MARCH 2020 ISSUE 104
LO C K E D & LOAD E D
F1 2020
THE
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SCOTT M R ASH B ISRAEL F HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR RUNNING
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AND MORE!
THE ABCs OF PROTEIN
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ARE YOU SWIPE WORTHY?
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SPOTLIGHT 14 DAYS, 11 OF OUR GORGEOUS MODELS AND TWO EPIC LUXURY RESORTS — DESTINATION MAXIM DOES PHUKET
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MACHINES THE CORVETTE C8 AND HARLEY LOW RIDER S SPORT OUR F1 2020 SEASON PREVIEW
MAXIM AUSTRALIA OFFICIAL 2020 CALENDAR MEET MARCH BABE CHRISTINA RIORDAN THE 8TH ANNUAL MAXIM AWARDS CELEBRATING A YEAR OF OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FIELDS OF HEROISM, FEUDING, SPORT, COMEDY, BASTARDRY, EPIC FAILING, MANLINESS AND MUCH MORE COVER GIRL THE RETURN OF STUNNING ULTRA TUNE RUBBER GIRL TYANA HANSEN
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HEALTH IS PROCESSED PROTEIN ALL IT’S CRACKED UP TO BE OR JUST MARKETING CONCEPTS FOOD COMPANIES ARE PROFITING FROM?
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FITNESS HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR RUNNING TRAVEL THE WONDERS OF FRENCH POLYNESIA AWAIT MARK VISSER THE AUSSIE BIG WAVE SURFER TALKS COACHING TECHNIQUES AND CATCHING THE NEXT BIG ONE
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WOMAN OF THE WORLD HOW GEORGIA FOWLER WENT FROM NEW ZEALAND TOMBOY TO VICTORIA’S SECRET STUNNER RELATIONSHIPS DATING APPS: R U SWIPE WORTHY? 24 HOURS TO LIVE AWARD-WINNING AUSSIE COMEDIAN LUKE HEGGIE SHEDS SOME LIGHT ON HIS LAST DAY ON EARTH
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Santi Pintado (spintado@nuclear.com.au)
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SPOTLIGHT
Destination MAXIM:
THAILAND Fourteen days, eleven of our gorgeous models and two epic luxury resorts. Yes, this is how MAXIM does Phuket… P R O D U C E D & STYLE D BY B E L I N DA R O E LO FS P H OTO G R A P H E D BY R O C K Y B AT C H E L O R LO C AT I O N B A B A B E A C H C L U B & S R I PA N WA
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quipped with direct access to a pristine white beach and private pool, arriving at our luxury villa at Baba Beach Club in Phuket was nothing short of a dream. The Baba Group is known for good food and good times as well as the best DJs. Baba Beach Club also has their very own Circo de Loco music festivals and sunset parties that carry way into the night around the signature resort pool. It truly is the perfect escape for those wishing to vacay in the tropics with the intent to party all day and well… party all night. And, yes, suffice to say our days were filled with endless sun, coconuts and cocktails. In true Baba style, their speedboat took us out on the crystal clear waters for an incredible local Thai-style lunch at the floating village of Koh Panyi, as well as an adventure to James Bond Island — a famous landmark in Phang Nga Bay – with views that are literally straight out of a movie scene. No filters needed. The everlasting sun allowed us all to top-up our tans and stage some incredible postcard-worthy photo shoots on the different islands with breathtaking back drops.
Our Phuket adventure continued with a relocation to the incredible Sri Panwa Resort, the crown jewel of the Group. Sri Panwa is a complete world of its own. Our luxury fivebedroom villa and private infinity pool was beyond belief with incredible views across the ocean and surrounding islands. The scale of the resort gave us multiple options for backdrops for this MAXIM shoot with plenty of pools, rooftop bars and many restaurants offering Thai, Chinese, world-class Japanese, Italian, American and much, much more. The luxury spa was a hit with the team, too, spoiling us to quality massages and treatments while guaranteeing a peaceful end to the day before we wined and dined around the resort. A big thank you to the Sri Panwa and Baba teams who were determined to exceed our expectations at all times. Mr. Issara’s family style of management at the resorts flows through the energetic team who are also all about the vibe. Their passion for fun is contagious and attitude to service is second to none. It was certainly a sad day for all of us when leaving this magical world Mr Issara has created. We will definitely be back.
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STATUS UPDATE FULL NAME: Paige Nicole Woolen BORN: January 19, 1992 HOMETOWN: Pacific Palisades, California USA LIVES: Santa Monica, California USA HOBBIES: “Couch potatoing.” HIDDEN TALENT: “I can put my feet behind my head.” PHOBIA: “Kitchen appliances taking over the world!” GO-TO DRINKS: “Spicy margarita, buttery chardonnay or a nice pinot noir – please, not all three at the same time.” LIFE MOTTO: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” INSTAGRAM: @paigewoolen SNAPCHAT: @paige_uncaged
Paige Tell us a little bit about yourself, Paige. I grew up in a small town within Los Angeles called Pacific Palisades and I’m the youngest of three children. Family, by far, is the most important thing to me – I am lucky to have two very supportive parents who taught me that I can be anything I want to be in the world. After college I took over a Pilates studio in my hometown that I still own and am able to manage while I travel the world modelling. What’s the best thing about this photo shoot for Destination MAXIM? Taking the boat with all the girls to Phi Phi Island. My dad is a fisherman and I grew up on boats so it was fun to experience this with all of the girls. Our group shot on the island is my favourite MAXIM photo of all time.
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What is your best asset? Physically, my cute bellybutton. I used to be insecure about it because it was so high up on my tummy but through modelling and self-love, it has become the best physical thing about me. My best nonphysical asset is my compassion. I try to approach situations with compassion, especially in an argument, and look at what someone’s intention is before I react. When do you feel sexy? Right after a workout, when I’m sweaty and my face is red. I think it’s because I feel so accomplished after a workout and stripped down from all the make-up, hair, etc. What would people be most surprised to know about you? That even though it seems that I have “resting bitch face”, I’m actually quite friendly.
How would you describe yourself in five words? Charismatic, conscientious, odd, occasionally manic. What do you look for in a man? Kindness is the number one most important thing I look for in a man. How he treats the people around him including his family, friends or anyone in the service industry. Describe your ideal date? To walk my dog down to the park near where I live and have a picnic. The ultimate test is if my
dog likes you – she’s a very good judge of character. Would you ever date one of your social media followers? Of course. Successfully sliding into someone’s DMs is an art and I would date someone who can do this successfully. Where would you like to be in five years? I hope to be running a successful business and married with one or two little ones. I believe you really can have it all – just like my parents taught me.
Karina Tell us a little bit about yourself, Karina. Hey! I started modelling some years ago because I’ve always been very interested in beauty and fashion. I was scouted from a German modelling agency when I was 15 but decided to finish my school education first and try my best in this business a bit later. Nowadays, I work with different modelling agencies around the world and I’m super excited to be a part of this trip with Destination MAXIM Australia! What’s the best thing about this photo shoot? The exotic landscape and the really cool vibe between the girls. We were all cheerleaders for each other and I loved to see all of them embracing their bodies. What is your best asset? There is nothing better than the combination of brains and boobs and physically, overall, I would say my icy-blue eyes. When do you feel sexy? For me, sexiness is about confidence rather than your physical features. I feel really confident after I’ve succeeded in one of my goals and feel like I’m on fire. But I do love wearing matching underwear hidden underneath my clothes, knowing I’m hiding something sexy. What do you do when you’re not posing for MAXIM? I study business psychology from abroad and plan on finishing my studies soon, but you will most likely see me at the airport catching a flight to my next journey or walking around in my hometown with my lovely two dogs.
How would you describe yourself in five words? Kind, fun-loving, loyal, happy and ambitious. What do you look for in a man? I’m into really kind and lovable guys, the old gentleman type. I appreciate to be treated like a lady and I care a lot about how a man treats others as well. Manners are definitely great, but I also enjoy a man who stays interested in me for a long time and stays motivated to get my attention. Describe your ideal date. A classic candlelight dinner with quality food and a real conversation is always a winner. Would you ever date one of your social media followers? Never say never! What’s the weirdest thing someone has sent you via social media? There is definitely a big interest for my used socks, but I also just got sent this funny pick-up line: “Let’s try something else than small-talk… so, what’s your favourite dinosaur?” What’s next for you? I’m planning on going to Asia or Turkey for an on-stay contract this year to live and to model there for some time. To be able to get to know other countries and cultures is one of my biggest pleasures in life.
STATUS UPDATE FULL NAME: Karina Lege BORN: August 17, 1997 HOMETOWN: Hannover, Germany HOBBIES: “Diving, fitness, reading and dancing.” HIDDEN TALENT: “Cooking. I simply love to cook fresh and healthy meals for my loved ones.” PHOBIA: “Fear of flying, even after travelling to so many countries, it’s still a challenge for me every time.” GO-TO DRINK: “A nice cabernet sauvignon, please.” LIFE MOTTO: “Always strive for more, but appreciate how far you’ve come already.” INSTAGRAM: @karina_ loves_life
What would people be most surprised to know about you? I can be a bit nerdy sometimes. I like to read and discuss economics, political topics and investments. Also body positivity is a big thing for me – I think all types of bodies should be appreciated.
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Maddy Tell us a little bit about yourself, Maddy. I was born in Sri Lanka but my family lived around the world and finally settled in the UK. I went to four different schools in four different countries then ended up studying Pre-med at Uni and CBT (Psychology) at Oxford, afterwards. Today I don’t practice as a psychologist, instead I travel the world and work as a model.
What’s the best thing about this photo shoot for Destination MAXIM? The other girls I got to work with – their independent, empowered demeanour rubbed off on me. Also, this fun-filled but super educational trip allowed me to get inspired and be more unapologetically myself. Are there any funny anecdotes you can share with us? On the last night we all got together by the pool way past
STATUS UPDATE FULL NAME: Maddy Maya HOMETOWN: Colombo, Sri Lanka LIVES: London, UK HOBBIES: “Cooking, yoga and petting my dog – more like an addiction!” HIDDEN TALENT: “Belly dancing.” PHOBIA: “Controlling men!” GO-TO DRINK: “Gin and tonic – but I hardly drink.” LIFE MOTTO: “There is no traffic on the extra mile.” INSTAGRAM: @Maddy.maya
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midnight and got personalised twerk lessons by Ashley. The scene was quite PG.
I love helping those in need and taking care of people – it’s in my nature.
What is your best asset? I think my tits. Sorry, I mean wits – phew!
What do you look for in a man? Kind, loyal and supportive sounds good! But I am attracted to the athletic type.
When do you feel sexy? When I’m dancing – not just when I’m out and wearing a hot number, but I play music and dance while I get ready every morning and in the car or anywhere really, it’s the best! What would people be most surprised to know about you? I am a former Miss Sri Lanka title holder. Describe yourself in five words. Independent, energetic, ambitious, clever, loving. What would you be doing if you weren’t modelling? I guess I’d be a psychologist.
Would you ever date one of your followers? Yes, I have a few athletes who talk to me. Describe your ideal date? A remote island, villa perched on a hill overlooking the sea – just you and me. Where would you like to be in five years? Five times richer than I am today — haha! I’d like to be financially independent and successful on my own – this is always my goal – but the more I make, the more I seem to want to make.
SPOTLIGHT
Ashley What do you do when you’re not posing for MAXIM? I’m booked to pose somewhere else. In this industry it’s important to be present when I’m working. Sure, I enjoy the perks of fabulous locations but I’m here to work and I value my time and effort as I do other peoples. Describe yourself in five words? Super sexy, extra, extra extraordinary – that’s five already but I have to include spiritual, confident and aspiring. How long have you’ve been modelling and what would you be doing if you weren’t? If you ask my mum she will tell you I was posing from the womb. It’s just a very natural
STATUS UPDATE FULL NAME: Ashley Arre BORN: May 14,1994 HOMETOWN: New Orleans, Louisiana USA LIVES: Miami Beach, USA HOBBIES: “Health, beauty, charity and learning.” HIDDEN TALENT: “Making others feel loved.” PHOBIA: “Being lost in Costco from my mum.” INSTAGRAM: @Ashley.arre
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thing that I’m passionate about as my form of expression. If I weren’t modelling I would probably be a teacher. When do you feel sexy? My sexy is with me all the time – it’s a state of mind and I wear it like a crown of jewels. It’s important for people to understand they can be unapologetically sexy. What do you look for in a man? Wisdom and wealth. There is so much that a wise man has to offer because his wisdom is connected to so many other qualities like experience, good judgement and character. His wealth is not only monetary it’s in how he values the intangible things in life like people and life’s experiences.
Would you ever date one of your followers? Why not? I’m sure my Mr. Right is already following me or will be soon. Where would you like to be in five years? I have goals that I set to
challenge myself through my journey in life, but I think it’s important to always see yourself as being the most authentic you, wherever you are in life. I will be authentically me five years from now – even 10 or 20 years from now.
STATUS UPDATE FULL NAME: Emma Jane Stevens BORN: March 14, 1989 HOMETOWN: Melbourne, Vic HOBBIES: “Painting.” HIDDEN TALENT: “Cooking.” PHOBIAS: “Spiders.” GO-TO DRINK: “A glass of pinot noir.” LIFE MOTTO: “Eat the spaghetti and forget your regretti.” INSTAGRAM: @emmajanestevens
Emma Tell us a little bit about yourself, Emma. I’m an Aussie model who has been based between Australia and Bali for the last three years chasing the sun and I’m launching my own swimwear label in 2020, which is really exciting. What’s the best thing about this photo shoot for Destination MAXIM? Meeting an amazing team of like-minded creative people. Oh, and I did a nudie run! Rocky [photographer] had an idea for this image – a bum shot walking into the sunset. And I had the tan lines for it so I volunteered. What is your best asset? I think my bum and my sense of humour. When do you feel sexy? During an Aussie summer – I’m in my natural element at the beach.
