了無數導演。在亞洲電影業（尤其是香港電影王國）的黃金鼎盛時期，她成為了與各大巨星搭檔的不二女主角。

無論是在《龍兄虎弟》等高成本動作大片中與成龍幽默對戲，還是在時尚都市劇中與劉德華擦出浪漫火花，她的出現總能提升每一個鏡頭的質感。

當名導徐克邀請她出演《黃飛鴻》系列時，她的演藝事業達到了傳奇般的高度。她飾演的「十三姨」是一個性格活潑、接受過西式教育、遊走於傳統與現代之間的女性，與李連杰飾演的黃飛鴻同框對戲，展現了標誌性的精彩演出。為了凸顯其渾然天成的優雅，她在鏡頭前幾乎素顏上陣，將一個經典古裝角色塑造成永恆的文化符號。

在參演了60多部電影後，關之琳於2007年優雅淡出影壇，成功轉型投入商業創業、時裝設計及高端房地產投資。時至今日，她依然是香港名流圈中歷久彌新的焦點——這正是那個無法複製的香港電影黃金時代的活生生見證。

當我們團隊為《Lifestyle》拍攝封面、記錄下這位絕美的關小姐時，大家的心情可謂興奮不已。以下是我們的獨家專訪。

在這次採訪前，我跟一位影評人聊過，他說：「噢，關之琳在電影裡真的太美了。」這是深植在影迷心中揮之不去的印象：你在大銀幕上是多麼動人。

關之琳： 謝謝，這樣說真甜。大家能對我有好評價我當然開心，但也有點可惜，因為大家總是說我在電影裡很漂亮，卻很少誇我是個好演員——除了少數幾部像《黃飛鴻》，那部戲確實讓我收穫了不少對演技的讚賞。其實有時候我也真的很希望大家會想：「噢，原來她也是有演技的！」我一直都希望大家能欣賞我的才華。

你享受在電影界工作的時光嗎？

關之琳： 坦白說……其實不太享受。我剛入行的時候，全都是功夫打鬥片。我真的很欣賞張曼玉，她在那個時期過得很開心，拍了不少非常棒的電影。在80年代和90年代初，女性題材的電影很少。我覺得在同期的女演員裡，Maggie（張曼玉）拿到了不少最好的角色，而我拿到的多數是商業片、動作片等等。

在你眼中，什麼才是美？

關之琳： 我無法從人的容貌去判斷什麼是美。現在我只覺得美存在於藝術之中，比如畫作、雕塑。談到人，我不會去想美不美。我想尋找美的時候會去看畫。我覺得美也是一種很抽象的東西，從我旅遊時看到的風景，到街上看到小朋友嬉戲，當然還有世界各地的美術館裡。

你的大宅裡是不是擺滿了藝術品？

關之琳： 希望以後會是吧。我最近剛好在搬去一間小一點的房子，所以還不知道。不知怎的，可能是前夫給了我一些靈感，我最近真的很喜歡色彩。

現在不用忙於拍戲，你享受旅行嗎？

關之琳： 非常享受。最近去了巴黎和威尼斯，之前還去了印度，看到那裡街頭巷尾變化萬千的色彩，真的太美了。我去了新德里，還有美麗的菩提伽耶，那裡人們的面容是那麼安詳、那麼美麗。

在香港，你在任何一條街上都會被認出來。在印度這種無人認識的感覺，有沒有幫你放下包袱、做回自己？

關之琳： 沒有人認識我、認出我的感覺真好，我可以隨心所欲，想去哪就去哪，完全不受打擾。在香港的話，我會意識到有人在看我。不過我現在很享受住在香港，我在這裡出生、長大，讀的是瑪利諾修院學校，這裡絕對是我的家。

影迷們有沒有要求你復出拍戲？他們會好奇你當年為什麼停下來嗎？

關之琳： 我不知道大家是怎麼看我的。當影迷過來找我時，他們總是說：「希望你開開心心、過得好、身體健康。」有些影迷會叫我復出拍戲，但我真的不想念拍戲了，一點點想念都沒有。我不覺得自己做過什麼偉大的作品。現在行內有這麼多表現出色的新人，我想我不會再拍了。

我覺得你太謙虛了，你拍過很多很棒的電影。難道香港電影界就沒有任何讓你享受的地方嗎？

關之琳： 剛入行的時候，我確實很享受那個過程。那時我很年輕，才18歲。我爸爸也在這行，他其實沒有多鼓勵我，但我還是入了行。年輕時，我爸爸身邊的朋友和家人都在電影圈，我的叔叔阿姨們在我眼裡都長得非常完美。當時只有最英俊的男演員才能在邵氏影城工作，而全中國最漂亮的女孩子都在那裡。可能我年輕時有點戲劇化吧，所以很想加入電影界。那時我對電影圈的看法很不一樣。等我長大了、懂事了，才發現這個行業有點殘酷，是個很辛苦的行業。但我認為自己很幸運，其中的一部分我確實蠻享受的。

你曾與當時所有的巨星合作過。

關之琳： 所有合作過的搭檔和同事對我都非常好、很尊重。在片場我總是像個公主一樣被對待。我不知道是因為我是星二代、家人也在這行，還是因為他們覺得我有吸引力——他們可不是同性戀！但我的搭檔們對我都非常友好。華仔（劉德華）很照顧我，李連杰、成龍，大家人都很好，到現在我們依然是好朋友。

