Authentic, Passionate, and Peaceful Maripier Morin

SHE IS THE BUSINESS-ORIENTED BOMBSHELL WHO’S NOW MAKING HER DE- BUT IN THE MOVIE INDUSTRY AND QUICKLY BECOMING ONE OF CANADA’S SWEETHEARTS, COMING FAR FROM HER ORIGINS IN REALITY TV.

By Rebecca Kahn

Maripier Morin is incredibly busy. She is constantly working on numerous projects, not even able to take a break for this interview, answering questions as she goes from a fitting to a lunch in ten minutes, all while dazzling me with her wit and depth. She’s done everything from being a TV host, acting, modelling, beauty blogging, starring in reality TV show Hockey Wives, being a brand ambassador, and even making her own lingerie line. This all begs the question: is there anything she can’t do? DTK Men had the privilege to get some insider info on her new married-life, her work, and her passions.

First of all, congratulations on your recent wedding! It was a long time coming to work around your busy schedules – was it just as special as you had hoped?

It was. It was incredible. It was a perfect day, honestly; the weather was great, it was so fun, very intimate, and it was exactly what I dreamed of.

Are you and your new husband, Brandon Prust, still having trouble finding time where you’re in the same city?

How do you stay close and connected despite the distance? Well, I feel like we love each other more when we’re not in the same city, actually (laughs). I’m joking, but we do long distance really well because when we’re separated, when we’re both in our cities, it’s time for us to be focused and to work as much as we can, and then when we’re together, it’s our us-time. So, I feel like we balance work and our relationship really well now.

You started out as a television host, then went into reality TV, and now you’re staring in Denys Arcand’s new movie La Chute de L’empire Americain - has it been difficult for you to adapt from one type of TV to the next? And how do you channel such a variety of personalities in your acting and modelling?

I think that it was tough for me to go from being a TV host to an actress, but I took acting lessons for a good two and a half months. So that helped me do the transition and really get into character, but it was definitely a huge challenge, probably one of the biggest in my career. But it was such a fun process to create this character, and to see her come to life. And to work with Denys was insane - I mean, he’s such a living legend. He’s basically the pope of Quebec cinema. He accomplished so much - the only Canadian director who won an Oscar. It was really a blessing and an honor to get to work with him.

Photographer Richard Bernardin Fashion Editor Randy Smith

This page: Dress (Price upon request) GRETA CONSTANTINE. Shoes JIMMY CHOO. Following page: Pantyhose CALVIN KLEIN. Gloves (Price upon request) GRETA CONSTANTINE. P.69 Hair Piece DENIS PARENT at L'ÉCHEVELÉE.

Dress GRETA CONSTANTINE. Photogarpher RICHARD BERNARDIN. Fashion Editor RANDY SMITH. Makeup & Hair STEVEN TURPIN at TEAMM MGMT using SHU UEMURA, KÉRASTASE, MIRIGAL OIL, NARS, and CHARLOTTE TILBURY. Hair and Makeup Assistant GENEVIEVE HARDY.

You’d been a constant fan-favourite on the reality TV show Hockey Wives. Why do you think that is?

I think that Brandon and I were good on it because we were very honest. We didn’t try to hide things when we’re fighting. We’re very transparent. It’s the same with social media - we did it with exactly the same mindset. We just wanted people to see what the reality was and didn’t try to sugarcoat it or make people believe something that wasn’t our reality.

“I THINK THAT BEING IN MY THIRTIES, [I] HAVE THAT LIBERTY OF NOT ALWAYS QUESTIONING MYSELF: “AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING?”, “AM I IN THE RIGHT PLACE?”, “DO I BELONG THERE?” - ALL THESE QUESTIONS THAT I WAS CONSTANTLY

What’s it really like to be married to a hockey player?

Same with being married to any man, honestly, and Brandon doesn’t play anymore. I feel like we have the same struggles as any other couple.

What do you do to unwind and relax?

I go to restaurants - I love food. I just like to go out with my friends and have dinner and hang out. I’m a very simple girl. I like to go to spas as well.

When do you feel your most powerful?

When I’m at work, I think. I feel like I define myself a lot by what I do in life.

How you balance everything in your life (all your different businesses, married-life, friends and family)?

I don’t - nothing is balanced (laughs). It’s just work.

What has been your favourite business venture to do so far?

It’s hard to say because they’re all so different. I could answer you the website. I could answer you the Blush lingerie. I could answer you the movie… It’s all so different.

Where do you see yourself and your career in the near future? The far future?

It’s so hard to answer that because every time I make plans, something else comes up and I’m doing something completely different.

Is being a celebrity in your 30s any different than being one in your 20s?

I think I have a lot more self-confidence. I doubt myself a lot less. I think that being in my thirties, [I] have that liberty of not always questioning myself: “Am I doing the right thing?”, “Am I in the right place?”, “Do I belong there?” - all these questions that I was constantly asking myself when I was in my twenties. Now, I have why eyes on the prize, and I think it would be dangerous for anyone to get in my way because I’m really focused and dedicated. And not in the way that I would step on people to get where I want to, but in the way that I feel unstoppable.