What do you do when you’re not posing for MAXIM? Binge watch my favourite TV shows in bed with a bun on top of my head and a face mask on. Probably eating some pizza and Nutella donuts. How long have you been modelling? I’ve been modelling for 10 years now. I actually wanted to be a psychologist when I graduated from high school – I finished my bachelor degree but have another three years left if I want to be a doctor. I love to study, so I’d never say never to going back. What do you look for in a man? Someone who makes me laugh, but my ideal date is Netflix and chill. Where would you like to be in five years? Living in the countryside with my family and pets. I grew up with horses, so I’d love to have a farm of my own with lots of animals to look after.
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SPOTLIGHT STATUS UPDATE FULL NAME: Audrey Anna Watkins BORN: March 23, 1999 HOMETOWN: Flower Mound, Texas USA LIVES: Dallas, Texas USA HOBBIES: “Dance, reading, volunteering.” HIDDEN TALENT: “I’m still flexible from all my years of dancing – does that count?” PHOBIA: “The open ocean. I love beaches but when the water is so deep I can’t see the bottom, I won’t get in!” GO-TO DRINK: “An old fashioned with extra luxardo cherries please!” LIFE MOTTO: “It’s a cliche but, ‘What goes around comes around.’” INSTAGRAM/ SNAPCHAT/TWITTER: @audreyywatkins
Audrey Tell us a little bit about yourself, Audrey. I’m very grateful and blessed to have lived a very dimensional and fulfilling life at such a young age already. I’m a single 20-year-old, I’ve travelled to over 20 countries, I’m currently working at a luxury car dealership and proud mum to a Samoyed puppy. I grew up a dancer and was trained in everything from ballet and pointe – to drill team with high kicks and hip-hop. I’m passionate about giving back – I foster dogs as well as tutor children at the local middle and high schools in my area. I’m beyond thankful that my parents raised me to not only be kind, but to be ambitious and intelligent as well. I created my lifestyle with hard work, nothing was handed to me. What is your best asset? My eyes. I’ve got bright green eyes from my dad’s side, but
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my left eye is half brown on the top because of a birthmark. My grandma always said the old saying that “eyes are the windows to the soul” and I love mine. My best non-physical trait would either be my work ethic or kindness and generosity. When do you feel sexy? When I’m the best version of myself. Self-confidence comes from within, so when I’m taking care of my body physically and my soul mentally – that’s the sexiest. I could be in sweatpants with no make-up or all dolled up in lingerie for a photoshoot and it makes no difference. What do you do when you’re not posing for MAXIM? You can most likely find me at my day job, volunteering or spending time with friends and family. I work at an Aston Martin dealership and my family fosters dogs for local rescues.
Describe yourself in five words. Driven, kind, easy-going, trustworthy, ambitious. What do you look for in a man? Physically – I’m a sucker for dark hair and light eyes and preferably at least the same height as me in my heels. More importantly, though, is how a man makes me feel.
If someone brings out the best in me, encourages me, makes me laugh and can be a true partner to me then I’m sold! Finally, where would you like to be in five years? One goal is to have visited 30 countries by the time I’m 30, which means five or more in the next five years to stay on track! I also want to have written a book, settled into a career and learn a new language.
Uniqua What’s the best thing about this photo shoot for Destination MAXIM? Getting to connect with different creatives from all over the world – we had the best team! It’s every girl’s dream to run around one of the most beautiful locations in the world feeling sexy and luxurious. What would people be most surprised to know about you? I have a major obsession with Harry Potter – it’s almost a sickness. I own so much Harry Potter paraphernalia.
Describe yourself in five words. Ambitious, outgoing, compassionate, spontaneous, trustworthy. What is your best asset? My legs – they literally go on for days. Personality wise, I would say my sense of humor. I can’t go one day without laughing and being happy – it’s life’s medicine. When do you feel sexy? I feel at my sexiest when my make-up and hair is done and I’m prancing around in a bikini and/or lingerie – I get to show off my skin and curves.
What would you be doing ambitious, aggressive, sensual, if you weren’t modelling? romantic and confident but I’ve been modelling for about not super conceited. He is 10 years but if I wasn’t I’d charismatic, loving and smells probably be teaching English insanely good. A man who in foreign countries wants to be married since it goes along and have children STATUS with my addiction someday, someone UPDATE to travelling. who believes in doing FULL NAME: the right thing and Uniqua What do you look who can bring home Shantell Burch for in a man? the bacon. Am I BORN: April 19, 1991 Tall, muscular, asking for too much? HOMETOWN: funny, outgoing, Las Vegas, chivalrous, loyal, Probably not. Nevada USA LIVES: Miami, honest, respectful, Would you ever Florida USA a great listener and date one of your HOBBIES: conversationalist. followers? “Reading and travel.” Someone who also I don’t discriminate. HIDDEN TALENT: treats his family If you’re following me “I can sing wonderfully is and you reach out, a bit. Not anything I would and I actually see professionally the message, and pursue but I’m not half bad.” I like what I see then GO-TO DIRNK: sure, why not? “Depends on my mood. I’m a martini girl but my go-to right now is a Pornstar - vanilla vodka, passionfruit juice, lime and champagne. Yum!”
LIFE MOTTO: “Never forget that you are the most expensive thing you are ever going to own.” INSTAGRAM: @UniquaShantell
What’s next for you? I actually have a pretty major project coming up I’m not allowed to talk about until it’s released. All I can say is that it’s well worth the wait and you’d better get used to seeing my face!
SNAPCHAT: @unique_ lovexoxo
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Olivia Tell us a little bit about yourself, Olivia. From the quiet Yarra Valley girl to MAXIM cover girl I feel like my life story has evolved a lot in the past 12 months! I’d always dabbled in modelling but being presented on the cover of this magazine has offered some amazing opportunities for me including travel to Africa, Thailand and Fiji – thank you! I was then
fortunate enough to start freelance modelling both in Australia and in London and since then I have set out some big plans for myself in 2020. What would people be most surprised to know about you? I’m a bit of a spiritual guru, I love crystals and oracle cards and truly surrounding myself with healthy energy through self-talk and daily rituals. Describe yourself in five words. Goal-driven, loyal, curious, spiritual and down-to-earth – this totally encapsulates my star sign, Taurus. What is your best asset? I really appreciate my compassion for other people.
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Physically, I’d say that I am complimented on my smile a lot. I love this because it just makes my smile bigger.
trust myself that this person is worth investing time in.
What is your life motto? As we grow, we change and When do you feel sexy? my motto changes quite often Looking after my body, my depending on what’s resonating mind and creating a daily focus with me at the time. At the around my eight dimensions moment my current motto is, of health! I can’t stress “Live and let live” – enough that self-love it motivates me to STATUS is far more important focus only on what UPDATE than just putting on I can control and let a sexy persona — go of what I can’t. It’s FULL NAME: Olivia Rose Caneva feeling truly sexy is great and it just really BORN: the embodiment of makes me chill out! May 3, 1994 your own relationship HOMETOWN: with yourself. What’s next Yarra Valley, Vic HOBBIES: for you? “Gym, piano and What do you do I’ve been working crystal healing.” when you’re not tirelessly on releasing PHOBIAS: “Spiders and needles.” posing for MAXIM? an online women’s GO-TO DRINK: Bookkeeping, fitness apparel store “A coconut lime entrepreneurship, in 2020 and I plan cocktail is the bee’s knees, but travelling and gym! to have this all come if we are keeping to life in the coming it plain-Jane, a vodka, lime and What do you look months! Not only is soda is fine.” for in a man? this keeping me busy TWITTER: I don’t look for but I have also teamed @oliviacaneva anything. If the up as an ambassador INSTAGRAM/ SNAPCHAT: chemistry is real then I with some pretty @livvycaneva exciting brands this year who I can’t wait to announce soon.
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STATUS UPDATE FULL NAME: Daria Dubrovina BORN: June 11, 1994 HOMETOWN: Nizhny Novgorod, Russia LIVES: Milan, Italy HOBBIES: “Skiing, travelling and art.” PHOBIA: Spiders and to be alone.” GO-TO DRINK: “A glass of white wine.” LIFE MOTTO: “Enjoy the moment!” INSTAGRAM/ SNAPCHAT: @misssdari
Daria Tell us a little about yourself, Daria. I was born in a beautiful Russian city called Nizhny Novgorod. I was very creative and started modelling from a young age. My mum also used to be a model and she introduced me to the fashion industry when I was little. After completing my first degree studying architecture, I left Russia to continue my education in Milan, Italy. Since moving abroad my life has completely changed by being surrounded by diverse art and culture, doing further travelling, more modelling and making new friends around the world. What do you do when you are not posing for MAXIM? My biggest passion in life is photography, so when I’m not doing the posing, I’m making someone else pose for me. What would people be most surprised to know about you? People assume I’m just a model
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but I’m also an artist who has displayed her work at several exhibitions worldwide.
naked in beautiful exotic places – it gives me the feeling that I have a connection with the world and I’m part of the nature.
Describe yourself in five words. Positive, active, curious, spontaneous and passionate.
What is your best asset? I’m proud of my healthy, strong body and positive mindset.
When do you feel sexy? When I’m running free and
Describe your ideal date? It would be something
interesting and exciting and not the usual date of just dinner or drinks. What’s next for you? I have a lot of plans and ideas. I’m currently working on my new project as a photographer which I’m very excited about. So, let’s see if I can make it happen. Watch this space.
Susie Tell us a little bit about yourself, Susie. I’m from the UK and my family on my mother’s side is Brazilian – so, I definitely grew up with both cultures in my life! I’ve been modelling since I was 14 and I’m now 24 and starting to pursue other avenues such as starting a business.
STATUS UPDATE FULL NAME: Susie Vieira BORN: April 9, 1995 HOMETOWN: London, UK LIVES: Manchester, UK HOBBIES: “Quality time with friends, cooking and sleeping.” HIDDEN TALENT: “I can sleep anywhere, anytime and around anyone.”
What do you do when you’re not posing for MAXIM? I’m a full-time model, so I shoot five days a week in the UK and internationally, but I also run a home accessories business which keeps me super busy in my free time. I also love to cook for my loved ones so I always make time to make a “Susie Special” at least once a week!
What would people be most surprised to know about you? My fascination with the Egyptian pyramids and deep space. Describe yourself in five words. Curious, ambitious, playful, loyal and caring. What is your best asset? I definitely think my mind is my best asset. I have a huge appetite for learning and growing – hence why I love meeting new people from all walks of life, it helps open my mind to different ways of living and educate myself on topics and issues I may not come across in my own life. It’s also why I started a business because I feel it’s more mentally stimulating than modelling and keeps me on my toes!
When do you feel sexy? When I’m completely natural – I love wearing my naturally curly hair with minimal to no make-up and looking like my true self. What do you look for in a man? Intelligence, ambition, integrity and respect. And I’ve never seen a beard I didn’t like. Describe your ideal date. Anything where we can talk – I’m not high maintenance at all so we could do anything and I’ll have a great time as long as we aren’t stuck on our phones! What’s next for you? I’m working on my business, growing it and hopefully making all my customers really happy with their orders. Also, going harder with modelling – I have a bad habit of doing well and then slowing down, but this year I’m giving all my passions 100 percent!
PHOBIA: “People who think being ignorant means you’re ignoring someone.” GO-TO DRINK: “I always make the bartender mix a drink that’s not on the menu and make it super sweet, then we always try to think of a name for the new drink together. Some names that come to mind are The Firecracker and The Sweet Suse. LIFE MOTTO: “Be kind and everything happens for a reason, so learn from it!” INSTAGRAM/ TWITTER: @susievie
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SPOTLIGHT
Emily Tell us a little bit about yourself, Emily. I was born and raised in London but I’m a bit of a water baby and have always loved the ocean. I used to be a lifeguard, am a qualified scuba diver and I have surfed all over the world. I’m really fortunate as I have also been able to travel a lot as a model and through representing England at international beauty pageants. This has helped me experience new cultures and meet people from different walks of life. I studied fashion design at university and after graduating went on to launch a fashion label called Aloura London. This inspired me to explore other business opportunities and start up two other companies. I’m managing my three companies. I run a high-end women’s wear brand, a matchmaking agency and a luxury concierge. As you can imagine I’m always on the go, but when I do get a spare moment I like to spend this with my close friends and family.
as intelligent, witty, ambitious, confident and worldly. What is your best asset? My mind and personality as it allows me not only to achieve business goals but to experience happiness and show others kindness. Physically, I would say my smile. When do you feel sexy? Feeling sexy is a personal experience. Nothing beats getting up in the morning
STATUS UPDATE FULL NAME: Emily Coral (Hill) BORN: November 7 HOMETOWN: London UK HOBBIES: “Fashion and interior design.” HIDDEN TALENT: “Mathematics.” PHOBIA: “I’m scared of the dark.” GO-TO DRINK: “An espresso martini please.”
What would people be most surprised to know about you? Most people are quite shocked to hear I own a few businesses and have already started climbing the property ladder.
LIFE MOTTO: “There’s nothing more beautiful than somebody who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others.”