那個年代的時尚讓人難以忽視。從拍戲年代到現在，你的時尚風格有很大變化嗎？

關之琳： 我覺得自己沒穿過太多那種很誇張、很糟糕的80年代造型。現在回看我不會覺得尷尬或者想笑。以前確實穿過一些怪異的衣服，特別是十幾歲的時候。我18歲時留過很厚很長的爆炸捲髮。我拍戲時從不戴假髮，那全是我自己的真髮。那時的假髮質量很差又很癢，我總是自己做髮型。現在回看舊照片，我覺得還好，不算太差。時尚一直在變、在演變，而我自己也在改變和演變。現在簡約多了。我很喜歡買衣服，我覺得自己東西太多了。最近搬家時，我才發現自己原來有這麼多東西，我想我得租個倉庫來整理一下，所以覺得自己真要控制一下買東西了。以後我會把現有的服飾進行混搭，保持簡單大方。

對於當今的女性，你有什麼建議？

關之琳： 我覺得女性應該有自己的工作、事業和積蓄。我知道大多數女性都有家庭和小孩要照顧——我不一樣，就我和我的狗！我知道照顧一個家庭並不容易，但我依然覺得女性應該保持獨立。自立自強的女性身上有一種力量與美。女性應該照顧好自己——當然也要照顧好孩子和丈夫，但絕不能把自己放在最後一位。

最後，當你在清晨看到鏡子裡的自己，你會覺得自己很美嗎？

關之琳： 早上看鏡子時，我會想：「天啊，簡直是一場災難！」（笑）所以我才說美不在於外表，不在於外在，而是由內而發的。

更多精彩封面大片及專訪內容，請瀏覽 PrestigeOnline。

拍攝夢幻團隊： 攝影師：Olivier Yoan 造型師：Tasha Ling

Scents and Sensibility: Top tier colognes, perfumes and aromatic oils are all the rage

 With breathtaking price-tags, these fine perfumers are rocking the scent-imental market. 

 Throwback to this feature published in Lifestyle magazine... a decade ago. Hmm. time for an update. 

This Impossibly Chic, Design-Led Backgammon Set Can Be Yours For HK$132,700

Experience the fusion of artistry and strategy with Taras Yoom’s limited-edition backgammon set, a sculptural homage to fate and skill.

In a striking new venture, the renowned Bangkok-based artist Taras Yoom has unveiled his debut backgammon set, the limited-edition Another Kingdom. Following the acclaim of his globally recognised chess set series, this latest creation expands the narrative of two opposing realms—serving as a metaphor for the intricate tapestry of human history. Yoom’s foray into collectible gaming captures the essence of chance and will, transforming a traditional pastime into a sculptural representation of life’s unpredictable journey.

Yoom, an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, has exhibited his work in prestigious venues across London, Paris, and New York. Known for his Yoomoota art universe, he weaves the complexities of biology and human nature into his creations, offering a parallel realm that reflects body and mind. His style, termed “biomorphic surrealism,” manifests in diverse forms, ranging from sculptures and paintings to collectibles and jewellery.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

This HK$23,000 Luxury Pet Bed Is the Latest Accessory For Your Pampered Pooch

Interior designer Britta Butler’s latest work addresses several pet concerns.

In the realm of high-end interiors where bespoke furniture reigns supreme—especially in Hong Kong—pet insurance company OneDegree surveyed 526 pet owners, only to discover they spend an average of HK$680,000 raising their animal friends—more than any other Asian counterpart! Now, a new contender is raising the bar in pet luxury.

Launched by interior designer Britta Butler, The Liebling’s luxury pet bed merges impeccable design with comfort, catering to discerning pet owners who refuse to compromise on the sophisticated style of their own home or their pampered furry family member’s whims.

Butler, the founder and renowned design director of B Squared Design, has a keen eye for aesthetics, honed through years of crafting exquisite residences across key addresses in the world. Recognising a glaring gap in the market for aesthetically pleasing pet furniture, Butler embarked on a journey to create a product that would not only provide a restful haven for pets but also complement the luxurious interiors of their homes.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

TBT: Lifestyle: Couple on a Mission: Tenniel Chu and Carmen Chu

TBT: This cover story and feature for Prestige's annual Lifestyle.

The good people at Brooks Brothers came through for the cover shoot. 

x

In 1994, when David “Mr Golf” Chu turned a patch of industrial wasteland in Shenzhen into the world’s largest golf course, it was seen as complete madness by many, including the provincial mayor. Golf was a nonentity in the country, frowned upon by the Communist Party ever since Mao Zedong declared the sport “too bourgeois”.

But David Chu’s vision paid off. Today, the Mission Hills Group dominates the golf industry in China, with huge multi-course resorts in Shenzhen, Dongguan and Hainan as well as hotels, leisure resorts, sports academies, schools, artist villages, malls and even a movie-themed theme park in Haikou called Movie Town.

But much of that expansion has been overseen by David’s son Tenniel, who works as vice chairman of the group alongside his brother Ken, the group’s chairman. Pioneering a so-called “golf and more” concept has broadened the popularity of the sport, helping to dust off the elite image it once held. Non-traditionalists might tut at the group’s more eccentric ideas – the upcoming Fantasy Course in Hainan features an island green with an 80-metre-wide bowl of noodles and 75-metre-long chopsticks serving as the lake – but the numbers don’t lie. Last year Mission Hills invested a total of 40 billion yuan in mainland China and the company is going from strength to strength.

Carmen Chu, Tenniel’s glamorous wife, is an arts enthusiast who balances being the mother of two children with her ongoing art history studies at the University of Hong Kong. She admits candidly that she decided to go back to university in order to understand more about the art world and also as a way of grounding herself against the seemingly endless series of parties and galas that come as a consequence of her husband’s jet-setting job.

