COVER GIRL ULTRA TUNE

COVER GIRL

QUEEN OF THE DESERT

When she’s not filming controversial TV ads with big-name celebrities, travelling the world (when possible) or being an ambassador for car servicing company Ultra Tune, glamourous Rubber Girl LAURA LYDALL is posing for MAXIM …

Photographed B y BRIAN B HAYES (@BRIANBHAYES_PHOTO) Interview B y SANTI PINTADO Hair & Make-Up NIKKI VITALE

COVER GIRL

uality cover shoot, Laura — the California desert suits you — and congrats, this is your fourth cover for MAXIM Australia! How do you feel?

I’m very excited! The first one was truly a dream come true and each other one after it just gets more and more special.

What have you been doing with yourself since we last saw you?

Well, I filmed a television commercial for Ultra Tune with former Baywatch beauty Pamela Anderson. She was really lovely and it really has been so much fun working with Ultra Tune as their ambassador. I’m really looking forward to filming this year’s ad –we are actually collaborating with Pirelli tyres. I’ve also been working on designing a swimwear collection which hopefully I should be able to show you something later in the year!

Nice. In the Pammy ad you star as one of the Ultra Tune Rubber Girls.

Yes, my role is a lifeguard — we are a team of lifeguard Rubber Girls who take control of the unexpected situation and save the day. Pamela Anderson is very friendly and was quite particular and professional throughout the filming. She’s also very down to earth and had a good sense of humour. Made it all even more fun!

B esides getting to work with her, what else did you like about the ad?

I enjoyed the hot summer days and filming on the beautiful Gold Coast beach.

Any funny on-set stories you can share with us about shooting this ad?

It was quite funny having to walk through the hotel in a red Baywatch -style swimsuit after filming each day.

Previous Ultra Tune commercials have featured men such as Charlie Sheen and Mike Tyson as the hero — it must be great having a woman be the lead star this time?

Definitely! It was so good having a woman as the star this time especially someone so iconic as Pamela who was very particular and professional to work with –she knew exactly what she was doing.

“YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE TO GIVE A WOMAN PL ENTY OF TIME TO DO WHAT THEY L IKE DOING.”

COVER GIRL

“IT WAS QUITE FUNNY HA VING TO WALK THROUGH THE HOTEL

IN A RED BAYWATCH

STYLE SWIMSUIT AFTER FILMING EACH DAY.”

COVER GIRL

Describe the difference in working with Pamela Anderson compared to the aforementioned men?

Charlie was more laidback and he changed the script a little bit by adding new jokes and dialogue, which was funny.

Past Ultra Tune ads have been labelled “sexist” and “out of touch”, supposedly portraying women in an out-dated manner. Has political correctness gone too far?

Absolutely –and the media has definitely gone way too far this time!

What do you love most about being an Ultra tune ambassador?

Meeting exciting celebrities and always having fun filming anything we do for Ultra Tune.

When you’re not starring in Ultra Tune commercial or posing for MAXIM what else do you do?

I own a laser clinic in Sydney and I love to travel overseas as often as I can – that’s my real passion in life.

Travelling has obviously been a difficult thing to do with the whole COVID-19 restrictions. How have you been keeping yourself busy?

I got a French Bulldog puppy and have been training it to do tricks. You know, while I’ve been coming up with designs for the swimwear collection, of course.

What’s the weirdest thing someone has sent you via social media?

Just all the strange offers to meet up, which I politely decline.

Any advice on the best way for a man to win his way to your heart?

Just by being fun and not too clingy. You have to make sure to give a woman plenty of time to do what they like doing.

Got any big plans for the rest of 2020 once COVID-19 is sorted?

Being able to travel to shoot with the other models for my swimwear collection would be a great start! Obviously gearing up to film the next Ultra Tune TV ad is also on the horizon and, like everyone else, I really need a holiday after this whole isolation situation is over. ■

“LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I REALLY NEED A HOLIDAY AFTER THIS WHOL E ISOLATION SITUATION IS OVER.”

COVER GIRL

“IT WAS SO GOOD HAVING A WOMAN AS THE STAR THIS TIME ESPECIALLY SOMEONE SO VERY PARTICULAR AND PROFESSIONAL TO WORK WITH.”

Status Update

NAME: Laura Lydall BORN: July 31 HOMETOWN: Melbourne, Vic LIVES: Sydney, NSW FIVE-WORD SELFDESCRIPTION: “Fun-loving, spontaneous, easy-going, loyal and charismatic.” HOBBIES: “Gym and sunbaking at the beach.” PHOBIAS: “Spiders!” HIDDEN TALENT: “I’m very flexible –if that’s actually a talent?!” FAVOURITE DRINK: “A lychee martini, please!” LIFE MOTTO: “You only live once and, if you do it right, once is enough.” INSTAGRAM: @laura_lydall