How would you describe yourself in five words? My friends would describe me
TWITTER: @emily_coral
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INSTAGRAM/ SNAPCHAT: @emilycoralx
and doing an amazing workout at the gym then coming home, having a shower and slipping into my outfit for the day, because this means I’m ready for business and nothing is sexier than a woman on a mission. What do you look for in a man? I’m a very outgoing woman who knows what I want. I like a man who is confident in their own skin, driven, hardworking, handsome, but most importantly
a man who is thoughtful and puts spending time with me as a priority. What’s next for you? Any big plans for 2020? I’m currently working on some big projects to eradicate homelessness in my country. I would also like to have my companies more established and expand my offices worldwide, as well as continuing to raise donations for people less fortunate in the community.
Who You Need To Know If you like to party, live the VIP life and plan on visiting Thailand, there is one person you need to follow on Insta – Mr. Wan Issara at @wan.issara. As you will see from his Instagram feed, the Managing Director of Baba Beach Clubs and Sri Panwa, this international DJ and hospitality guru is an avid member of the International jet set, travelling the world to luxury destinations globally, and he’s all about the vibe. Whether it be private yachts in the Mediterranean or DJing at the top clubs in Ibiza, it is obvious
he has his finger on the pulse when it comes to the best in lifestyle, food or entertainment – and his five-star commitment to luxury means there are no expenses spared at his properties. His ultimate passion for delivering exceptional experiences for guests from all over the world means there is never a dull moment. The incredible properties located in Phuket, Huahin, and soon Southern China, are laid out to allow for guests to participate or opt out as it suits. Needless to say, we opted in. ■
HAI R & MAK E-U P BY S I M MY CAR R P R O D U C E D AN D STYLE D BY B E L I N DA R O E LO FS LI N G E R I E AN D B I K I N I S BY MARY H O L L AN D L I N G E R I E VI D E O G RAP HY BY AL EX S CAP E N S
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MACHINES
Iconic American
BY B I L L VA R E T I M I D I S
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ollowing the criminal departure of our Ford and Holden's V8s, us Aussie revheads seeking a local fuelguzzler have been left enduring a Mad Max dry spell. Holden, however, recently made an announcement sure to excite the yobbo in all of us. The Corvette, Chevrolet’s iconic Yank muscle machine since 1953, is set to hit the Australian market for the first time ever. With too many celebrity owners and film appearances to shake a stick at, it’s one of the most iconic cars to ever exist, and now we get our own - right-hand-drive of course. Unlike the V8 Camaro models previously offered by HSV which underwent an insufferable left to right-hand-drive conversion in Melbourne, the Corvette C8 will be built to our needs in Kentucky before its ready hit Aussie car yards. Ferrari and Lamborghini have their turbos, superchargers and electric engines, but this Corvette will have a 6.2L naturally aspirated petrol engine that will provide a brutal 369kW to the rear wheels through an 8 speed dual-clutch - similar to that found in the latest Porsche 911.
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Like F 1 cars and select McLaren and Lotus models, the engine and transmission are positioned behind the driver for optimum weight distribution and maximum road destruction. Chevrolet says the Corvette’s shape was inspired by modern fighter jets such as the Royal Australian Air Force’s F-35 — but this isn't just about the need for speed. Far from just a bare knuckle stripped-down track day special, this Vette is available with cooled/heated seats, a heated steering wheel, folding targa-style roof and premium trim all good to go. Expect little spare change from $200,000 by the time it reaches our driveways and tax system. In terms of supercar status, it’s still an American beast — but it will be a Commodore to us damn it.
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION
POWER
TORQUE
TOP SPEED
0-100KM/H
6.2 litre V8
8 speed dual clutch
369 kW
637Nm @ 5150rpm
300 km/h +
3.0 sec
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PRICE
$200,000
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MACHINES
BY B I L L VA R E T I M I D I S
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he legend from Milwaukee is still bringing the thunder. Far from being the old man on the block, Harley is building the best bikes it’s ever built, thanks to their faithful traditional pushrod engine and some kind of engineering wizardry. The 2020 Low Rider S is the latest offspring of its widely-used Softail platform. The S still rolls on the hidden single-shock Softail chassis, but now is in business with a bigger 114-cube engine and a steeper rake, making it one of the sharper steering stallions from Harley’s lucrative stable. In addition to being a sweet steerer, that Milwaukee-Eight 114 produces a gut-churning 155Nm of torque, and thanks to the twindiscs up front, it will eventually stop should you insist. The seat is plush yet supportive and the bars are high and wide, fitting the Sons Of Anarchy styling. At the factory the Low Rider S is known
as Anarchy 2, in tribute to some bikes used in the TV series, which in turn were inspired by the Hells Angels — naturally. The position of the instruments is in keeping with the Dyna, so you have to look directly down to see them. The trouble for us is the endless speed and safety cameras around, which make us check our speed at every intersection. Obviously the guys at Milwaukee weren’t thinking about the amount of revenue-raising cameras us Aussies deal with daily. Want traction control? There is none. Also, there’s no adjustability on the forks, no engine modes, and no electronics pampering you as a rider — it’s just an honest and humble hog with kahunas that stick out. Make no mistake, it’s a thundering animal of a bike which shovels torque at you whenever you need it, and it will gladly torque it up 24/7. ■
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION
TORQUE
DRY WEIGHT
SEAT HEIGHT
FUEL CAPACITY
PRICE
1868 cc Milwaukee-Eight 114
6 speed belt drive chain
119 ft/lbs @ 3000 rpm
295 kg
690 mm
18.9 litres
$27,995
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FORMULA ONE 2020 SEASON PREVIEW
LIGHTS, CAMERAS, T
he wait is over. F1 2020 is locked and loaded, with pre-season testing done for yet another year — and the teams and drivers all jetting into Australia for the milestone 25th edition of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. But, in F1’s special 70th anniversary season, the longest ever comprising a record-22 rounds, there’s a lot to look forward to as the pinnacle of motorsport again prepares to blast-off. The biggest drawcard — the battles on-track, right throughout the field. Mercedes may have secured its record-sixth-straight F1 World Championship double last year, but Ferrari and Red Bull Racing are both boiling with desperation to knock the Silver Arrows off its shiny perch at the pinnacle of the sport. And have one last season to do it in its current guise, before 2021’s sweeping changes (across technical, sporting and financial spheres) take effect.
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MAI N P H OTO: C O U RTESY O F R E DB U LL CONTE NT POOL
As Formula 1’s longest-ever season blasts off this month, our Grid Guru STEWART BELL
“I’M GOING TO BE A MACHINE THIS YEAR, ON ANOTHER LEVEL THAN EVER BEFORE!” — LEWIS HAMILTON
ACTION
delivers this year’s biggest talking points… ALL-OUT WAR AT THE FRONT OF THE GRID Mercedes’ rivals will absolutely have their work cut out for them with the Silver Arrows a united force — and its lead driver, six-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton in the form of his life, and staring down once-untouchable records. Those high water marks belong to the great Michael Schumacher, his seven F1 World Championships and 91 wins an Everest-like benchmark that has stood for more than a dozen years. Incredibly, this year, Hamilton can equal Schumacher’s crowns
ABOVE: Golden sunlight bathes the Honda-powered Toro Rosso (soon to be Alpha Tauri) of Pierre Gasly; LEFT: Lance Stroll in his Racing Point car under the dazzling lights of the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore; RIGHT: Valtteri Bottas of Merecedes pulls into the pits
and surpass his career wins — finishing 2019 with 84 overall. These are the crucial stats that will finally put his reputation as a great beyond question. Hamilton, heading into his 14th season at the top, is now F1’s most complete driver, having joined up his peaks in the aftermath of his war with former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, who rose to the 2016 F1 World Championship then promptly retired. Hamilton providing recently, via Instagram, insight into the metronomic, next-level assault he’s planning to unleash on the sport this year. “I am at peace when I’m here [at home], [I] can focus and build my mind and body so that I can come back year on year,” he explains. “I’m going to be a machine this year, on another level than ever before!” Next to Hamilton at Mercedes is his teammate Valtteri Bottas, with the Finn having to again up his game and be more consistent if he’s to keep the champion racer in his sights through to the final round in Abu Dhabi. Bottas did well in 2019, recovering from the previous year’s pain of becoming the first Mercedes driver to have a winless season in the hybrid era, earning four race victories — including Australia, where he proved untouchable. “Lewis has always been there — performing at his top level every single qualifying and race,” Bottas says. “I’ve been there most of the time, but not every single race weekend. I need to find the balance on everything and need to find ways to be at my best more often and I’m sure I can find it, somehow.” At Ferrari, the pressure is now at fever pitch — with Italy screaming for success and no world titles since 2008. And while the new car was yet to be launched at time of writing, the Scuderia has war breaking out between its drivers: four-time F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel and young gun Charles Leclerc. The sensational Monégasque, just 22 years old, now has a long-term contract with Ferrari, having re-signed with the Scuderia until 2024. But Vettel is not giving up. The pair controversially made contact and retired with punctures from last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix, after Vettel tried to pass down the back straight on Lap 66. Another of the red team’s huge flashpoints last year was Singapore, where the Scuderia went against established practice and gave thirdMAXI M.COM.AU
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FORMULA ONE 2020 SEASON PREVIEW
F1 2020 BRIEF Formula One remains constant this year to prepare for sweeping changes ahead in 2021, but here are the most significant tweaks… ROUNDS:
22
NEW NAME: Toro
Rosso becomes Alpha Tauri DRIVER CHANGES:
Esteban Ocon at Renault Nicholas Latifi at Williams NEW RACES:
Vietnam Grand Prix (Hanoi), April 5 Dutch Grand Prix (Zandvoort), May 3 Three allowed, one more to cope with more races
MGU-Ks:
RACE STARTS: Drivers to have even more control via clutch paddle(s) DISCIPLINE: Relaxed
weighbridge and jump-start penalties Engine cover plate to feature the driver’s number SHARK FINS:
placed Vettel the pit stop preference — despite his teammate leading. This effectively handed Vettel the lead, infuriating Leclerc. “I won’t do anything stupid,” Leclerc said on the radio, while trailing Vettel after the pit stop. “It’s not my goal. I want us to finish one-two. It’s not fair. But this won’t change.” But the Monégasque says he still has a lot to learn from Vettel. “The way [Vettel is] working with the team and the engineers, I’ve learnt a lot and I’ve still got a lot to learn,” says Leclerc. “[He is] going a lot in the details — and things that I never thought would be helpful to the engineers, he will say anything, and sometimes I’m just there listening for one hour what he has to say about a session and it’s just very, very interesting.” There’s no doubt the road will get even bumpier this season for Ferrari with some predicting it to be Vettel’s last in the sport, his quest to emulate his idol Michael Schumacher’s achievements at Ferrari falling very short so far. Over at Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen has his heart set on a title charge with Honda making giant strides on performance — the
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Japanese car manufacturer powering him to three wins last year in Austria, Germany and Brazil. Verstappen is arguably F1’s most exciting talent, and will be a frenzied focus at his home race this year with the return of the Dutch Grand Prix at seaside circuit Zandvoort, near Amsterdam. “It’s been very promising and I think also we had some good results,” Verstappen says of his 2019 season. “For me, what was more important was reliability. That has been very strong throughout the whole year and also the progression we made with the engine itself. That has all been going really well. I think it is a good, let’s say, basis for next year as well. We learned a lot throughout the whole year and I feel confident that we can have a positive [start] to next season.” Alongside the 22-year-old is the impressive Anglo-Thai racer Alexander Albon, who is heading into only his second full season in the sport. Albon proved a revelation at the team last year, with the then-rookie stepping up from Red Bull’s B-team Alpha Tauri (formerly called Toro Rosso, the name change made to promote the brand’s fashion label) from Belgium, swapping
P H O T O S : C O U R T E S Y O F PAT E K P H I L I P P E
ABOVE: Zandvoort race track in the Netherlands; BELOW: Nico Hulkenberg of Renault and Carlos Sainz Jr. of McLaren make contact early in Singapore
with French pilot Pierre Gasly. Albon finished in the top six in eight of the last nine races and was set for a podium in Brazil until Hamilton clumsily tapped him into a spin, where his teammate won. He also matched Verstappen’s Q3 time in Japan, incredibly to the thousandth of a second. Albon returns this year for his first full-season at the top squad, with the inaugural Vietnamese Grand Prix in Hanoi the closest thing he has to a home race at this stage.
“LAST SEASON HASN’T TAKEN ANY WIND OUT OF OUR SAILS. IT’S JUST A BIT MORE FUEL FOR THE FIRE.” — DANIEL RICCIARDO
BIG MARQUE’S BRAWLING OVER F1’s BRUTAL MIDFIELD For the past few seasons, F1’s midfield has been an unpredictable, writhing mass of squads fighting tooth-and-nail over the “best of the rest” status outside the top teams — with sometimes just a few tenths of a second in qualifying the difference between seventh and 18th place on the grid. In 2018, it was works team Renault generally leading that battle, but last year the French marque dropped back — despite luring Perth-born racer Daniel Ricciardo away from Red Bull. The squad, though, believes it can recover for this year, and the Honey Badger has his heart set on a podium — though he will have to fight for it with new teammate Esteban Ocon. “Yeah, it’s a stretch, but I do believe that if we do what we believe we can, it’s still there,” Ricciardo says. “Last season hasn’t taken any wind out of our sails. It’s just a bit more fuel for the fire.” Of course, while Renault fell back in 2019, McLaren filled the void at the front of the midfield — finishing fourth in the standings, and with its first podium (Carlos Sainz in Brazil) in five years since Australia in 2014. It’s hoping to maintain that rage this year, and in its final year powered by Renault before re-uniting with its former sparring partner Mercedes into the sport’s new era.