We sat down with the dynamic couple in their well-appointed home to find out more. Read the full feature here at PrestigeOnline.

Photography / Olivier Yoan  

Styling / Florent Thiébaut 

Styling assistant / Marco Chan  

hair & Make-up / Reve Ryu    

Outfits / Brooks Brothers

This was the Lifestyle 2017 cover story. 

The Party Line: My Column

 

TBT: October 2017, I attended 36 events in and around Hong Kong. This year (not month - this year of our lord 2020), I attended two. Protests slowed down events, covid killed it altogether. Obviously 

But sure had fun back in the day writing about the fabulous lives of local and international celebrities, socialites, the new fangled KOLS - key opinion leaders - bloggers, Instagramers and other social media mavens. It was the The Party Line and had the distinct pleasure of calling out badly done events. Which rarely happened TBH. 

https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk?s=The+Party+Line%3A&type=&category=&sort=

TBT: Behind the scenes of a Lifestyle magazine cover shoot

Behind the scenes of a Lifestyle cover shoot - decked in Dior... 

One of the best cover-shoots EVER with Olivier.  

Behind the Scenes: Magazine cover shoot

The crew behind Lifestyle's cover shoot. My last cover shoot with my dream team.

Lifestyle magazine - over the years.

My cover features and shoots with Lifestyle magazine over the years. 

(am missing a few copies... !) 

The annual tome is out usually around Chinese New Year, looking back at the year that was. 

TBT: The Power of Beauty: Lifestyle cover shoot and feature,

A cover shoot and interview with Rosamund Kwan and

All images by Olivier Yoan and team. 

In the history of Lifesytle magazine... by far the best shoot and greatest set of pics of ALL TIME. Olivier Yoan is beyond brilliant. 

Lifestyle 2019 by Prestige Hong Kong

 

It's here! On sale in newsstands for the rest of the year, the annual tome published by Prestige Hong Kong. 

Worked with Dino Busch for the cover shoot (three years in a row with Olivier before) as Dino - Jess - and I all started working together x years ago and we are a trio that cannot be broken! lol. Have to say its one of my fav Lifestyle covers... EVER. Apart from looking great on newsstands everywhere (for the whole year! woot woot!), the entire team involved was so great that pulled it all together. 

 

My Editor's page - which people generally skip over - below! 

Glad Tidings

The volume you’re holding is an annual accompaniment to Prestige magazine, a new-year tome that is now a decade old. By the time we collate these pages it seems more than apposite for our editors to reflect on the year gone by, and as such we review here for you the best society events of 2018 (page 20) featuring the year’s most fabulous parties, and we present the finest hotels, bars, restaurants and spas sampled by our roster of wordsmiths (“The A List”, page 92). Our penultimate page is a tongue-in-chic recap of the year’s pop culture and celebrity antics (“That Was 2018…”, page 104), putting a humorous cap on the Year of the Dog as we step into the auspicious Year of the Pig. 

According to my feng shui mistress Thierry Chow (what, you don’t have one?) it’s a year of good fortune and luck as the Pig occupies the last (12th) position in the Chinese zodiac. And good fortune and luck is just what we wish our young and gorgeous cover stars, actress Jessica Jann and entrepreneur Kenneth King, as they embark on a lifelong journey together as a newly married couple. The day this magazine comes hurtling out of our printer’s vans and on to newsstands, the duo will be walking down the aisle – and we couldn’t be happier for them. Months ago, as they recounted their romantic journey, smiling and gazing into each other’s eyes – even when our photographer didn’t instruct them to – we got a little misty for young love and new beginnings. Our jaded, crusty and calcified heart skipped a beat – and I’m sure yours will too.

Have a prosperous and productive new year – according to the stars aligned, it’s a great one for making and investing money. We wish thee glad tidings dear reader, glad tidings indeed.   

P. Ramakrishnan

Editor

The entire cover story and shoot is up at PrestigeOnline.com

Lifestyle: Couple on a Mission: Cover shoot and Cover story: 2017

Tenniel Chu

Tenniel and Carmen Chu

Carmen Chu

Tenniel and Carmen Chu tell Lifestyle and Prestige how the Mission Hills golfing dynasty is bringing the game to a whole new audience in China. Cover story is up at PrestigeOnline here. 

Photography / Olivier Yoan  
Styling / Florent Thiébaut 

Styling assistant / Marco Chan  
Hair & Make-up / Reve Ryu    

Outfits / Brooks Brothers

This was the Lifestyle 2017 cover story. #ThrowbackThursday

Behind the scenes; the two were the most hospitable gorgeous couple to work with. Was a dreamy cover shoot day where for once, everything went as planned! Awesome team behind the scenes, and in front of the camera. 

Matters of the Art: Art Connoisseur Kate Bryan: Lifestyle

In conversation with Kate Bryan, Director of Contemporary at The Fine Art Society, P. Ramakrishnan takes a virtual roam at the hallowed gallery to discuss the Asian scene.

London’s oldest commercial dealership, The Fine Art Society is but a group of like-minded, passionate art collectors. Although it became best known for secondary dealing in Victorian and modern British material, since its founding in 1876 it has been very much about championing the artists of the day.

