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JACKIE FRANK: You’ve had a wonderful,
long career. What have been some of
your highlights?
CAROLINE DE MAIGRET: My book [How To
Be Parisian Wherever You Are] was
important because it was about my
personality and my friends. So it was
nice to be celebrated for the way I see
things. I am writing my second book
right now, it’s actually almost finished.
JF: Even though it was light-hearted,
the book was also very personal.
CDM: I wanted it to be really accessible
but also have a feminist message about
taking care of your own life and being
responsible for yourself.
JF: Today, more than ever, we are seeing
how important that is for women.
CDM: I think today everyone realises
that we are all responsible for what’s
happening. We’re all citizens and weShe’s the Chanel muse who’s so much more than a model.
The queen of Parisian style, mother of one and author,
42, lets Jackie Frank in on her life beyond the catwalkCAROLINE
need to stand up all the time. We need
to teach our family, but also our neigh-
bours, that changes can only happen if
you invest yourself. Be the change you
want to see in the world.
JF: Right. You came from a very political
household. Do you think that has
shaped you?
CDM: In the way that
I know how much
[political success]
is only about power
and money, not
about the people. So
I believe in the work
of NGOs more than
anything else.
JF: You have an association with the UN.
What do you hope to achieve with that?
CDM: I have always been very involved
in education and women’s [issues] and
I truly believe that if you don’t respect
women, you’ll never be able to do
anything good in the world. If you
don’t respect people then nothing canhappen. Change only comes through
education. You actually change a vil-
lage and a society just by educating
women, so that’s my goal.
JF: Who was the person that influenced
you the most growing up?
CDM: I’m super impressed by activists.
I don’t have the gen-
erosity needed to
devote my life to oth-
ers. I do take some
time and I invest
some money but it’s
not my life. I’m really
amazed by the people
who have the bravery
and the generosity to focus on others.
JF: Were you interested in fashion from
an early age?
CDM: No, never.
JF: So how did you get involved in it?
CDM: In Paris there are lots of model
scouts, and I was being asked in the
street if I wanted to be a model. And
I was like, no, no, not interested, butFRANKLY
SPEAKING WITH“I think we are
ready now for
realness and to see
older women on
the runway”de Maigret