TOP: Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari celebrates his victory in Singapore ABOVE: The podium finishers after another exciting race
YOUNG BLOOD FUELLING THE FIGHT There’s no doubt that F1 is increasingly being taken over by the new guard. A crop of fresh faces hell-bent on setting the sport on fire over future campaigns. Young guns like Leclerc, Verstappen, Sainz and Lando Norris at McLaren, along with George Russell at Williams who is next in line at Mercedes. But, incredibly, there’s just one rookie driver for this year – Canadian Nicholas Latifi, who will be racing alongside Russell at Williams. And it will be a baptism of fire, according to Norris, who made his debut in Australia last year. “My feelings on the grid were insane,” Norris says. “There were so many things to think about. You know, communication, strategy, whatever. There were so many things. The whole build-up to the year is just thinking about this one moment. And the lights are coming on. You’re on the rev-limiter a bit. You’re getting ready to do your start procedure. And then the lights go out and you just forget everything. No matter what you thought you knew before, everything you just forget.” He continues, “And then you go into Turn 1, you’re looking at your mirrors and everything. It’s quite an exhilarating time, as well as being so nerve-racking [and] so cautious with everyone around you being tentative of where other people are on-track. It’s indescribable how you feel.” Needless to say, it’s all on the line as the squads prepare to do battle in F1’s longest-ever season, where anything can happen — and it usually does. Let’s go!
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FORMULA ONE 2020 SEASON PREVIEW
Robbie Williams and Bon Jovi. Last year’s line-up was a smash hit, with the Red Hot Chili Peppers leading an all-star cast including Gwen Stefani, Swedish House Mafia, Muse, Fatboy Slim, Hans It’s thrilling being trackside for F1, and cheering on our Honey Badger Zimmer, and Toots and the Maytals. And fans are already speculating Daniel Ricciardo — but why not take your passion to the next level as to who will be on the 2020 line-up, which will soon be announced. by partying at the sport’s original night race, the Formula 1 Singapore For an incredible VIP experience — book your place at the Airlines Singapore Grand Pri x 2020? As a spectacle, there’s nothing Formula 1 Paddock Club, like it — being downtown in comprising some of the world’s Singapore’s made-for-Instagram great chefs within the sport’s inner Marina Bay, cold drink in hand, sanctum; or Twenty3, another and watching the world’s best gastronomic powerhouse but with racers thread the barriers at up to far more of a nightclub vibe for 320km/h under lights at night. dancing beyond the chequered The event itself is rightly flag. Beyond the racing line, considered one of the world's Singapore has it all with lots of biggest sporting events, attended accommodation, dining, relaxation by an average of 250,000 people and sightseeing options and all every year, but its off-track offering within reach of the Circuit Park. — and entertainment line-up — is So a getaway for the whole family, every bit as impressive. The hype is including racing, is within reach. real with past headliners including And if you lock things away before Rihanna, Calvin Harris, Ariana May 12, you can take advantage of Grande, Martin Garrix, Dua TOP: Spectacular view of the cars lined up for the start of the 2019 Early Bird Pricing — and save up Lipa, Maroon 5, Kylie Minogue, Singapore Grand Prix; ABOVE: Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes tries to get past Antonio Giovinazzi of Alfa Romeo on the Marina Bay Circuit to 16 per cent. Now that’s winning! The Killers, Pharrell Williams, THE F1 CALENDAR HIGHLIGHT
The FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX 2020 will be held from September 18-20, with more information at singaporegp.sg 3 6
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CHRISTINA RIORDAN P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y B R I A N B H AY E S
us ra a ca a en ar s ou now and is the essential item for the year. Featuring 12 of our gorgeous local and international models, shot on location at Namale Resort, Fiji, this month we introduce you to gorgeous Christina...
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STATUS UPDATE FULL NAME: Christina Riordan BORN: March 25 HOME TOWN: Marina Del Rey, California :=J9ʔKCF8 G9@:ʔ89G7F=DH=CB. “Sensuous, down to earth, passionate, driven and adventurous.” FAE DRINK: “Spicy margarita.” LIFE MOTTO: “Get as much out of life as you can. Life is too short to wait and do something later. Live in the moment!” INSTAGRAM: @christina_riordan SNAPCHAT: @xtinariordan TWITTER: @_ChristinaR_ WEBSITE: www.christina-riordan.com
The MAXIM Australia Official 2020 Calendar is avasilable at www.maxim.com.au/ calendar, RRP $19.95
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AWARDS A U S T R A L I A CELEBRATING A YEAR OF OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FIELDS OF HEROISM, FEUDING, SPORT, COMEDY, BASTARDRY, EPIC FAILING, MANLINESS AND MUCH MORE… B Y R E I L LY S U L L I V A N & S A N T I P I N T A D O
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WOMAN OF THE YEAR
CELESTE BARBER When the country was burning, and ScoMo was on holiday, it was comedian and Instagram sensation Celeste Barber who stepped up – helping to raise over $50 million for bushfire relief with support from her celebrity friends and small donors all over the world. While most Insta-famous leverage their followers for promotions and paid posts, CB rallied her millions of social media fans to donate. It’s been a monumental year for Barber professionally, too, launching a podcast, dropping her first book and embarking on a global comedy tour. Celeste Challenge succeeded!
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JACINDA ARDERN
New Zealand’s PM drew international praise for her compassionate response to the horrific Christchurch mosque shootings and White Island volcano disaster, and won us all over when she flew to Queensland for a week-long vacay to support the state even as bushfires continued to rage. Overall, Adern has fared a tough year with grace, thoughtfulness and a can-do attitude that has made her internationally admired by both younger and older progressives alike. Hey, ScoMo, you could take a leaf or two out of her book.
TONI WATSON
Nothing captured the Boomer vs. Gen Z divide quite like Tones and I’s polarising performance at the 2019 AFL Grand Final. Wearing her trademark cap and oversized hoodie, Toni belted out her signature worldwide hit “Dance Monkey” as part of the pre-show, dividing twitter and drawing comparisons to Meat Loaf. Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying the overnight success story behind the 26-year-old star and annoyingly addictive hit, which took Watson from busking the streets of Byron Bay to the top of the ARIA, Billboard and U.K. charts to name a few. MAXI M.COM.AU
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T H E 8 T H A N N U A L M A X I M AWA R D S
MAN OF THE YEAR NICK KYRGIOS Once the reigning loose cannon of pro tennis, Nick has definitely redeemed himself recenty. At 24, he still doesn’t know how good he is (get a coach already, dude!) but his efforts so far at this year’s ATP Cup and Australian Open have been some of his best games in recent memory. He was also a driving force behind the Australian Open’s Rally For Relief charity match, which helped raise almost $5 million for bushfire relief. Plus, he donated $200 for each ace he served this summer, which was matched by burger chain Grill’d and tennis legend John McEnroe, raising an extra $90,000 for the relief. It’s hard to believe it was only last August that Nick was fined a record $113,000 for on court misconduct at the Cincinnati Masters. Whether you’re a fan of his or not, you have to admit the kid from Canberra has turned a corner of betterment and is still one of the most captivating players on the ATP tour. RUNNER-UP 1
TOM GLEESON Throughout his ruthless campaign to win the increasingly dubious Gold Logie – Australian TV’s highest honour – comedian Tom Gleeson successfully pissed off pretty much everyone else who was nominated (sorry, Amanda Keller) while trying to prove his point that the award is a joke. After winning it, Gleeson proceeded to rip on many of the celebrities in attendance and the industry at large. During his eight-minute acceptance speech, the Hard Quiz host also told everyone to “lighten the f—k up”. Come on, he was only saying stuff we all want to say. 4 2
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RUNNER-UP 2
MIGUEL MAESTRE Aussies are suckers for TV chefs with foreign accents and catchy names but Miguel Maestre has to be one of the most lovable ones around. The cook, author and former Living Room co-host can add King of the Jungle to his impressive resume after taking out the latest season of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! The Spanish-born Aussie also raised a massive $150,000 during the show for his chosen charity, R U OK?, and lost 10kg while doing it. Someone give this guy his own show already.
HERO OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP 1
GRETA THUNBERG
THE FIRIES The brave men and women tackling the country’s raging bushfires in the last 12 months are truly the unsung heroes to emerge from an almost unimaginable tragedy. At the time of print, over 43 million acres of bushland has been destroyed nationally and over one billion animals are dead. More than 90% of the firies battling the blazes have been volunteers, many working around the clock on 12-hour shifts to protect their communities. Firefighters Bill Slade and Mat Kavanagh, who tragically passed away battling fires in Victoria will long be remembered, as will Ian McBeth, Paul Hudson and Rick DeMorgan – the three American firies who perished in a plane crash while fighting the bushfires in New South Wales. To you and to all the firies – we can’t salute you enough. Thank you.
WILL ‘EGG BOY’ CONNOLLY. RUNNER-UP 2
She’s the polarising Swedish teen who’s drawn the ire of conservatives and inspired a generation of young people with her climate call to action. Thanks to young Thunberg, over four million protesters, mostly students, across the world have staged rallies and school walkouts to pressure governments to do more to tackle climate change. Last September, over 500,000 people marched in a climate change protest led by Greta and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Montreal. President Trump says she’s got “anger issues”, Time named her Person of the Year.
It was the crack heard around Australia when 17-year-old Will Connolly smashed an egg on far-right politician Fraser Anning (who’s since been voted out) last March. When the charges were dropped, Connolly donated almost $100,000 raised by the public for his legal fees to the families of victims of the Christchurch Mosque massacre – the same victims Anning blamed for inciting the attack, which left 51 people dead. Will has since become an activist and social media influencer in his own right. Meanwhile, Anning is out of office and allegedly being sued by creditors. More egg on the face perhaps, Fraser?
ESSEX LORRY DEATHS
POLICE RAIDS ON ABC HQ AND ANNIKA SMETHURST’s HOME
WTF MOMENT OF THE YEAR PEOPLE RUSHING TO CLIMB ULURU The Anangu, the traditional owners of Uluru, were delighted to finally close Uluru to climbers in October after decades of discussion about the appropriateness of these climbs. A sacred site, park management were also uneasy about the high number of deaths – since the 1950s, 37 people have died on the rock, including a Japanese tourist last year. But that didn’t stop other tourists swarming the rock for one last climbing opportunity on the sacred site before the scheduled closure, pretty much giving the middle finger to its traditional custodians. Disgraceful.
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The world was stunned last October when 39 dead bodies, all of whom were young and illegal migrants from Vietnam, were discovered in a truck container in Essex, England. Many of the victims’ families admit to paying thousands of dollars to smugglers to help get their children to the U.K., and a 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland has since been arrested on suspicion of murder.
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In one of the most concerning instances of media intimidation in recent memory, the Australian Federal Police raided the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst as well as the headquarters of the ABC last June, over the publication of national security and Special Forces stories. Whether it serves as an isolated incident or a sign of things to come, we stand with Annika and the ABC’s right to publish stories in the public interest and our right to freedom of political communication. MAXI M.COM.AU
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T H E 8 T H A N N U A L M A X I M AWA R D S SCOTT MORRISON After narrowly winning reelection by defeating Labor Party Opposition Leader (at the time) Bill Shorten last May, Scotty From Marketing has had a rough go of it. As bushfires raged across the country, the bloke they call ScoMo jetted off for a holiday in Hawaii. At best he was ill-advised and tonedeaf, at worst he proved himself completely incompetent and unfit for leadership. We don’t have enough space to mention all his other shitty decisions he has made since being re-elected, but it wasn’t exactly a surprise the volunteer firies and bushfire victims alike, wouldn’t shake his hand.
WANKER OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP 1
ISRAEL FOLAU
Former rugby player Israel Folau made a series of jaw-droppingly bigoted statements on Instagram last April. A fundamentalist Christian, Folau posted that Hell awaits atheists and gay people and that gender-optional birth certificates were the work of the devil. He then took Rugby Australia to Fair Work after they suspended him for his offensive remarks, effectively ending his career at the Wallabies. After negotiations broke down, Folau pursued them in Federal Court, and the multi-millionaire accepted public donations to help fight for his right to say gays are going to Hell. Since reaching a confidential settlement with Rugby Australia, the 30-year-old has signed with Super League team the Catalans Dragons for the 2020 season. Thought Folau was done serving up his words of wisdom? In November, he had another crack — this time linking Australia's atrocious bushfire and devasting drought crises to the nation's legalisation of same-sex marriage and abortion, per the book of Isaiah. Someone make it stop. Please.
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BORIS JOHNSON
From his days as London’s mayor, newly re-elected British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been playing up his slightly goofy persona to much personal and political advantage. From biking around London with his floppy-white hair billowing, to his Love Actually-inspired campaign videos, this peculiar Conservative has played us all. He may have delivered on his promise to get Brexit done, but underneath this fuzzy exterior lies a weirdly racist history of describing black people and Muslims, the odd domestic disturbance in which police have been called and allegations of sexism.
FEUD OF THE YEAR TRUMP THE WORLD
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QANTAS VS THE VERONICAS In the unlikeliest feud of 2019, Aussie pop duo The Veronicas came out against Qantas in a convoluted he said/she said. It all started when the “Untouched” singers allegedly refused to cooperate with cabin crew instructions and were removed from a Sydney to Brisbane flight by Federal Police. The twins then proceeded to trash the airline, release videos from the incident and threaten legal action in a variety of media interviews. Was it all to drum up much-needed publicity for their little-watched MTV reality series, which just so happened to premiere the next week? Who cares, it was funny.