The former gallery director at The Cat Street Gallery in Hong Kong, Kate Bryan joined The Fine Art Society in 2011 and has reawakened its Contemporary Department. With her picture-perfect visage beaming out of art-based television programmes as a regular contributor and presenter, she’s easily one of the most well-informed and well-travelled art experts in the mix. She recently visited China to present a BBC Two The Culture Show special on Chinese painting, so we brushed up against her for a Q&A:

What’s happening in Asian art, and what makes it so interesting?
Kate Bryan: Contemporary Asian art was largely marginalised until around 2005, which marked a tipping point. Quite suddenly there was an active market for the work and very quickly this translated into big auction results and museum recognition on an international stage for a handful of artists, most of whom were Chinese. It was such a thrilling time for those involved and indeed for spectators because it was a completely new kind of art from a region the West still had little real experience of.
However, it took some time – and indeed it must be an on-going process – for this frenzied pocket of activity to settle into something more consistent and permanent. The emergence of contemporary Asian art was radical – I suppose that was its teenage phase, very hot and happening. Now that it’s an older market, it’s maturing into something more substantial that doesn’t need to rely on trends and fads. For great art to be created and understood, it needs institutional support and recognition at home. Thankfully these things are happening at a great pace now across the region.

Who are the Asian artists we should know? What makes them special?
Everyone ought to know the Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei, who is an artist of such clarity and integrity that he not only communicates truths and contradictions about life in China today, but he also taps into something much deeper about human behaviour that relates to every culture throughout history. He is China’s Picasso and will be known for centuries to come as one of the most important cultural forces in this century. It may take some time for China to fully comprehend their rebel son, but when they do I suspect he will be a national hero.

Everyone’s looking for the next art superstar. How do you spot his or her emergence?
Contrary to what most people might assume from reports in the papers and overzealous art dealers, the birth of a great artist is a very slow and unsteady process. That said, there are factors to consider when buying art which should give an indication of future status. How old is the artist? Have they got a notable mentor? Is this a solo show with a well-considered premise behind it? Is the standard of work good across the whole show? Where else have they exhibited? Who with? Have they got institutional support – are they being bought or shown at museums or private collections? Are they being written about in a serious fashion? If it’s affordable now and some of the above criteria are met, then it may well turn out to be a good investment. I just exhibited the work of a young Chinese artist called JS Tan in London and he ticked many of these boxes, which is why I gave him a show. But more importantly I think he’s a great painter.

Art as investment is not new in Hong Kong. From a non-financial point of view, is that a good or bad thing? Are the punters not appreciating the work itself as much as its resale potential?
There were a lot of people who tried to capitalise on the fast rise to fame of some of the first wave of contemporary Asian artists to be sold at auction, and ultimately they don’t do the market any favours long term. A small pocket of people pushed prices into absurd territory, and whilst some stars continue to shine brightly, others have faded, which is an alarming prospect for collectors. Thankfully we have a much broader and deeper range of people interested in the market now, who nurture it and sustain it for the future. Ultimately, art should be bought to nourish the soul, not the bank balance. If you buy something you love, you need not worry about it is an asset class, and more often than not if you bought it sensibly at a good price it will increase in value over the years while you enjoy it.

After your most recent visit to Beijing, do you find that people in China appreciate its art history and want to preserve centuries-old works, or is modern China less interested in its past as it grows into the largest economy in the world?
The fact that hundreds of regional museums have opened in the past couple of years in China is testament to an increased desire to preserve and collect cultural artefacts and artwork. It’s not all positive news, though, because for such a long time culture was neglected in the country and vast swathes of material have been destroyed, lost or taken overseas. But what I’ve always been impressed by in China and Hong Kong is that even when there’s a lack of government support, people find ways of showing art, creating pop-up spaces, taking art into an alternative realm, and it really seems to have flourished in the fringes. The same thing had to happen with the birth of modern art in Europe at the end of the 19th century. There is always a precedent.

You’ve worked in Hong Kong and the London art world. What are the differences?
The major difference is the number of artists living and working in each city. When I worked in Hong Kong, all my artists were based elsewhere. It was not a viable option in 2005 when we started to show local artists, and they were so few. In London there are countless artists – I can’t move for them! – probably more than at any other time in history. There are more opportunities to go to art school, to visit hundreds of museums, and being an artist is not considered a side-line career.
With a Basel Art Fair and a world-class museum opening soon, there are big signs of change in Hong Kong. I can name several artists from the city who are doing great things, including Kacey Wong, Stanley Wong and Nadim Abbas. It’s going to take some time for it to fulfil its potential. We have an art market in place but not an art world. It’s a mental gearshift that’s needed.

In previous conversations five or six years ago, you brought up the rise in interest in Korean art. Did that trend catch on?
Very much so. Korean art for me remains one of the most robust and diverse art markets in Asia. Many artists have found a place on the international stage, including two of my favourites, Doh Huh So and Nikki S Lee. Debbie Han, an artist I championed when I was gallery director at The Cat Street Gallery, has gone on to do great things and remains a vital force.

Finally, on a personal note, what pieces have you invested in? What artwork would we find at your house?
I have some beautiful celadon heads by Debbie Han. They are at once traditional in their material but inventive in their approach. I have an awesome neon work by the British artistic duo Rob and Nick Carter. When I started to show their work in Hong Kong a few years ago, they were selling for about HK$50,000, and we just recently sold their new work for HK$1 million. They also became the first living artists to exhibit at the Frick Collection in New York. A painting that has been in pride of place in all my apartments over the years is a great modernist night-time pool scene by the young Australian painter Paul Davies. He has sold out nearly every exhibition he’s ever had. I also have a few Peter Blake silkscreens, an affordable way to collect one of the UK’s greatest artists. 

