Elisa Sednaoui on Making It As A Model and Make-Up Must-Haves
Having starred in advertising campaigns for Chanel, Victoria's Secret, and now Roberto Cavalli, you could say that 24-year-old model-actress Elisa Sednaoui pretty much has a dream career. With an Italian mother and French-Egyptian father, she has an exotic beauty, glowing personality, and cultured sensibility that left us stunned when we met her in person at the Roberto Cavalli fragrance launch. Elisa let us in on her thoughts about the modeling world and her skincare must-haves.
Elisa as the face of the Roberto Cavalli fragrance. Photo courtesy of Roberto Cavalli.1/11Congrats on the Roberto Cavalli campaign! How does it feel to be the face of such a huge launch?
It's an honor and this is my first fragrance campaign, so that makes it very exciting. It's not about doing something for just a season; it's creating an image for a perfume with the intention of it being timeless. It's also been really interesting to go around the world and talk about the fragrance.
2/11The face of the new Roberto Cavalli fragrance dishes on what it's like to work in the fashion industry.
Elisa on the runway at Diane von Furstenberg's Fall 2009 show. Photo courtesy of Fairchild Archive.3/11What led you to pursue a modeling career?
My mother used to work in the fashion business, so I would go with her to do castings. One day, they asked why I wouldn't do it. I don't see it simply as modeling in the sense that it is really an experience to travel, meet a lot of people, experience life, and see the world with a very interesting perspective. The psychological side of modeling is what I found appealing: You are traveling the world and meeting a lot of new people all the time, and you need to adapt yourself to people, learn and understand, and be instinctive because it's all a fundamental part of the job.
Elisa Sednaoui at Tommy Hilfiger's Fall 2012 show. Photo courtesy of Fairchild Archive.4/11What makes a girl stand out as a model?
There are a lot of models today. The thing about modeling that's been lost is that magic a model brings when she comes into the room. When Kate [Moss] comes in or when Gisele comes in, there is a magic that comes with them. I mean, I saw Kate the other day and I couldn't believe it was her! And it's not only their beauty—it's about a mixture of the personality, charisma, humor, magic, and intelligence.
Elisa with Karl Lagerfeld at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's 2010 Costume Institute Gala. Photo courtesy of Fairchild Archive.5/11How are you different from other models?
Modeling for me is about the collaboration. They don't just take me and put a lot of makeup on me and make me what they want. It is a collaboration, even during the process of choosing makeup and hair. That's the way I do it. If people pick me, they know that—and if they don't know, they find out very soon. I am very involved. I am not here to just be a coat hanger. I am someone who speaks her mind, and some people may not like it but that's the way it is.
Elisa at the Lanvin for H&M runway show. Photo courtesy of Fairchild Archive.6/11What advice do you have for young girls wanting to break into the industry?
Be yourself. Always introduce yourself to people before you get into character. Be yourself and know that you are the most important. Second, as a piece of life advice, don't let others tell you who you are because that's a trap we all can fall into. With your parents and with other people who come into your life, they will say, "You should do this, and you should do that." Take the advice and listen, but never let others tell you who you are. I think the Roberto Cavalli woman is a woman who dares to be herself. She doesn't let other people tell her who she is and she dares to go through life with that attitude.
Elisa at Alexander Wang's flagship opening party. Photo courtesy of Fairchild Archive.7/11Some models claim they can eat absolutely whatever they want, while others admit to closely watching their diet. Which describes you?
I had a big appetite for many years. I do eat everything I like, but now I am not naturally attracted to creamy, saucy, or extremely greasy stuff. I like fries and hamburgers, though. I used to be a vegetarian for five years, but now I love meat. Burgers, steaks, prosciutto—I love it all. The one thing I do is, in the morning I start with something fresh. If I am in a place where I can make my own smoothie, that's what I do. When you are out working all day, you never know what you will be eating, so starting the day off like that is great. Drinking a lot of water sounds obvious and sometimes I forget about it, but it is also very important.
Elisa's favorite beauty products. Photos courtesy of Embryolisse, Doux Me, and Moroccan Oil.8/11What beauty products can’t you live without?
I use two moisturizing creams. One of them is Doux Me Crème Caroline—it’s so organic that you have to keep it in the refrigerator. I love it. The other one is by Embryolisse. I think it’s good for the skin to alternate moisturizers. I generally have dry hair, so I use Moroccan Oil. I like the lip balm by Doux Me. Also, I recently discovered Aromatic Body Oil by MV Organic Skincare, an Australian brand.
Elisa backstage at Diane Von Furstenberg's Spring 2011 show. Photo courtesy of Fairchild Archive.9/11**What about ercise? **
I used to be very lazy. Recently, I've started running and I have to tell you, running mid with Pilates has changed my life! It's so much better for my back, posture, and energy level. It's a great time to empty the head and focus on what you are doing at that moment.
Elisa at an exhibition party for Ouattara Watts' Vertigo at ACME. Photo courtesy of Fairchild Archive.10/11When you're not at a photo shoot or walking down a runway, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
For me, a day off has become so rare that I can easily get into a lazy mode. But if I have the strength, I'll get inspired and go to an exhibition. I also love to spend time with the people I love.
Elisa at the 13th Annual amfAR New York Gala. Photo courtesy of Fairchild Archive.11/11What have you learned from your experience being a model?
Not all of us are born knowing what we are going to do in life. You have to give yourself the chance to explore things. Maybe you'll try something and realize you don't like it very much. The most important thing is the group of people you have around you so you don't do it alone. I have a group of six friends, and we all met in high school in a small village in Italy; now we live all over the world. Two are in London, one is in Norway. They have been like a rock for me. My mother is also a rock. For me, if you have a strong support system in your family and friends, that's what gives you the strength to go on.