It’s been another year of constant fights from President Donald J. Trump. On the home front, he was impeached by House Democrats (then acquitted by the Republican Senate) over a leaked phone call with the Ukrainian President. Then there’s the ongoing trade war with China, rising tensions in Iran, after the assassination of terrorist and military general Qasem Soleimani and pissing off literally the whole world by formally withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Accord – one of the most comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction plans to date. He also managed to pick fights via Twitter with Greta Thunberg, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, Taylor Swift, literally every Democratic Party Presidential candidate and Jeff Bezos, just to name but a few. So, Trump’s last 12 month have pretty much business as usual. RUNNER-UP 2
HONG KONG
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CHINA
Since the official hand-over in 1997, Hong Kong residents have grown increasingly frustrated by the steady erosion of their rule of law and the growing influence of the Chinese government. In mid-2019, tensions spilled over into mass protests against a proposed extradition bill effectively allowing Hong Kong citizens to be arbitrarily transferred to mainland China. Several peaceful protests took place, including a march of over two million people but by September tensions boiled over and a protester in Hong Kong was shot in the chest and critically injured. As we went to print, increasingly violent clashes between police and protesters are ongoing. Of course, the coronavirus isn’t helping the cause.
PRISONER OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP 1
EL CHAPO
Joaquín Guzmán, the OG Mexican drug lord and former leader of the Sinaloa cartel, was found guilty of a range of criminal charges in the U.S. last year, following his capture in Mexico back in 2014. Chapo is currently serving a life sentence at the maximum security prison ADX Florence in Colorado – dubbed the Alcatraz of the Rockies. The one-time drug king is housed alongside some of America’s most dangerous criminals including Al-Qaeda operatives, the Oklahoma City and Boston Marathon bombers and Neo-Nazi cult leaders. It’s a steep fall for El Chapo who is worth an estimated $14 billion.
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GEORGE PELL
JULIAN ASSANGE
Melbourne Assessment Prison is no Vatican City. Just ask disgraced Cardinal George Pell, former secretary of the economy in the Vatican and now a convicted child sex offender. Pell, who is serving a six-year sentence for the sexual abuse of two choirboys, is the highest ranking Catholic priest to be successfully convicted. Since losing his appeal in Victoria, Pell is currently appealing to the High Court of Australia, which is still pending. For now, Prisoner Pell has a good ring to it, especially to the families of the victims.
Last April, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s seven-year-long stay in the Ecuadorian embassy in London came to an abrupt end when Metropolitan Police were invited in to arrest him. Currently, Assange is in custody in the high-security Belmarsh Prison in South London, where he awaits his fate on a possible extradition to the U.S. on espionage charges. MAXI M.COM.AU
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T H E 8 T H A N N U A L M A X I M AWA R D S
BASTARD OF THE YEAR BUSHFIRES The blazes that engulfed Australia were apocalyptic, encompassing and drew global attention. But the fires weren’t only in our backyard – last year they practically started in the Amazon where over 30,000 wildfires burning in the rainforest destroyed over two million hectares of forest. Smoke also blanketed Brazil’s cities – the devastating bushfires that have ravaged large swathes of Brazil are a dire warning for the increasing weather extremes of our ever-changing environment due to climate change, and an eerie indication of Australia’s fires. The death toll from this summer’s killer fires locally stands at 33, including five firefighters, as well as over one billion animals. We plead to our elected representatives to outline and fund enough preventative measures for the many hot summers to come. RUNNER-UP 1
MASS SHOOTINGS
In a year of senseless tragedies, the endemic problem of gun violence and mass shootings felt more real than ever. Last March, a gruesome mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand by an Australian gunman left 51 people dead and a country in shock. Shootings in El Paso, Texas (22 dead) and Dayton, Ohio (10 dead), U.S.A. were just two of the reprehensible acts by deranged perpetrators that followed, representing the darkest and most bastardly humans to walk the earth. 4 6
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VIRUSES
Disturbingly, the past year has seen viruses new and old recur, and spread rapidly across the globe. Last May, the number of deaths from the Kivu Ebola outbreak exceeded 1,000 with the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the epidemic to be a public health emergency of international concern. More recently, the outbreak of novel Corona Virus, believed to have started in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has killed several hundred, caused havoc for international travel and functionally shut down large portions of the world’s second largest economy. At the time of print, all travel between Australia and China is severely restricted and hundreds of Australians rescued from Wuhan remain quarantined on Christmas Island.
TEAM OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP 1
THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKET TEAM Last September, Australia defeated England in the fourth Test of the 2019 Ashes series, thereby retaining the Urn. Following the 2018 ball tampering saga, we also welcomed Steve Smith, Cam Bancroft and David Warner back to the squad. Smith returned in style, setting all kinds of records including being the first batsman to register 10 successive 50s or more against a single opponent in Test history, and then Australia smashed the Kiwis.
THE U.S. WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM The United States successfully defended their title at last year’s FIFA Women's World Cup in France, earning a record breaking fourth World Cup win. Led by their outspoken star player, Megan Rapinoe, the USWNT went undefeated throughout the tournament making them the undisputed MVPs of the sport. Rapinoe also led her fellow players in the fight with the U.S. Soccer Federation over gender discrimination and their demands for equal pay. Go, ladies!
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THE SPRINGBOKS
At the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan South Africa’s Springboks defeated the Poms by an impressive 32–12. It was the third World Cup title for the champion Boks, who hold a special symbolic role in post-apartheid South Africa. It was Nelson Mandela himself who had advocated that the Boks become a team for all — a symbol of the new South Africa. Manny would be proud.
EPIC FAIL OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP 1
RUSSIAN ATHLETES Last December, the World AntiDoping Agency unanimously voted to ban Russian athletes from international sport for four years following a myriad of doping offences and cover ups involving multiple government agencies. The ban covers events including this year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to name a few. Damn dopes — your beauty will be missed.
THE LAWYER X SCANDAL RUNNER-UP 2
SCOTTY GOES TO HAWAII It was possibly the most ill-advised Hawaii trip since Pearl Harbor. Our illustrious PM Scott Morrison heading on a family vacation to Maui while Australia was literally on fire was a far-reaching misstep that still reverberates today. Realising the error in his ways (or perhaps heeding the advice of those with better judgement), ScoMo quietly returned a few days later to a PR shit-storm. Idiot.
Once the defence lawyer of choice for Melbourne’s underworld (including Tony Mokbel and Carl Williams), Nicola Gobbo spent 14 years as a registered police informant ratting out her own clients. This year, following a royal commission, and the lifting of a suppression order protecting her as “Lawyer X”, the public finally learned Gobbo’s identity and the questionable actions of Victoria Police during Melbourne’s infamous gangland wars. So far, one of Gobbo’s former clients has been released from prison after his sentence was overturned, with others likely to launch appeals. Shit is about to get real, yo. MAXI M.COM.AU
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T H E 8 T H A N N U A L M A X I M AWA R D S PAMELA ANDERSON When former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson graced the cover of MAXIM last month, the iconic sex symbol proved she’s still got it! Down Under to shoot a new Ultra Tune TV commercial, we managed to squeeze in her world exclusive return to MAXIM, just weeks before her surprise wedding to film producer Jon Peters. Sadly after eloping with Peters the pair separated just 12 days later. Welcome back, Pammy!
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP 1
TIGER WOODS In one of the biggest sporting comebacks of the decade, golf legend Tiger Woods nabbed his 15th major and fifth green jacket at the 2019 Masters tournament. It’s his first major win since the 2008 U.S. Open, pre-infidelity scandal and prereckless driving arrest, rounding out a monumental year for the highest paid man in golf. Tiger was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among the US’s highest civilian honours. A decent return. 4 8
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CONOR McGREGOR
In January, Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor made his triumphant return to the Octagon, after a year-long absence, defeating Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in a welterweight battle at UFC 246 in Las Vegas. His first win since losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018, the victory made McGregor the first UFC fighter in history with knockout finishes in the three divisions – featherweight, lightweight and welterweight. Widely considered the biggest MMA draw in pay-per-view ever, McGregor flattened Cerrone in just 40 seconds. Whoops.
ASH BARTY
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP 1
TAYLA HARRIS
AFLW star Tayla Harris made international headlines after an action shot of her kicking a goal was widely shared on Twitter, bringing out a wave of sexist and misogynistic trolls. Undeterred, and not willing to be intimidated, the Carlton player has become an sportig icon for all women in fighting sexism. In a surprising but fitting turn of events, a bronze statue recreating the famous photo was unveiled in Melbourne, immortalising Harris for years to come.
The reigning world no.1 woman in tennis ended a blockbuster 2019 with earnings topping $10 million after winning both the French Open and the WTA Final. She may have bowed out in the semis at this year’s Australian Open, but Ash continues her reign as the most gracious sportswoman on the WTA tour, and it remains her best overall finish at Melbourne Park yet. In honour of her immense achievements, Barty was crowned this year’s Young Australian of the Year, cementing her status as a modern Aussie sporting icon. This Ippy girl is taking over the world!
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LEWIS HAMILTON At this point, even if you don’t follow Formula 1 racing, you probably know who Lewis Hamilton is. Already a racing legend, he has won 84 grand prix in Formula 1 and is a six-time F1 World Champion. He’s also notched up 88 pole positions not to mention records for most points in a season and most career points ever. Off the track, the 35-year-old is a lifestyle guru and designs the super-hyped TOMMYXLEWIS collection for Tommy Hilfiger. All up, Lewis banked an estimated £40 million last year, making him one of the highest paid athletes in the world.
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COUPLE OF THE YEAR DONALD TRUMP & KIM JONG-UN Everyone’s favourite authoritarian power couple held another meeting last June, this time at the demilitarised zone between the two Koreas, for what amounted to a few handshakes and a chat. Trump gushed afterward that stepping foot in North Korea was a “great honour” and the pair were positively beaming in a series of happy snaps at the border. No word yet on Putin’s thoughts on all of this, though he’s understood to be pretty jelly. RUNNER-UP 1
MILEY CYRUS & KAITLYNN CARTER
Last summer, after the messy breakdown of her marriage to Liam Hemsworth (the second most important Hemsworth), Miley went public on her new relationship with The Hills: New Beginnings star Kaitlynn Carter (and Brody Jenner’s ex) and, we’re not gonna lie, we got a little excited. The hotties were photographed kissing in Italy in early August and soon brought their PDA Stateside on a yacht, coining the hashtag #hotgirlsummer. But by September, their brief romance and ended and Miley was soon seeing someone else. Still, we’ll look back at this historic dip in the lady pond for years to come. 5 0
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MEGHAN & HARRY
Sure they say they want to go it on their own, make their own money, live like us normal folk, blah blah blah… but does anyone else think this is a PR stunt? After ending their first (and final) full year as HRH the Duke and Duchess of Sussex the pair announced their intention to stand down as full-time royals and live between the UK and North America. And while the world loves Meghan, let’s face it, the Brits have never quite taken to her – she’s even been dubbed the Yoko Ono of the Royal Family. Nevertheless, Kudos to you both for sticking it to the Queen – we wish Megxit all the best.
FUNNIEST PERSON OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP 2
RICKY GERVAIS He may have found his best TV role since The Office in Netflix’s After Life, but at this year’s Golden Globe Awards, Ricky Gervais hosted for a fifth and (he says) final time – and boy did he bring it. From calling out Hollywood’s uncomfortable links to the Jeffrey Epsteins of the world to venting his frustrations about undereducated celebrities getting political in their acceptance speeches, Ricky artfully took down their hypocrisies and self-importance with a savagely gleeful smile.
PRINCE ANDREW His Royal Highness The Duke of York’s extremely awkward Newsnight interview about his friendship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was one of the most unintentionally comedic and quotable hours of television ever. Besides the fact he seemed more concerned with proving that he couldn’t sweat rather than explaining his decades-long acquaintance with a sex offender, Randy Andy came across as a tad unconvincing.
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PHOEBE WALLER-BRIDGE
English actress and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the brains (and wit) behind not one but two of the most acclaimed series of the past decade. In Fleabag, she writes, produces and stars, winning Golden Globe and Emmy awards for her efforts, while in Killing Eve she’s strictly behind the camera. She also co-wrote the screenplay for the upcoming Bond film No Time To Die, and has a new series in development for Netflix titled Run. Boom!
CONSPIRACY OF THE YEAR JEFFERY EPSTEIN’s DEATH RUNNER-UP 1
CLIMATE CHANGE DENIAL As the country mourns after this summer’s devastating bushfires, the climate change denier movement rages on. An inability to acknowledge scientific evidence of man-made climate change still persists around Australia, particularly among our so-called leader and co. From downplaying the bushfires to their inability to comprehend basic concepts like CO2 emissions, the fact that the Nationals represent farmers – some of the most acutely affected by record droughts and fires – is an irony lost on them. In most parts of the world, climate change denial is considered a conspiracy, in Australia we’ve depressingly normalised these naysayers, despite the physical, scientific and anecdotal evidence to the contrary. *face palms*.