The Business of Beauty: Cara Grogan: Australian Supermodel in Hong Kong

The folks in the ensuing pages have made the machinations of what’s considered inner and outer beauty their business, writes P. Ramakrishnan. Portraits by Until Chan

Cara Grogan-McIlroy, 

Genie Juicery

Tell us how you decided to launch Genie Juicery.

I’ve been modelling for 15 years now, but I always wanted to have my own business and I was always very healthy and doing cleanses and interested in health-related products, so it seemed like the perfect business to start. I felt there was a big gap in the market at the time I started Genie Juicery. There were no other

cold-pressed juices in Hong Kong when we launched.

What’s the lasting power of juicing? There are so many diets and trends that come and go each year, but this seems to have survived. 

Juicing is a simple way to get maximum nutritional benefits from fruits and vegetables. Your body easily absorbs them and much faster, and the amount of nutrients you get at one time is a lot bigger and a lot quicker than if you’re eating fruits and salads at a meal. So it’s the perfect way for people to get minerals,

vitamins and enzymes quickly. That being said, cold-pressed juicing isn’t anything new, it’s been going on for a long time now, but we here are just waking up to it now. I don’t think it’s a trend, I think it’s a lifestyle change as people want long-term health goals. 

What do you recommend from your menu?

It’s not one particular product but a combination of fruits and vegetables and ingredients in each drink that are beneficial to different parts of the body. Depending on what you’re looking for, a combination of

lemon, lime, ginger and turmeric is immune boosting because of all the vitamin C and anti-inflammatory properties. Drinks that contain chia seeds are great for weight loss, energy levels and cleaning out your colon. Look for the ingredients – which is true for all products. What are you putting inside you?

What’s been a really popular product?

People really love a drink called The Master as it’s fat burning. It has chia seeds and cayenne pepper. That helps to eliminate toxins, break down fat cells and helps you go to the toilet and poo-poo (can you tell I’m

constantly with kids now?)!

What’s your favourite?

My favourite might be Green Dream. I really like the green ones. I also like Smooth Operator in the morning as it’s a great smoothie – what I pick depends on what time of day you ask me. A smoothie when I’m really

hungry, when I haven’t had a chance to eat. 

Come on now, there must be one drink that’s difficult to swallow.

There’s none that I can’t bear – I came up with all the recipes so there’s not one that I don’t particularly love, but for first-timers to juicing, I might not recommend Hulk. It’s one I like but it’s spicy, it’s very green and it’s a bit harsh as it has no fruits.

Tell us about your beauty regime, and how you stay in shape after having children.

My regime at the moment is non-existent; I don’t have time to brush my own hair. But I am very diligent about moisturising, and making sure I use a lot of oils in their most organic form so they are really beneficial for your face, especially as I have really dry skin. I do a good scrub when I have time. Eating healthy, drinking lots of water and jucies, that’s pretty much it for now. 

What are your go-to products?

I have to say, I do love all Fresh products. I’d never heard of them before I started working

with them but I was lucky enough to get all these products from them, and now I’m completely obsessed. My skin’s been amazing since I started using them. I also love Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair cream and Shiseido has a really great eye cream I really love.

What have you seen recently that made you go, wow, that’s really beautiful?

That’s easy – that would be my two daughters and how they interact together. My youngest is starting to get a little bit older now so she’s a bit more fun to play with for my older daughter India. I’m just blown away by how amazing India is with her so I’m constantly counting my blessings. It’s not the products that I own

that are beautiful, it’s the people in my life.


For this and more interviews, pick up Lifestyle, by PRESTIGE HK. On newsstands now. 

Read the Cover Story with Rosamund Kwan and Helen Ma here at Prestige Online.

Previous interview with Cara Grogan here

Jimmy Choo: Ready to answer the siren call of China's mall owners

The origin is unknown, but the quote rings true, "Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life."

Fans are familiar with the legend of Jimmy Choo. He began as bespoke shoemaker in the East End of London in the early 1990s catering to celebrities, including Princess Diana.

Choo opened his first shop in 1996 with Vogue's accessories editor Tamara Mellon. Soon after, his niece Sandra Choi came on board as creative director (a position she still holds). Choo left the company in 2001, and Mellon in 2011, but the company grew selling handbags, small leather goods, scarves, sunglasses, belts, fragrances and men's shoes from 167 stores in 35 countries. Jimmy Choo PLC listed on the London Stock Exchange in October 2014, and is now valued at about £546 million (HK$6.6 billion).

"It is interesting to have an accessory brand recognised and respected in the stock market," says CEO Pierre Denis, who joined in 2012. "It's a recognition of a great British brand, it's a recognition of our success."

But how does the company going public affect the brand? "In basic terms, with an IPO, you need to comply with a lot of rules and regulations, which is good because it forces a company to improve structuring. Our IPO provides us with the capacity to invest more in our brand, and finance our expansion with new stores in China."

Drawing on his seven years working and living in Asia, Denis is focused on building the brand in China. During the past year alone, five stores have opened there, with plans to open 25 more in the next five years.

I felt that Chinese customers needed brands that are a bit more specific, more interesting

PIERRE DENIS, CEO JIMMY CHOO

"When I joined Jimmy Choo, the business had been focusing on the development of the brand in the US and Europe. It would be fair to say that Asia was kept on hold - the thinking was that Asia was complicated, that China was too big, too complex. When I joined the company, it was my intention to develop business in Asia to compliment the strength of Jimmy Choo in the US and in Europe. That has really been one of my priorities.

