CosmopolitanAustraliaJune2015 .

58 cosmopolitan.com.au to subscribe call 136 116

different cultures is the best education

someone can have. And then styling is

great fun, too.

What are the choices you’ve

made in your career and life

that have benefited you most?

I’m really fortunate that I get to do so

many different things with my business.

I think one thing that I’m most proud

of is working with my friend William

[Kikanae Ole Pere, a Maasai warrior

and leader of the Maasai Project, which

sees members of the tribe contributing

to a footwear range for Spanish brand

Pikolinos]. I work with Pikolinos [as

Maasai Project ambassador] to bring

stability to women in their own homes

in Maasai, Africa; so to me that’s the

most rewarding thing I’ve been able

to do – to help the women of Maasai.

How different is your persona

in the fashion world to Olivia

Palermo the human being?

Well, you have the business side and the

non-business side [laughs]. But that’s a

really good question. I like taking a day

with my girlfriends, going to [London’s]

Portobello Market, going through all

the f lea markets and just looking out for

beautiful brooches and art-deco pieces

• plus going to art galleries is always
  nice. We travel to a lot of places that we
  haven’t been to, but I also enjoy being
  home and taking time for myself.

Do you think accomplished,

beautiful and stylish women

like you intimidate men?

I don’t know. I’m very lucky to have

Johannes [Huebl, a model and Olivia’s

husband]. We’re a great team – and he’s

clearly not intimidated. But I think you

should never close yourself off too much

and you should always be personable. If

you’re too shut off, that can be negative

for you, and you might not meet as many

interesting people.

What is the secret of a

successful relationship?

I think trust and communication, and

supporting one another. Honesty, love

and respect, really.

You always look perfect. Do

you ever get any self-doubt?

Thank you! I think you have to feel

secure within yourself and I do, so no,

I don’t have doubt; I’m secure in myself.

So, what would you say to any

young girls who feel insecure

about themselves?

You have to feel comfortable in your

skin, especially when getting dressed.

Trends are important, but there are

always ways to incorporate them slightly

and subtly in your own sense of style. I

think it’s important to always have your

own sense of style.

What’s your motto?

It’s a quote from Rosalind Russell in

[1958 film] Auntie Mame: “Live, live,

live!” You shouldn’t take things too

seriously – enjoy [life] a little bit. #

i think it’s

importa nt

to always

have your

own sense

of style

Words and intervie

W by Paulina Canales. Photogra

Phy b

y r

an

dall

sla

vin.

sty

ling by

ger

ard

ang

ulo.

tra

nslation by Carlos

sot

o