The sensational arrest and suicide, in custody, of convicted paedophile Jeffery Epstein was one of the year’s biggest bombshells, shining a light on the extent of his crimes and further implicating those associated with him. Amid endless speculation about Epstein’s network of very famous and powerful friends, the widely shared theory that Epstein didn’t kill himself emerged as 2019’s most popular new conspiracy. For starters, how did Epstein manage to hang himself while in protective custody? RUNNER-UP 2
UFOs EXIST
Last October, UFO enthusiasts everywhere rejoiced when a U.S. Navy officer confirmed that some recently released videos of UFOs were authentic. The declassified footage, released by the New York Times, appeared to show Navy pilots trailing UFOs, tens of thousands of feet in the air! Are most UFO sightings actually boring junk like drones? Probably. Will we all keep a lookout for any extra-terrestrial activity? Damn straight! ■ MAXI M.COM.AU
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COVER GIRL
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The blonde Th bl d beauty b t ffrom th those controversial t i l Ultra Tune ads returns to MAXIM… P H OTO G R A P H E D BY R O C K Y B AT C H E L O R I N T E R V I E W BY S A N T I P I N TA D O HAIR & MAKE-UP SI M MY CAR R
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COVER GIRL
“W WITH NONE OF US BEIN NG PROFESSIONAL LIF FEGUARDS IT WAS QUIITE A SITE TO SEE. WE E WERE ALL JUST T TRYING TO STAY AFLOAT!”
ey Tyana, congrats on your third MAXIM Australia cover. How do you feel? Thank you so much! It’s very, very surreal. You’d think after the first couple of times the novelty would wear off but it really doesn’t. With this shoot we were going for a more classy poolside look – nothing too overdone but a very natural glam. I absolutely love Rocky’s (photographer) work. What have you been doing with yourself since we last saw you in MAXIM early last year? A lot of travelling – I’ve been in-and-out of New York for work which has been a nice change of scenery. I’m usually just a beach bum – you’ll catch me laying around on the sand 90 percent of my time. Being an Ultra Tune Rubber Girl, you star in the latest Ultra Tune TV commercial — filmed on the Gold Coast with Pamela Anderson – describe your role in it. It’s quite simple really – we recreate the whole Baywatch thing. Pam, myself and the other Rubber Girls run down the beach and save Warwick Capper who is drowning. The owner of Ultra Tune, Sean Buckley, really wanted to go against everything people complained about in the last ads, so we did a 180 degrees this time and it’s now the women saving the men. What was it like working with an icon like Pamela Anderson? She was a sweetheart but we didn’t really spend a lot of time together. She was very professional on-set and she was so lovely at the Ultra Tune press dinner we had the day before we started filming – she was happy to take photos with everyone and stuff.
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Besides getting to work with Pamela, what else did you enjoy about the ad? To be honest – the end! It was the longest ad we have filmed – it took three full days on-set and there was a lot of back and fourth in-and-out of the water.
Any funny on-set stories you can share with us about filming it? Yeah, the one day they tried to put us all on the surfboards to film the scene of us paddling out. Of course, we all had our hair and make-up done but unfortunately the
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COVER GIRL
“YOU CAN SEE THEY ARE ALL DONE IN JEST AND GOOD FUN.”
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waves were like four foot and with none of us being professional lifeguards it was quite a site to see. We were all just trying to stay afloat! Sadly, I didn’t, and ended up being dunked. Previous Ultra Tune commercials have featured men such as Charlie Sheen and Mike Tyson as the hero – how great is it to have a woman as the leading star this time? It was great having a female role model like Pamela in the ads and it was a nice feeling to be doing the saving this time. However, I never felt discriminated against or sexualised in the other ads – I guess when you’re looking at it from my side of the camera you can see they are all done in jest and good fun. Describe the difference in working with Pamela compared to the aforementioned stars? Pamela was very similar to Mike Tyson in the sense they kept to them self – once
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COVER GIRL
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“[ULTRA TUNE] REALLY WANTED TO GO AGAINST EVERYTHING PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT IN THE LAST ADS.” their shots were done they would leave set. Charlie Sheen, however, always stuck around having a good ol’ chat with everyone and making us laugh – it was almost like working with a friend you’d known your whole life. 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. Political correctness is absolutely out of control. I’m scared to say more without someone coming at me. What do you love most about being an Ultra tune ambassador? All the opportunities that have arisen from my role. It’s also nice to be able to work for such an affordable and reliable car company. What’s the best way for a man to win his way to your heart? A surprise holiday. Call me up and tell me to be at the airport and that the flight leaves in three hours. That is my ultimate goal! What’s your New Year’s resolution? I have a few financial ones I’ll keep close to my chest but my resolution is always to be happy and appreciate everything that comes my way. Have you kept to it so far? Yeah, so far I haven’t lost my cool. Got any big plans for 2020?? I can’t even tell you what I’m eating for breakfast tomorrow! ■
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COVER GIRL
“I’M SCARED TO SAY MORE WITHOUT SOMEONE COMING AT ME.”
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STATUS UPDATE FULL NAME: Tyana Maree Hansen BORN: April 1, 1995 HOMETOWN: Brisbane, Qld LIVES: Gold Coast, Qld FIVE WORD SELFDESCRIPTION: “Spontaneous, crazy, funny, happy and smart.” HIDDEN TALENT: “Being able to shoot consecutive tequila shots.” PHOBIAS: “I’m deathly afraid of fish. It’s so weird – I love swimming in the ocean but once I see a fish my day is ruined and I have to get out of immediately.” FAVOURITE DRINK: “I have a few – vodka water (not soda), anything sour or Baileys on ice.” BEST HANGOVER CURE: “Garlic bread.” BEDTIME ATTIRE: “Nothing… which is surprising considering how much Peter Alexander I buy.” LIFE MOTTO: “You can have anything you want, as long as you want it bad enough.” INSTAGRAM: @tyanamaree
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ABCs OF
PROTEIN 6 2
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icture this: You’ve just completed a workout. You’re feeling good — jacked, buff, muscly, ripped, cut — and are in the throes of the phenomenon Arnold Schwarzenegger famously christened “the pump”. The next step, according to locker-room lore, is to grab a protein supplement and let its precious grams flow through your body like nutritional opium, in order to repair microtears in muscle and maximise gains in strength and mass. But who wins in the world of protein obsession? Here, I dive into the world of all things protein to determine where the myths and marketing end and the scientific study remains — yes, these are my A.B.Cs of capital P. Currently, on lifestyle-sharing site Pinterest you can now choose ‘protein’ as one of your interests in life, along with ‘cute animals’ and ‘inspirational quotes’, you can head to your local grocery store for protein noodles, protein bagels and protein water (because normal water isn’t ‘healthy enough?) and every Insta-influencer worth their #fitspo salt is spruking some form of revolutionary powdered supplement ‘proven’ to miraculously transform that bloated beer belly into a sexy six-pack overnight. So, before we allow ourselves to buy into the protein hype… WHAT IS PROTEIN? As a part of literally every cell in the human body, this macronutrient is the major component of all skeletal muscles, giving size and function, and the basis of the structural function of all other body organs, hair, skin and nails. It’s also necessary for various bodily functions from blood clotting and hormone production to immune system response. On a molecular level, all dietary protein is made up of tiny organic compounds called amino acids. When we eat protein, it gets broken down into singular amino acid building blocks, and then recombined as necessary to perform various jobs throughout the body. So, while a chicken breast and a bowl of lentils may look a little different to the trained eye, at a chemical level the protein they provide is made of the same basic units. Simply put, biochemically, by the time you’ve eaten and absorbed one of these amino acids, it doesn’t matter whether it came from a plant or animal — the result is the same. WHY DO WE TALK ABOUT COMPLETE VS INCOMPLETE PROTEINS? The 20 different amino acids that naturally exist can be divided into two main groups: essential and non-essential. The nine essential
ones are the ones the body can’t make on its own, so it’s essential that we get them from foods we eat. The other 11, the nonessential ones, our bodies can produce. This is where the composition of plant and animal proteins begins to look dissimilar. All animal proteins are complete proteins (this includes both muscle tissue from animals, as well as products derived from them, like eggs and dairy). Plant proteins on the other hand — like beans, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains — are almost all incomplete. Only a few plant proteins pass the complete test: quinoa and soy products like edamame and tofu. Previously, it was thought that the answer to a complete plant protein was through food combination: together rice and beans have a complete amino acid profile so must be eaten together, but like most scientific notions of the ’50s, this has been determined a complete and utter construction designed to sell food items. The Mad Men ad team at it again! Science here has prevailed, and now we know that you do not need to eat these proteins in pairs for them to work effectively, and instead, what matters is your whole diet over the course of 24 hours. If you get all essential amino acids over this time, you will have reached adequate levels of protein — regardless of whether you are a green-juiced vegan or a steak-heavy cowboy. Mexican bean burritos be gone!
PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTATION GREATER THAN 1.6 GM/KG/DAY DOES NOT FURTHER CONTRIBUTE TO RESISTANCETRAINING-INDUCED GAINS IN FATFREE MUSCLE kg
80 PER
DAY
128g protein
HOW MUCH PROTEIN DO I REALLY NEED? The amount of protein you should be getting each day varies based on factors like age, sex, health and activity level, but as a general rule the recommended dietary allowance of protein is 0.8grams per kilogram of body weight per day. However, if you are looking to build muscle mass, become stronger, more powerful or trying to maintain muscle mass while training for an endurance event, there is only one number to remember: 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. In 2017, the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine published an analysis of 49 international studies into the effect of protein on muscle strength and muscle size when combined with resistance training. It concluded that protein supplementation greater than 1.6 gm/kg/day does not further contribute to resistance-training-induced gains in fat-free muscle (to put this in perspective, if you’re an 80kg man, you need 128g of protein per day based on these findings). Interestingly, even if you favour endurance exercise over strength and resistance training, protein requirements only drop slightly to between 1.2 to 1.4gm/kg a day. Unlike in resistance training where the increased protein intake is it induce muscular hypertrophy, in endurance training it is recommended to protect muscles and repair breakdown. In food terms, a 100g serving of chicken contains around 20g of protein; a 100g serving of eggs (a little more than 2 eggs) has 13.6g; a 100g serving (1/2 cup) of black beans has 22g; and a 100g (1/2 cup) serving of lentils has 9 grams. DOES IT MATTER WHEN I CONSUME PROTEIN? Nope. The good news is the old idea that you only have a two-hour window postworkout to get protein into your system has been debunked, as proven by a study analysis in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. In reality, your body builds muscle from a pool of amino acids which lasts 3-5 hours after you’ve consumed the protein, In fact, the analysis found that you’re better off consuming a pre-exercise protein-andcarb shake one or two hours before strength training, as the rate of digestion allows this to act as both pre-workout fuel and postworkout muscle recovery. That said, if you work out first thing in the morning, consume your protein ASAP after hitting the shower. The one time that twohour post-workout window does apply is if you’re working out in a fasted state, according the same study. A further review determined that while compelling evidence exists showing muscle is sensitised to protein ingestion following training, the increased sensitivity to
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H E A LT H protein ingestion might be greatest in the first five hours following exercise. In short, protein ideally should be evenly distributed, every 3-4 hours, across the day to maintain the amino acid pool that maximises any kind of activity. As long as you’re hitting the magical ratio each day of protein to kg, a post-workout drink won’t change anything. Also of note, however, are recent studies that recommend using protein-rich beverages 30min prior to sleep and two hours after the last meal (dinner), siting that this pre-sleep protein is particularly advantageous to muscle protein synthesis, muscle recovery and overall metabolism in both acute and long-term studies. Results from several investigations indicate that 30-40g of casein protein ingested 30min prior to sleep increased overnight muscle protein synthesis in both young and old men. Likewise, 30g of whey protein, 30g of casein protein and 33g of carbohydrate consumed 30 minutes before sleep resulted in an elevated morning resting metabolic rate in young fit men compared to a noncaloric placebo. Another retrospective epidemiological study using NHANES data (1999-2002) showed that participants consuming 20, 25 or 30g of protein in the evening had greater leg lean mass compared to subjects consuming protein in the afternoon. Thus, it appears that protein consumption in the evening before sleep might be an underutilised time to take advantage of a metabolic process that can potentially improve body composition and performance. Now that’s a productive snooze! HOW DO I BOOST MUSCLE MASS? Putting on muscle is simple in theory: lift weights and chug protein shakes. But in reality it’s an arduous process. And, to put it bluntly, there’s a limit to the amount of muscle mass that you can naturally grow. Interestingly, you will grow the most in your first year of serious training, with diminishing returns after that. With a serious training regime, here is a rough breakdown of the rate of muscle growth the average person can expect if they do everything right: ● BEGINNER: 1 – 1.5% of body weight per month ● NOVICE: 0.75 – 1.25% of body weight per month ● INTERMEDIATE: 0.5 – 0.75% of body weight per month ● ADVANCED: Less than 0.5% of body weight per month However, several factors determine whether we grow muscle as quickly as our genetic potential should allow: ● Genetics and drug use ● Calorie Intake
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● Enough training stimulus to force adaptation ● Sufficent protein intake ● Enough sleep ● Management and minimisation of stress ● Body-fat percentage ● Everything else (fat-carb macronutrient intake, micronutrients, meal timing and frequency, supplements) WILL PROTEIN CONSUMPTION HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS? In short, yes — and experts think it’s down to two reasons. Many studies show that increasing daily protein intake through a combination of food and supplementation to levels above the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), while restricting energy intake (by 30-40%) has been demonstrated to maximise the loss of fat tissue while also promoting the maintenance of fat-free mass. Another study from the medical journal Obesity found the effects of consuming traditional (<15%) versus higher (>35%)
protein intake were impressive — total body fat, abdominal body fat, body weight and fasting biomarkers were all reduced in the high protein group. From a biological point, researchers also believe that humans, like other animals, have a ‘dominant appetite’ for protein. That is, when given access to a diet low in protein and high in carbs and fats, humans will binge, in an attempt to extract the protein they need. Following this theory, if many of us overeat, it could be partly because our bodies are desperately seeking out nourishing protein in a food environment flooded with wheat and sugar. In other words, obesity may just be protein hunger hiding in plain view. Food for thought, as they say? SHOULD I CHOOSE PLANT OR ANIMAL PROTEIN? The truth is that, at the end of the day, you can get your protein from plants, animals or both and have a crappy or fantastic diet; neither is mutually exclusive or guaranteed. A 2017
FROM A STUDY OF 2986 MEN AND WOMEN (AGED 19 TO 72) RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT THE SOURCE OF PROTEIN MADE NO DIFFERENCE TO LEAN MUSCLE MASS OR QUADRICEP STRENGTH OVER THE TIME PERIOD
FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON WHO IS PRETTY ATHLETIC AND EATING A BALANCED, DIVERSE DIET, YOU ARE PROBABLY REACHING ADEQUATE PROTEIN INTAKE
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study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition analysed data about the dietary patterns and body composition of 2,986 men and women (aged 19 to 72) over the course of three years. Researchers put people in six groups based on whether they got most of their protein from one of various animal sources (fish, chicken, red meat etc) or plants (legumes, nuts and seeds, fruit and vegetables, and cereals and grains). They found that the source of protein made no difference to lean muscle mass or quadricep strength over the time period. Another study compared the effect of supplementing a high dose (48g/day) of whey or rice protein in experienced resistance-trained subjects during an 8-week resistance training program. The investigators concluded that gains in strength, muscle thickness and body composition were similar between the two protein groups. However, it is important to note that animal protein may have a slight edge when it comes to muscle repair due to rates of absorption. In plant proteins, a lower proportion of the amino acids are digested, absorbed, and utilised for things like rebuilding. That said, plant proteins have their own unique advantages. They contain high amounts of fibre and phytochemicals that studies suggest may be linked to lower risk of chronic disease like cancer and cardiovascular disease. Meat also comes with additional components that are harmful to our health, including antibiotic residue, hormones, saturated fat, transfats, endotoxins and contaminants such as copper and arsenic — for this reason, all animal protein sources should be grass-fed, organic, wild and or utmost quality, which can be expensive. Another difference? Carb-ratio. When it comes to plants, all plant proteins contain some carbs; animal proteins are virtually carb-free. On the fat-front, plant protein remains triumphant due to lower levels of saturated fats. Remember, saturated fats have been shown in clinical trials to damage blood cells and vessels, causing them to become stiff, inflamed and paralysed, impairing the flow of blood. In fact, after a single meal of meat, eggs and dairy, normal blood flow can be significantly reduced by up to 50%, and this result lasts for up to 5-6 hours after ingestion. Blood flow is necessary for muscle repair and recovery so this may present a problem for those who swear by a high animal protein diet. If you don’t believe me, watch The Gamechangers on Netflix.