"We will open 10 to 15 new stores per year, no more than that. But half of them will be in China. When I worked for LVMH here, we could see that China had been really developed with the big brands; it was all about Dior, Chanel, Vuitton. But I felt that Chinese customers needed brands which are a bit more specific, more interesting."

Denis believes what Chinese customers want is diversity in brands; malls can no longer be cookie-cutter models housing the same brands in a market saturated with monogrammed luxury goods. "I've been discussing with landlords in China - they are talking to Jimmy Choo saying, 'I want something different for my client.' This is a good time for us to come in."

"Other brands have been around for centuries. Jimmy Choo's still a young brand, relatively speaking, so we have to inform the new market of our significance," says Denis. "It is most important for me to be consistent with our DNA."

There are several strategies at play: product development, retail, marketing, and expansion into different tiers and zones in the mainland. There is another method that works wonders: a relationship with celebrities.

"In some countries Hollywood celebrities are the biggest stars, while in others the local stars are more important. Asia falls into the second category; they love Chinese film stars and Korean soap and television personalities. These people are far more popular in Asia than Western celebrities. I was at a red carpet event and a Korean TV star was wearing Jimmy Choo shoes and carrying one of our bags. The shoes and that bag have been flying off the shelves ever since. In fact, we had trouble keeping up with the demand."

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Riding the Choo shoe train


LIFESTYLE›FASHION & LUXURY
PUBLISHED : Monday, 25 May, 2015, 6:00am
UPDATED : Monday, 25 May, 2015, 6:00am
P. Ramakrishnan

Lenka Korbova for Lifestyle magazine, 2014

Lenka Korbova for Lifestyle magazine. 

Lifestyle, the annual publication by Burda Publishing - not the web site! 

This (A)Man is an Island: Review of Amanpulo, the finest resort in Asia

Ensconced in a serene private villa in paradise – renamed Amanpulo – P.Ramakrishnan is left pondering John Donne’s poetry and the lifestyle of the one percent.



Upon our arrival in Manila, we sail through immigration and into private cars waiting to take us to a mini-airport. It isn’t quite an airport per se, even though our luggage is thoroughly searched and we’re patted down. My companion, a fashion editor, and I are fresh off respective ill-fated relationships that ended in mild resentment and bitter Facebook feuds, and the pat-down is “more action than I’ve had all year”, I mumble en route to the private lounge. Her rejoinder haunts me still. “Speak for yourself, luv,” she says while tossing her mane. Tart...

…is served as we sit in the plush lounge: warm ones, accompanied by generous drinks with those toothpick-umbrellas found mostly on postcards of those dreamy holidays that celebrities have. And we’re about to have, too.

I’m a nervous and reluctant flier, but fortunately the short flight on a private plane isn’t unpleasant. A glorious day embraces us as we fly over sun-kissed seas. Escape from the smog of 852 is welcome. God the sky is blue. Photo-shopped by the Almighty, surely?

Often ranked among the world’s best tropical hideaways, Amanpulo (peaceful island) has to be seen to be believed. Occupying the private Philippine island of Pamalican, at the northern end of the Sulu Sea between Palawan and Panay, it’s a low-lying resort with nary a skyscraper in sight. Pamalican is covered with a sandy jungle of thickets and bush, amid seven square kilometres of pristine coral reef, and we’re looking at grand vistas of greens and blues – the antithesis of Central. The island is two-and-a-half kilometres long and only 500 metres across at its widest point, so when the plane lands, I heave a sigh of relief and gasp at the same time. Belinda Carlyle was right: heaven is a place on earth.

As we alight, my friend does her best impression of Jackie O. Large shades covering her face, her palms shading her forehead, she trots down three steps to the tarmac and likes what she beholds. “S’all right innit.”

Indeed. An island where Brad and Angelina may or may not have holidayed far from the madding crowd and prying lenses of the paparazzi. Despite our blandishments, the uniformed staff will neither confirm nor deny the names of celebrities or royals who have chilled in this very paradise before us mortals.

Soon after landing, we’re met by the couple who manage the resort, and pleasantries are exchanged – but our eyes are on a magical vehicle that will provide us with more joy than champagne and caviar dreams: a pristine white buggy (a polished golf cart really), the only mode of transport through the grounds of Amanpulo.

The island resort, opened in 1993, is studded with “casitas”, twin-roofed bungalows in hillside and beachfront settings, loosely modelled after the Philippine bahay kubo (native dwelling), and generously sized villas. Having been chauffeured to our separate villas, we’re left alone with our luggage. Beautifully decorated, the interiors reflect the islands: pebble-washed walls, coconut-shell tables, rustic Palawan baskets that double as objets d’art, king-size beds with rattan headboards, sliding glass doors that open to outdoor decks and his-and-her divans.

After a gleeful buggy run around the property, I call on my neighbour, who’s already changed into one of the terry-cloth robes that hang in the large Cebu-marble bathroom. Calling it a bath “room” would be false advertising, however. It is, quite frankly, a “bath-partment”, with twin vanities, separate changing areas, a shower and an elegant bathtub lit by large windows with wooden shutters. An orchid pot in the middle of the bath-partment is spawning something wickedly beautiful.

While some may choose a hillside-view private villa or one of Amanpulo’s 29 Beach Casitas, each linked via a path that leads onto a white-sand beach, we choose beach-view villas. Now, let me wipe away my tears of joy before I describe this beach. The softest white sand known to mankind, constantly encroached upon by the most serene, azure-blue waters that lap into the island. Water so clear, you can see deep into the ocean. A visual anomaly to Victoria Harbour, which is more of a muddy green carpet that only metal can perforate, the waters encircling the shores here reveal what lies beneath the surface of the ocean. Apparently there’s life in water – I am witness with wonder. Fish. Turtles. Cute ones. What lies beneath is glorious.

