FRANK Dec/Jan 2020

INTERVIEW WITH COVER MODEL

HELLA LUND

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

I am a 44 year old yoga teacher and model who live with the two loves of my life, my daughters Stella 7 years and Freya 4 years. Having been through divorce learning how to stand up for myself financially, emotionally, socially and spiritually has given me life lessons I am very grateful for. Learning to love and care for yourself and know yourself deeply is worth more than money in the bank. Connecting with your loved ones on a deeper, spiritual level comes from those moments when life crashed in front of you and you pick yourself up, bit by bit. You become stronger, wilder, more authentic and more interesting, I think, as you connect with people on a different level, more from the heart than from your head.

WHEN DID YOU START MODELLING?

I started modelling in Oslo, Norway, when I was 16. I met Eileen Ford and her husband and they invited me to come to Paris that summer. I said no. I wanted to be the bookish, smart girl instead, and started studying psychology, social anthropology and philosophy after finishing high school. I was scouted again in London at Covent Garden station in my early 20s by Chrissie Castagnetti who ran Select Models and did a story with The Telegraph on scouting new faces. I started working straight away and a few weeks later I was photographed by Juergen Teller in his living room with a bathtub on Ladbroke Grove. I remember thinking that was pretty cool.

HOW HAS THE BUSINESS CHANGED SINCE YOU BEGAN?

Back in the early 2000’s I was booked for a Prada Sport campaign shot by Phil Poynter for two whole weeks with a team of 20 models from all around the world in South Africa. We were based in a beautiful hotel on the waterfront in Cape Town, worked all day and partied after. We would be on the top of a mountain with the production team in a tent sending photos back to Milan for Mrs Prada to accept. For two weeks. We traveled to the most remote part of the mountains and rivers in vans. We had bodyguards and trainers with us. That scope and budget is long gone.

What I see now, is that the fashion industry is very celebrity and social media driven, it is not enough anymore to have an interesting face or personality, often you need to bring more to the table based on your accounts and your followers.

WHAT ARE THE PERKS OF THE JOB?

I LOVE the dynamic energy on a shoot, meeting fantastic, creative and highly skilled people and sharing stories.

Quote:

“Having been through divorce learning how to stand up for myself financially, emotionally, socially and spiritually has given me life lessons I am very grateful for. Learning to love and care for yourself and know yourself deeply is worth more than money in the bank.”

WHAT OTHER WORK DO YOU DO?

I teach yoga and meditation at Bamford’s spa Haybarn in London, such a beautiful studio and a very authentic, spiritual hub. I have been teaching for 15 years, and keep doing new teacher trainings to evolve my practice. I love travelling and did my Yin yoga training in Sayulita in Mexico a few years ago, the most magical place. Last Christmas I went to Bali to practice yoga and explore Ubud and Canggu. Incredible. When I get to combine my love for yoga and travelling, I am a very happy girl indeed.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THAT?

I got into yoga when I felt worn down with travelling and modelling in 2003. I started doing classes at Triyoga in Primrose Hill and felt so elevated and happy after each class that I felt it was the best thing I could do living in London as a way to keep myself balanced and spiritually nourished. Having grown up in Norway with fjords and mountains and lots of space, yoga filled the gap of my longing for nature and my home country in London and during my travelling.

WHAT ARE YOU OTHER PASSIONS?

I love visiting museums and galleries. I love art. Wherever I travel I have to check the local art scene. I arrived in London the year Sensations was put on, all the contemporary, rebellious British artists like Tracey Emin, Damian Hirst and the Chapman brothers were out in force and it blew my mind. Many of my friends are artists and I love being around creative, independent thinkers. My kids come along to the Frieze sculpture park every year and I take them to see everything from Vincent Van Gogh’s famous “Sunflowers”painting to the graffitied walls of Leake Street in South London. Music is another big love and I have a thing for making play lists for my friends and my yoga classes.

WHAT DO YOUR CHILDREN THINK OF YOUR MODELLING?

My kids usually see me in jeans, a t shirt and Converse shoes...nothing special...and they DO NOT approve of my short hair. They tell me: “We wish you would grow your hair so you could be beautiful again!”

WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TO GETTING OLDER?

I want to grow older gracefully. I am wiser, life has taught me many lessons, I wish to go with the flow and be as healthy, happy and energetic as possible and accept this journey. I have not “done”anything and am more interested in spiritual depth and peace of mind through a daily mediation or yoga practice than Botox or a juice cleanse. I guess I am more interested in a person’s inner life and energy than the surface.

Quote:

“I want to grow older gracefully. I am wiser. Life has taught me many lessons. I wish to go with the flow and be as healthy, happy and energetic as possible and accept this journey.”