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SPIRULINA AND OTHER MICROALGAE SUCH AS CHLORELLA, ARE AN EFFICIENT 5B8 95FH<ʔ FRIENDLY MEANS OF PROTEIN CONSUMPTION SHOULD I INVEST IN A PROTEIN POWDER? Whether or not you need a protein powder really depends of what your diet consists of. For the average person who is pretty athletic and eating a balanced, diverse diet, you are probably reaching adequate protein intake. People who are more likely to struggle with getting enough protein include competitive athletes, older adults, people recovering from surgery or illness, and people on vegan diets. However, if you’re finding it hard to get enough protein from food, a clean protein powder (free from excipients and sugars) can come in handy. Let’s be honest, you just can’t overstate the convenience factor of the chuggable, portable, lightweight, takes-two-seconds-tomake shake. But if you decide to go down the powdered path, just remember to add other nutrients to your smoothie to boost fibre and nutrient profile — Inulin, berries, coconut water and spinach are all great additions the daily protein shake and can only benefit your body in a multitude of ways. And remember, there are other quick and easy protein options
ABOUT BROOKE
out there (it’s not all about grass-fed whey and pea protein anymore) — Spirulina is a great option. With a protein content of 70% it also contains minerals like B12, iron and vitamin A, and can be found in both powdered and tablet form. Spirulina and other microalgae such as chlorella, are an efficient and earth-friendly means of protein consumption, and will benefit your brain, liver and heart while building your biceps. Regardless of where you stand on the protein-mania spectrum, think outside the processed and marketingfluff-filled square to reap the rewards of clean, effortless protein. Put simply, protein is good. You probably get enough of it. If you’re worried you don’t, there are a multitude of supplement options out there — some healthy, some not. Either way, spread your protein intake throughout the day. And if you get more than you need, you’ll pee it out. But should you go down to the corner store and invest V[ N @[VPXR_` dVaU xNQQRQ ]_\aRV[y, ;b] not today, not ever. ■
Brooke Benson Campbell (BHSc) is a Clinical Nutritionist and Naturopath, speaker, writer and presenter with a passion for all things health, beauty and wellbeing. A self-proclaimed human test subject, she is constantly trialling the newest products, seeking the latest discoveries and reading the current clinical studies, in order to share her findings with the public through private practice, social media and industry education. Follow Brooke on Instagram at: @the.b.b.c
FITNESS
Whether it’s short, productive sprints or a medium to longdistance jog, MAXIM fitness guru ALEXA TOWERSEY tells you why running doesn’t have to suck…
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When I quit the drink, I turned to Half Ironman Training to give me something else to focus on. Essentially, I replaced one addiction with another initially, but it did the job. However, I still remember the first Charles Poliquin nutrition conference I ever went to where he called me out for it. In his mind, running was not conducive to being strong — and his first question to me was, “So, what are you running away from?” Turns out I was trying to run away from my boyfriend, but hey, that’s a whole other story. Aerobic training — long distance running and jogging in particular — exploded in popularity from the ’60s to the ’80s, only to be demonised in the ’90s up to today. I mean, who needs to run a half marathon or engage in any sustained, endurance-based activities when sprints or shortduration HIIT will give you all the “heart health” and cardiovascular benefits you’ll ever need? WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW Smart aerobic work helps burn fat, manage fatigue and improves capillary density. And as far as the hierarchy of things you need to do for survival goes, running is right smack bang at the top of the list — next to keeping your heart beating at all times. Depending on the type and duration of your run, there are a host of other benefits including: ● Increased growth hormone and testosterone production ● Increased leg strength ● Increased coordination ● Increased bone and soft tissue integrity ● Injury prevention
TOP TIP
THE DIFFERENT DISTANCES AND THEIR BENEFITS SUPER SHORT: 10-40 metre Use this distance primarily for increased in leg strength, power, and hormone production. Repeat up to 10 times with full recovery in-between, twice per week. SHORT: 40-100m This is an extension of the super short distance, which can be used for repeats to improve conditioning, or for building muscular endurance in the legs. Add in a hill and you get all the benefits of sprinting with the bonus of more load and less stress on the deceleration phase (where most people pull muscles and get injured). Repeat 8-10 times with near full recovery.
MEDIUM: 100-800m This distance is an anaerobic nightmare. It will challenge your mental toughness, your legs, and your guts to not spill out of you. It has similar benefits to the shorter distances listed above but it emphasises conditioning and anaerobic endurance over power and strength. Repeat 6-8 times with 90 secs — 2 mins rest. LONG: 30+ mins @65-70% MHR Think of this as your foundation. The bigger a base you have when it comes to cardiovascular fitness and strength endurance, the more you can build on top of it. The fitter you are, the better you can hit the high intensities when required. Slow and steady 2-3 x week on recovery days or AFTER a strength based session is sufficient for most people.
ADD IN SHUTTLE RUNS FOR ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT AND INJURY PREVENTION One of the reasons we get so many knee and ankle injuries is that we don’t practice simple athletic movements in a controlled environment before going full-bore into an athletic competition. Learning to change direction with speed and power in training can save lots of people from experiencing these injuries. Include forwards/backwards and lateral movements.
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THE WORKOUT THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR RUNNING Let’s be honest — one of the real reasons you’re not running, bro science and loss of gains aside, is that you probably suck at it. Most people do. Running efficiently is every bit as much a learned skill as anything we do in the weights room. When you think of running the last thing you think of is training the upper body. However, if you’re hunched over with the typical rounded shoulder posture seen in many desk jockeys, chances are you will be compressing your diaphragm whilst you’re running. This is very inefficient and will cause you to tire much more quickly. You want to be able to run fast or far while expending as little energy as possible, so being able to use your arms, back and shoulders to help balance, support and propel you forward during your stride, will help you be more efficient with your breathing and take some of the load and burden off your lower body. SAMPLE UPPER BODY RUNNING FOCUSED SESSION Complete 1-2 x per week 10 x Standing Shoulder Dislocates (pole, stick or band) 10 x DB Front Raise 10 x DB Lateral Raise 10 x Bent Over Reverse Flye 3 x rounds 30 secs DB Push Press. 30 secs Overhold Hold. 2 x rounds. Rest 2 mins. Repeat (for a total of 4 mins work) Don’t be a hero with the weights here. I’ve seen grown men brought to tears by 3-5kg if “good form” is applied
4 x 8 Barbell Bent Over Row (1-2 sec pause at the top of the movement) 45 – 60 secs rest between 5 x Turkish Get Up 30 secs Straight Arm Plank 30 secs Mountain Climber 3 x rounsds 7 0
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Turkish Get Up
ABOUT ALEXA
“Action Alexa” is an internationally published celebrity trainer, sports model and nutrition and lifestyle coach with over 15 years’ experience in the health and fitness industry, and has worked with NZ’s world champion rugby team, the All Blacks. She has qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Champs and was named as one of the Five Toughest Trainers in Asia during her seven-year stint in an MMA gym in Hong Kong.
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PARADISE The wonders of French Polynesia await discovery by well-heeled adventurers...
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n the spring of 1768, the French explorer, mariner and anthropologist Louis-Antoine de Bougainville first spotted the Tuamotu archipelago, a chain of almost 80 islands and atolls in what is now known as French Polynesia. Later, upon arriving in Tahiti, its white sand beaches must have shaken and elated him to the core; so taken by the tropical scenery and numerous nearly naked young women, he and his crew compared it to the Garden of Eden.
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As de Bougainville wrote in his widely read travelogue Voyage Autour du Monde (Voyage Around the World), Tahiti, one of the area’s largest islands and now its most important, was utopia, an earthly paradise of blissful innocence, untouched by the corrosive tentacles of civilisation. While much has changed in the quarter-millennium since de Bougainville arrived, the transformative spectacle of French Polynesia — the raw, visceral nature of the place — has not.