I turn left to find…no one as far as the eye can see. To the right, more of nothing. Just a strip of white sand that goes straight and curves somewhere in the distance to circumnavigate the island. Hmm. Alone at last.

In the distance are hints of other private Amanpulo villas, all a few metres from the sea, with private swimming pools (for those who care not for the private ocean!) and separate bedroom, living and dining pavilions, an outdoor lounge and a kitchen. For families of various sizes, one-, two- and four-bedroom villas come with a cook and housekeeper, and a number enjoy beautiful garden settings.

It takes more than a day to get used to the overwhelming visceral sensations of all the above. It takes me two days to discover a functioning hammock hanging between two palm trees next to my villa. Copious chapters of a crime-thriller are read on said hammock until I espy a vicious gecko eyeing my suspended toes. After several shrieks – I am not one for brevity of words or bravery of deeds – the hammock reading comes to an end.

As we’re not honeymooners, unlike the few other guests we spot infrequently, at mealtime we’re led to the restaurant at the clubhouse. No need for names; there’s only one of each on this island. With views of Manamoc Island across the channel, we have perfectly scrumptious Asian and continental cuisine for lunch and dinner. We don’t care how the fresh ingredients are brought in, because who worries about the nitty-gritty in heaven?

On the first morning, however, we eat breakfast alone, under a large umbrella, with trays of fresh food served by the staff. Looking out as the sun rises over the waters, shards of colour and light awaken us from our somnambular state of bliss. John Donne wrote:

No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.

…and while biting into slices of honey melon and sipping a third cup of freshly brewed coffee, I resolve that life on that other island (where death and taxes awaited under the aegis of CY Leung) isn’t for me. I’ll sit here, tan gently under the shade of the swaying palms and write the great Asian novel. Give up my existence as a glorified typist, embrace my misanthropy and live the life of an artist and hermit. This man will be an island.

Sadly, though, my paycheck doesn’t match the reality check. Paradise will have to wait. 



Travel feature. Heaven on earth is somewhere here...! 
Rama 
(e-mail: ramakrishnanp  @ hotmail dot com)

A Fashionable Life: Hong Kong's Top Ten Models and Supermodels: Asian, Eurasian, Western: From Anderson to Zeller

A quick chat with the region's top ten models; Angelina, Pema, Helena, Cara, Mia, Lenka, Jocelyn, Angie, Rosemary and Melanie!

All the images provided to us by the models.


Out in Prestige mag's annual, Lifestyle, 2014.

Hong Kong's Top Ten (female) Models indeed.







ANGELINA ANDERSON Model beginnings: Angelina was scouted in Australia when she was 16 and moved here at 20 to model full-time. “My friends knew I wanted more from life and was very spontaneous and daring. I was one of the very few who just got up and left Sydney and started a whole new life elsewhere.” Making faces: Dr.Wu toner and essence, day cream and face cleanser, and Shiseido eye cream and night cream. Obsessed by: My Burberry coat. Fashion mishap: Walking on the runway in a near see-through dress. Best gig? A TV commercial for Hysan Place. Two days in front of a green screen and I was suspended on wires. I felt like I was flying! And worst? Working for four days straight in a dirty, half-built building in the middle of nowhere with no toilet. Guilty pleasure: I love McDonald’s thick shakes. I’m obsessed with food and have my own food blog at www.foodtasticangelina.com.

PEMA BANIGAN
Brief encounter: Canadian Pema was discovered at a diner having brunch with her family when she was 17. “I got on a plane the same night as my high-school prom.” Guilty pleasure: I love pumpkin pie. I could honestly eat it every day for the rest of my life. Best gig? I always have fun working with Lancôme. It’s a big beauty brand that I love, but also the make-up artists are always really sweet and it’s interesting to learn from them. And worst? I was shooting a campaign for a hotel last year. The last shot was by a lake, and there were so many mosquitoes. They bit my feet so badly that my friend carried me back to the car. Hot metal: I have a Marc Jacobs bangle I wear almost all the time. Making faces: I use coconut oil before bed when my skin is really dry and I always wear sunscreen during the day. I use Lancôme Génifique serum twice a day, and I wear Shiseido’s BB cream on top of my sunscreen when I go out.

HELENA CHAN
Early aspirations: Helena grew up dreaming of being a model but success didn’t come easy. “I would force my mother to take photos of me ‘modelling’ around the house. At 16 she finally let me go to open castings, but I was rejected by every agency in Hong Kong for almost four years.” Making faces: 100 per cent aloe vera. It’s so affordable from either Watsons or Mannings. After cleansing, I rub in the aloe vera all over my face, avoiding the eyes. I do this for about three minutes and then let it dry. It leaves your skin feeling smooth and hydrated. Guilty pleasure: If I could, I’d have chocolate cake all day, every day! Babies: A month ago I adopted two guinea pigs named Honey and Fluffington. Hot threads: A beautiful lace dress from Bless’ed Are The Meek. It’s very special and fits me like a glove.

CARA GROGAN-MCILROY
Screen grab: Aussie Cara was scouted in Singapore on the street. “It was a classic moment out of a movie.” Fashion mishap: When a mall made me dress like a sexy Mrs Santa Claus. Obsessed by: Hats. I think people actually think there’s something wrong with my head, I wear them so much. Hot threads: Right now my one-piece PJ set – I’m pregnant and it’s comfy. I blame the baby! Best gig? I did a hosting gig in Fiji for 10 days for Nat Geo – that definitely tops my list of best jobs so far. And worst? They’re never that bad… Toted around: Water, iPhone, charger, snacks and Lucas’ Papaw Ointment. Pregnant pause: Pre-pregnancy, margaritas were my fave.

