Photographer, Mother, Creative Director, Chesse lover, Actor, philanthropist, former Miss Denmark, errrr perfume bottle collector, ohhh yeah and iconic, original, Super-est Supermodel. Helena Christensen burst onto the Fashion scene and into our life’s, and hearts, back in 1989 when she was discovered by photographer Friedemann Hauss, who instinctively knew that Helena was a ‘natural’ in terms of modeling ability. She has gone on to appear in campaigns for brands as diverse as Revlon, Chanel, Victoria’s Secret, Versace, Agent Provocateur, Prada, Hermes, Valentino, and Debenhams amongst many.
Many accolades, labels and musings have been made about Ms Christensen over the years including designer, Gianni Versace who once described her as having, “the most beautiful body in the world.” And Frank DeCaro of The New York Times cited Christensen, along with Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson and Claudia Schiffer as “The Magnificent Seven”. DeCaro reflected, “Known by their first names to legions of fans, they are the legends of the modern catwalk, the girl next door pretty underneath all the paint
Speaking in her inimitable and grand understated way about her famous catwalk figure, Helena claims; “I have a bit here and a bit there. Or as we say in Denmark, something to the courtyard and something to the street.”
We caught up with the timeless, AGELESS beauty, where I managed to hold it together long enough to get her to answer the following questions.
Best piece of advise you’ve ever been given and by whom?
Anything Piet Hein, the Danish philosopher has written in his little books of wisdom is the best advice ever.
What track would always get you on the dance floor ?
Anything by Depeche Mode
What are you most excited about at the moment ?
The ocean up in the north of Denmark, where little sand islands form in the water late afternoon and I go out there and lay on a towel and look up in the sky and ponder.
Helena and a couple of gal-pals including Alek Wek and Miranda Kerr
What music are you listening to at the moment ?
Right now Chet Baker, but also really digging the Weeknd, Future Island, Stina Nordenstam, Oh Land and still come out songs by Banks and Steelz.
If you could collaborate with one brand who would it be ?
Tsumori Chisato, because ther are no limits to the fantastical prints, colours and designs in her collections and this is where most other brands get scared.
Helena in the iconic Agent Provocateur campaign
If you could live anywhere where would it be ?
I love living in NYC and I love spending time in my birth town of Copenhagen, but I would love to try to live half a year in the following places: Sydney, New Orleans, Venice, Reykjavik, Tokyo…
Favourite hotel in the world ?
Colombe d’Or in Saint Paul des Vences.
A girl gang, most of us would like to join
If you could give your teenage self advice, what would it be ?
Appreciate all you have at any given moment and be excited for all that is yet to come.
Favourite photographer you’ve worked with ?
I have enjoyed working with so many amazing and inspiring photographers but I had a very special friendship with Herb Ritts and Peter Lindbergh and Irving Penn justblew my mind away.
Who would do you ideal diner guests ?
JF Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Francoise Sagan, Leonardo da Vinci, Piet Hein, Hilma af Klint, Picasso, Chagall, Charles Darwen, my boyfriend Paul and my son Mingus. This would be a very very very cool ensemble for an interesting dinner. Maybe throw in a wonderful chef as well…
What piece of clothing should everyman have in his wardrobe ?
A big soft wool sweater and a pair of long woolen socks.
What piece of clothing would you relegate to Room 101?
On some days my phone and computer… it would be utterly wonderful to exist without. But on most days probably not, so let go with slugs and mosquitos and every dictator that has ever existed. Slimy irritating and pure evil.
