I recently had the immense pleasure of sitting down with model Monika Schnarre in a patio in Toronto's Yorkville.
I bumped into Monika during Toronto Fashion Week and I could not resist approaching her and asking for an interview.
Seeing Monika from so close, I could easily understand why she become one of Ford Models' youngest models to win the Supermodel of the World competition in 1985 when she was only 14! And at 15, Monika was the youngest person to appear on the cover of American Vogue and in the pages of the coveted Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. A few decades later, Monika has lost nothing of her incredible beauty and it's no wonder she's still modelling today.
The thing that struck me most about Monika (other than her beauty) is the fact that she refused the label of supermodel because she finds that her career might not have had the international note of Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Helena Christensen, Yasmin Le Bon (a.k.a. Mrs. Simon Le Bon), or Claudia Schiffer.
After a few years as a top model, Monika moved to L.A. and turned her attention to acting. More recently, we've seen her as a reporter for such shows as Entertainment Tonight Canada, eTalk, and Celebrity RSVP.
Along with getting to know Monika a little better, I wanted to see if I might not be able to find out more about her beauty secrets and I was happy she was willing to disclose a few of them.
What are your must-have skincare products?
A moisturizer wherever I go as my skin is very dry, and I also use exfoliant.
How do you keep fit and feeling good as you age?
Exercise is vital to my physical and mental health. I have to have at least half an hour of cardio each day (usually a run) or I'm not a happy camper! I also mix in yoga, rollerblading, hiking, and many others as not to get bored.
How often do you visit your spa for facial treatments?
Facials tend to make me breakout, so it's rare.
What's your favourite power food?
Blueberries! I love to mix them with fat free organic vanilla yogurt.
How do you keep life in check and manage stress?
Again, exercise is key. When I am feeling stressed out I put on my running shoes, get outside and instantly I feel better. While I'm running, the stress falls away and I am able to organize my thoughts and put everything into perspective.
What's your ultimate aging-well secret?
Finding a job that you love and a purpose in life. I find that the people who love what they do don't seem to age as quickly.
What's your favourite spa around the world and why?
I loved the Twin Peaks spa in Telluride, Colorado. The food was organic and delicious, the scenery breathtaking and the treatments wonderful.
What's your biggest beauty splurge?
My hair colour!
One closing note, we also discussed the new size zero models strutting down the runways of major international fashion capitals. "I'm not a size 2 and I've never been a size 2 and I never will be," Monika said. "I'm happy with the way I look and I don't believe in fitting into any commercial stereotypes of beauty."
I bumped into Monika during Toronto Fashion Week and I could not resist approaching her and asking for an interview.
Seeing Monika from so close, I could easily understand why she become one of Ford Models' youngest models to win the Supermodel of the World competition in 1985 when she was only 14! And at 15, Monika was the youngest person to appear on the cover of American Vogue and in the pages of the coveted Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. A few decades later, Monika has lost nothing of her incredible beauty and it's no wonder she's still modelling today. The thing that struck me most about Monika (other than her beauty) is the fact that she refused the label of supermodel because she finds that her career might not have had the international note of Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Helena Christensen, Yasmin Le Bon (a.k.a. Mrs. Simon Le Bon), or Claudia Schiffer.
After a few years as a top model, Monika moved to L.A. and turned her attention to acting. More recently, we've seen her as a reporter for such shows as Entertainment Tonight Canada, eTalk, and Celebrity RSVP.
Along with getting to know Monika a little better, I wanted to see if I might not be able to find out more about her beauty secrets and I was happy she was willing to disclose a few of them.
What are your must-have skincare products?
A moisturizer wherever I go as my skin is very dry, and I also use exfoliant.
How do you keep fit and feeling good as you age?
Exercise is vital to my physical and mental health. I have to have at least half an hour of cardio each day (usually a run) or I'm not a happy camper! I also mix in yoga, rollerblading, hiking, and many others as not to get bored.
How often do you visit your spa for facial treatments?
Facials tend to make me breakout, so it's rare.
What's your favourite power food?
Blueberries! I love to mix them with fat free organic vanilla yogurt.
How do you keep life in check and manage stress?
Again, exercise is key. When I am feeling stressed out I put on my running shoes, get outside and instantly I feel better. While I'm running, the stress falls away and I am able to organize my thoughts and put everything into perspective.
What's your ultimate aging-well secret?
Finding a job that you love and a purpose in life. I find that the people who love what they do don't seem to age as quickly.
What's your favourite spa around the world and why?
I loved the Twin Peaks spa in Telluride, Colorado. The food was organic and delicious, the scenery breathtaking and the treatments wonderful.
What's your biggest beauty splurge?
My hair colour!
One closing note, we also discussed the new size zero models strutting down the runways of major international fashion capitals. "I'm not a size 2 and I've never been a size 2 and I never will be," Monika said. "I'm happy with the way I look and I don't believe in fitting into any commercial stereotypes of beauty."
0 Comments
LEAVE YOUR COMMENT
You must sign in to leave a commentcharacter(s) remaining