MIA KANG
Happy endings: Mia didn’t grow up aspiring to model. “Up until the age of 13, I was the chubby kid in class who got bullied because I was fat.” Shaping up: Hot yoga, cold pressed juices, herbal supplements. Boom! Best gig? A couple of years ago I was on holiday in Tunisia when I got a phone call from my London agency saying Chanel in Paris wanted to shoot me for a lipstick ad. The next morning I was in Coco Chanel’s apartment in Paris, lying on her sofa, puckering up to the camera. Fashion mishap: When I took off my shoes on the runway at Hong Kong Fashion Week. It was either that or fall flat on my face. Ultimate pout: M.A.C Ruby Woo Lipstick. You never know when you’re going to need to jazz things up a bit. Making faces: I go to Flawless because they do bespoke facials.

LENKA KORBOVA
Model memory: Lenka snuck out of the house to go camping and stumbled into modelling. “I was on the street, trying to get up the courage to go home when a scout from one of the top agencies approached me. I told her I’d have to call her back in three months when I was finished being grounded.” Guilty pleasures: Chocolate milkshakes and cheesecake. Who says models don’t eat? Best gig? A shoot for a calendar in Mauritius where I spent five amazing days in paradise – did I mention that it was a naked shoot? And worst? My very first fashion show in Vienna. I had to wear a rubber outfit that made me look like I was wearing a giant condom. Making faces: Paula’s Choice, not available in Hong Kong. I have to order it from the US. Hot threads: A sexy little blue cocktail dress from Zara. I’m not concerned about how big or small the brand is; the dress has to be good. Hot metal: A necklace that my boyfriend gave me. It’s a piece of black volcanic rock for protection against the evil eye.

JOCELYN LUKO-SANDSTROM
Japan-easy: An agency in Hawaii asked if Jocelyn wanted to do a contract in Japan when she was 15. “Every summer I went back to model until I graduated. After that, there was no looking back.” Best gig? I always dreamed of working in New York, so when I got my first job there for Cosmo it was amazing. And worst? In Korea, shooting summer clothes in the middle of winter while the snow was still on the ground. I was so cold I couldn’t stop shaking. Fashion mishap: Falling down during a show, bum in the air and everything. Hot threads: My J Brand jeans. I live in them. Hot metal: My wedding ring. Making faces: Face repair oil from my company Glimpse, all natural and made from mangosteen. Babies: Simba and Nala, kitties both adopted from the SPCA. Toted around: My iPhone. Guilty pleasures: For food it’s cheese. My favourite drink with that is wine or a glass of single malt Scotch whisky.

ANGIE NG
Well spotted: Malaysian designer Michael Ong spotted Angie in a mall and convinced her to try an agency. “There I met my mentor, and the rest was history.” Old friends: Would be amazed to see me now. I used to be a gawky, tanned, rather wide girl guide. Best gig? Easy Chat China. The story line required a lot of acting. It pushed me further than just being a model per se. And worst? Agent Provocateur in London, in skimpy lingerie with a whip in autumn. I was 18 and it was really, really cold. Women scolded me, cars honked and I bumped into my law school classmates. Go-to items: My Levis 501s. They’re oversized, super ancient and torn. And Chopard’s happy ring. Making faces: Avène truly works for my sensitive skin. And ResVitále’s Ultra Collagen Enhance supplement. Guilty pleasure: Sea salt dark chocolate.

ROSEMARY VANDENBROUCKE
Model memory: I was such a tomboy in high school. Shaping up: In 2013 I ran the Standard Chartered Half Marathon in February, the Great Wall Marathon in May and Action Asia’s 60km Ultra Marathon in Nepal in November to raise money for the Child Welfare Scheme. Guilty pleasure: Royce’s dark chocolate-coated almonds. Fashion mishap: At one of the International designer shows for Hong Kong Fashion Week I was wearing an elegant tube dress and asked to play around with a gorgeous pink silk shawl on stage. The next day in all the papers, there I was with my arms spread wide and the area in question poking out of my dress unnecessarily circled in red. Hot metal: My engagement ring, one of a kind and custom designed by creative genius Adam Pollina. Obsessed by: My new Giuseppe Zanotti white leather high tops. Toted around: My trusty Kiehl’s Lip Balm and a little refillable vile filled with one of my favourite perfumes.

MELANIE ZELLER
Model most unlikely: Melanie never envisioned herself as a model. “LA Models wanted to sign me up right away, so I didn’t bother going to the other agencies. It’s hard to believe I’ve been working for 10 years.” Best gig? On-location TV commercials. One such trip was for Nokia shooting in South Africa. Fashion mishap: In Bangkok during a swimwear show, I was the first model to come out and of course the runway was freshly polished for the show. My foot slipped out from under me on my second step, landing me in an awkward surfer pose with arms out to the sides and legs wide. Obsessed by: I can’t emphasise enough the importance of sun protection – I’m crazy about it. I use an all-natural sunscreen by Bella Mari that smells amazing and pours like a lotion. Hot threads: A Karen Millen wool coat that fits so perfectly, it’s like it was made for me. Hot metal: I’ve had a toe ring on my right foot for as long as I can remember, but I guess my favourite right now is my engagement ring.