P H OTO: C O U RTE SY O F TH E B RAN D O
BY N I CO L AS STE C H E R
The Brando is an otherworldly 35-villa resort located on the remote islet where Marlon Brando once had a home
You need not stray far from the Tahitian capital of Papeete to find sights you will not soon forget. As soon as you step onto this otherworldly agglomeration of archipelagos and atolls you will feel, to paraphrase what French painter Gauguin wrote circa 1901, civilisation falling away from you. In the Marlon Brando film Mutiny On the Bounty, his character Fletcher Christian does not go ashore after stoking the eponymous uprising. Depressed and facing the gallows
back in England — never mind incontrovertible Royal Navy career suicide — he lets his sailors return to the many fruits of the nearby Polynesian archipelago while he drinks himself into a stupor back on the HMS Bounty. In real life Brando had a much different reaction to French Polynesia: he became fascinated to the point of obsession. While filming 1962’s Mutiny, the famously reclusive actor preferred the
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T R AV E L about US$4,000 per night. Bailey met Brando in 1999 and spent countless hours with the legendary actor in Tetiaroa, walking its grounds, swimming in its warm, brilliant lagoon and polishing off copious bottles of rum with the living legend — learning his unique perspectives on sustainability and exchanging philosophies of life along the way. Brando was steadfast in his demands that the island remain immaculate, and that whoever developed the atoll in his name would protect it diligently. By the time he passed away in 2004, he had enough confidence in Bailey to sign a letter giving the developer power over the trust that controls the atoll. “What gradually emerged was a vision where the environment and tourism are not a zero-sum game: more tourism doesn’t mean less environment, and more environment protection doesn’t mean less tourism,” argues Bailey. “In other words, these two things are actually complimentary, and revolve around each other and work
TOP: A ship at sea in Tahiti; ABOVE: A one-bedroom villa at The Brando is a private paradise; LEFT: Serenity on the beach
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T O P I M A G E : J A C K G A R O FA LO / PA R I S M ATC H / G E T T Y I M A G E S ; C O U R T E SY O F T H E B R A N D O
company of local fishermen to his fellow thespians, and on one excursion they passed Tetiaroa, a small atoll of 12 motus, or islets. A sacred place for the Polynesians, Tetiaroa, 30 miles north of Tahiti, was only used by royalty for feasting, prayers and conflict resolution. Since the place was taboo, forbidden to common Tahitians, it remained pristine even by their standards. Only half a decade after first rowing past, the opportunity availed itself for Brando to acquire the atoll for less than US$300,000 from the heir of Johnston Walter Williams, a British consul who obtained it from the Royal Family. Brando had already married Tarita Teriipaia, the Polynesian beauty who seduced Christian as Maimiti in the film. He had won over his princess, and now he had his treasured kingdom as well. Fast forward just over a half-century and The Brando — a 35-villa resort located on Onetahi motu where the actor once built his home — is a singular expression of luxury unlike anywhere else on the planet. That may sound hyperbolic without context, but after spending just one night here, your body recedes into a level of tranquility that no marble staircase, white-gloved spa or gajillion thread count linen could ever duplicate. After only a few days spent languidly absorbing this paradise, you will begin casting away the cares of the modern world like a snake shedding its skin. There is no resort quite like The Brando because there is no location quite like Tetiaroa. As with its sister islands Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora, the small atoll was once also a volcano. Tetiaroa was geologically suppressed, eventually creating a dozen motus crowning a ring around the crystalline lagoon. There are allegedly 32 hues of blue to be found in that 4.3-mile wide pool, although one wonders how someone would even begin to count before losing themselves in the diamonds of its surface. There are many luxuries at The Brando, like multilevel villas each with a pool and access to a private beach looking out onto warm, glasslike cobalt water. There’s a restaurant by two-Michelin-star chef Guy Martin, and a world-class spa next to a natural freshwater lily pond. The resort keeps its client list under lock and key, but recent guests have reportedly included Lady Gaga, Ellen DeGeneres and Margot Robbie. Barack Obama is said to have spent several weeks here working on his memoir; Leonardo DiCaprio has allegedly made repeat visits with both his mother and supermodel du jour. While it boasts nearly every luxury one could hope for, The Brando’s unmatched remoteness, anonymity and peerless sense of privacy might be its greatest indulgence; it’s more like a secret club than a hotel. “Visitors at The Brando come to share values with us about how important it is to preserve such a beautiful place, and participate in that preservation in different ways,” explains Richard Bailey, President and CEO of Pacific Beachcomber resorts and the actor’s partner in envisioning and developing the resort. “It’s not cheap to come to The Brando, so if you’re a guest, part of the money you’re paying is going to conduct research and engage in conservation.” Rates run
P H OTO: C O U RTE SY O F TH E B RAN D O/ R O M E O BALAN C O U RT
ABOVE: Peaceful reflections from a two-bedroom villa’s pool; BELOW: The interiors of The Brando’s villas are filled with natural wood
in a symbiotic relationship.” The Brando is the first five-star resort in French Polynesia to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification, the organisation’s highest accolade. It boasts the region’s largest array of solar panels, and an ingenious SWAC (Seawater Air Conditioning) system that pumps cold water from the ocean depths to cool the entire resort, consuming 90% less energy in the process. Solar accounts for 70% of the resort’s energy; the rest is primarily generated by coconut oil and other biofuels. The Brando also employs a low-energy desalination system, a waste treatment system that uses plants and microorganisms to
transform waste into clean water, and a composting program that sells its excess nourishment back to Tahiti. Some 50,000, baby turtles started their lives from the atoll last year, so the on-island Tetiaroa Society nonprofit has created sanctuaries for them and for several bird species. The group does not allow nonindigenous plants or flowers in its landscaping. The Society annually invites dozens of scientists here to study the pristine atoll’s algae, sharks and coral reefs. And while you will want for no luxury at The Brando, its commitment to sustainability and placement at the far corner of the world means you cannot act a spoiled brat. Shrimp ran out for a day during our stay, and refillable aluminum containers are used in lieu of mountains of plastic bottles. If that’s a problem, please go elsewhere — do not bring your negative mojo to The Brando. The utter remoteness of the locale will imbue a (quite accurate) sense that you’re walking on a grain of sand on the edge of the universe. A deep tissue massage will knead your soul as you sit on a deserted motu, looking out over the lagoon and the rest of the atoll, seeing almost no signs of human activity. No distant rattle of a scooter or Jet Ski, no mansions interrupting the dense plumage of palms, no plastic bottle or stray piece of refuse to rudely pull you back into the anxieties and fears of the 21st century. It’s just you, impossibly blue water as far as the eye can see, and a sense of solace that calms even the most obstinate, difficult-to-soothe corner of your spirit. Should you be looking for something a bit more opulent and overthe-top in conventional luxury terms, perhaps the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa’s recently unveiled suites will tickle your fancy. At more than 3,400 square feet apiece, these four
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opulent suites cobranded with The Brando boast of being the largest overwater properties in all of French Polynesia. Impressive 22-foot windows look out onto the lagoon and Mt. Otemanu looming like a mighty sentinel; on one floor there’s an office and relaxation lounge, below them two bedrooms and a dining room in an airy, open loft layout. Subtle these are not, but with access to the InterContinental’s spas, restaurants and activities they offer all of Bora Bora’s pageantry without any lapse in luxury. From your back deck you can slip into the largest private infinity pools of any suite in Bora Bora, and enjoy piña coladas delivered to your door. Or better yet, dive into the lagoon below — it’s up to 12 feet deep, so cannonball if you must. One element in which Bora Bora surpasses Tetiaroa is in its color palette, reaching levels of blue
so electric the ocean looks as if lit from within. The water is also remarkably buoyant: simply float on your back, lolling lazily in the gentle tides, taking in the dramatic mass of Mt. Otemanu (or “The Seabird” in Tahitian); its looming tower of dark volcanic rock and thick green jungle infuses every blink with a sense of the surreal. Bora Bora is an island of postcards — the name alone conjures up nostalgic dreams of the South Pacific and a time when men crossed oceans in steamships and propeller planes and frolicked with women in grass skirts against dazzling sunsets. Nowadays it may be difficult to find the earthly paradise that snatched the breath from de Bougainville’s lips more than 250 years ago, but you will almost certainly discover that lost utopia throughout French Polynesia. You couldn’t miss it for the world.
TOP: The InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa’s entrancing Le Lotus Restaurant; ABOVE: Incredible views at Lagoon Restaurant by famed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten at the The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort; OPPOSITE: A postcard-worthy scene at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa 7 6
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P H O T O S : C O U R T E S Y O F I N T E R C O N T I N E N TA L TA H I T I R E S O R T & S P A , M A R R I O T T H O T E L S T H E S T. R E G I S B O R A B O R A A N D T H E B R A N D O
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PARADISE FOUND The cofounder of Cirque du Soleilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s US$1 million-per-week island retreat in French Polynesia gets top marks...
CO U RTE SY O F S U N S ET LUXU RY VI L L A
BY J A R E D PA U L S T E R N
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O
nce upon a time, Guy Laliberté was a street performer, playing the accordion and walking on stilts for whatever passersby would throw into his hat. Then in 1984, he cofounded Cirque du Soleil as a one-year project with the help of a contract from the Canadian government. These days, he’s worth a cool US$1.1 billion according to Forbes. And when he’s not playing in high-stakes poker tournaments or floating in space — literally; Laliberté traveled to the International Space Station in 2009 — he likes to relax somewhere really remote. He reportedly spent 10 years searching for the perfect escape before settling on a private atoll called Nukutepipi in the outer reaches of French Polynesia in 2007, noted for its pristine natural beauty, complete with a “primary forest” that’s home to rare species, as well as a white sand beach and a protected lagoon with a flourishing coral reef. He then spent another 10 years turning it into the ultimate ecoretreat, with architecture designed to make the most of the incredible setting yet never infringing on the immaculate natural surroundings. “Wood, stone, water and light come together in a harmonious ode to nature,” as the property’s website puts it. This year, Laliberté was slated to open it to well-heeled travellers who are willing to pay about US$1 million per week for the privilege of having Nukutepipi to themselves, making it one of the most exclusive and expensive resorts in the world. Now home to three villas and 13 beachfront bungalows, Nukutepipi can accommodate up to 52 guests at a time, whose every need is seen to by an army of staff. The property’s jewel is Laliberté’s custom-built, nearly 7,000-sq.-ft. Master Villa, which features a private infinity pool, hot tub, and home theater. The island’s grounds are also home to original artwork by the likes of Laliberté favourites Damien Hirst and Jim Dine. Of course there’s world-class cuisine on offer as well as spa treatments galore, and activities range from tennis and archery to kitesurfing and deep-sea fishing. Condé Nast Traveler describes it as a “boho-cool” hideout — which we suppose is accurate if the boho is also a billionaire.
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THE REAL BLACK PEARL The waters surrounding French Polynesia produce some of the most sought-after natural treasures on the planet, black pearls. While originally harvested by free-divers searching for wild oysters on the seafloor, pearl cultivation has made the process far easier and much safer. Mostly gone are the days of locals free-diving and searching for a hidden prize, or the need for scuba gear. For those without advanced free-diving or scuba experience, or to facilitate a find, today you can visit a pearl farm, where oysters are raised, and nurtured, to create these mesmerizing objects. A process more than a century old, pearl cultivation not only eliminates the need for potentially dangerous diving, but helps conserve and protect the oyster population around the islands. Bora Pearl Company operates both The Farm and Dive for Pearl on Bora Bora. They will not only educate you about pearl cultivation, but allow snorkelers to dive down and pick their own oyster, watch the extraction of the pearl, and even have a piece jewelry crafted. Despite the name, black pearls exist with color overtones that include blue, gold, eggplant, green and peacock. While values vary widely based on various factors, generally speaking, the rounder the pearl, the more it is worth. Perhaps during your travels in French Polynesia, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find a perfect specimen. The pearl you take home might even be worth more than the cost of a dive, providing one of the rare island adventures that can actually turn a profit. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Keith Gordon 8 0
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PHOTOS (TOP TO BOTTOM): DEAG OSTI N I /G ETTY I MAG ES
Diving for treasure in French Polynesia
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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE LAIRD HAMILTON made history when he rode Tahiti’s Millennium Wave...
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mpossible is a term that is overused, often to describe the unlikely or the improbable. In the world of big wave surfing, elite athletes tend to use the word “unrideable” to describe a wave that cannot be tamed, even by the best surfers in the world. Perhaps the epitome of this is the famous, or infamous, surf break known as Teahupo‘o, located on the south coast of Tahiti. A few times a year, monster swells form on the horizon before growing into one of the truly unique and previously “unrideable” waves on the planet. That was until Laird Hamilton, arguably the greatest surfer of all time, produced one of the most famous rides in surfing history, on August 17, 2000, now known simply as the Millennium Wave. He had heard about the mysterious Teahupo‘o back in the 1980s, as visiting Tahitian surfers tried to convey the ferocity, energy and danger of a wave that was mythical amongst locals. “I had some Tahitian friends that used to come to the North Shore of Oahu every season and surf in the Pipe Masters,” Hamilton recalls. “Those guys had always talked about [Teahupo‘o]… It was at the beginning of it being ridden when they talked about it. Most of the time, I think people didn’t think it was that rideable when it was doing its thing.” When Teahupo‘o “does its thing,” it’s a sight to behold. Unique seafloor topography, and the shallow reef on which the surf crashes, team up to create a wave unlike anywhere else on Earth. Deepwater swells hit a steeply rising coral reef to create monsters that, while not as tall as some other famous waves, pack more energy, ferocity and destructive power due to their unique shape. Whereas many big waves are tall and thin, the waves at this Tahitian reef appear to be as thick as they are tall, increasing the wave’s power exponentially.
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Add this to the concentrated time and space in which the wave forms, barrels and crashes down, and it produces a ride unlike any other. The same shallow reef that creates this supercharged wave also provides the worst possible landing zone for surfers who wipe out, as the sharp, jagged coral sits just below the surface. Simply, it’s as if Mother Nature saw the progression of big wave surfing and decided to answer the challenge with a perfect storm of risk and reward, and of skill and bravery. Hamilton finally gave in and travelled to Tahiti, originally on a photo shoot. But the week spent at a nearby Tahitian surf spot shooting images for one of his sponsors at that time only made him more determined to check out the mythical Teahupo‘o nearby. “I went there every day and we had some incredible sessions there leading up to that giant swell,” he recalls. “Then, about a day or so before I was set to leave, two guys that were on the photo shoot were like, ‘Hey, there’s a big bomber swell coming in two days!’ Being a surfer and not wanting to miss the opportunity, because you never know when they come, I postponed my trip [home] and waited.” Hamilton’s patience paid off with one of the most iconic rides in surfing history, the Millennium Wave. “Then, on the second or the third day after I was supposed to leave, that big swell came,” the Hawaii-bred Hamilton explains. “Actually, on the particular day, all the Tahitians and everybody were like, ‘Yeah, no. We don’t surf Teahupo‘o when it’s this size. We go to some other break.’” Whether through stubbornness, or perhaps thinking that his new technique of being pullled onto a wave by a Jet Ski, known as tow-in surfing, could potentially shift the line of what was possible, or rideable, he
P H OTO: G R E G O RY B O I S SY/AF P/G ETTY I MAG E S
BY KE ITH G O R D O N
P H OTOS (TO P TO B OT TO M): B R IAN VAN D E R B R U G /G ETTY I MAG E S; G I LLE S B E N S I M O N
wasn’t going to miss the opportunity. While the ride he completed that magical day will forever be immortalised in images, videos and firsthand accounts, it had the biggest impact on the surfing community by reestablishing what was rideable and opening the minds of countless other surfers. Redrawing the line in the sand of what’s possible and impossible seems to be a driving force behind Hamilton, combined with his lifelong love affair with the ocean and all of the board-related sports and activities associated with it. Now likely past his surfing prime, Hamilton is still a groundbreaker in ocean watersports, especially in the relatively new sport of foiling, or hydrofoil surfing, in which an underwater blade with wings allows the rider and his board to stay above the surface while tackling diverse marine environments in never-before-ridden ways. “Right now everything I’m doing is really focused on foiling,” he tells us.” And so, foiling is at the forefront of almost all of my ocean pursuits. I mean, first of all, my relationship with the ocean and being in the ocean and being around the ocean will always take precedent over everything. My personal pursuit in my evolution as a surfer brings me to foiling. I really enjoy being a beginner. And not that I’m a beginner in foiling, but it’s evolving quickly and we’re evolving as riders.” The one area where Hamilton is certainly not a beginner is business, as he’s crafted his personal brand for decades and was one of the few surfers to break into the mainstream. As such, it’s not surprising that one of his current ventures is Laird Superfood, born of years of travelling the world and discovering foods and recipes that fit his active, health-conscious lifestyle. “I think that coming from a culture like Hawaii, where [the concept of ] aloha is all about giving, it’s all about hosting and sharing and that’s one of the great things about an island culture. That’s one of the most positive sides of it: the generosity of island culture, from which I’ve benefited my whole life. And so, to be able to kind of incorporate that into a business that makes things that are
good for people and have a profound effect, it just has all of the right recipes for a very incredible kind of business.” As for Teahupo‘o, and Tahiti as a whole, there certainly exists a deep connection with Hamilton, one that goes beyond big wave surfing alone. “I was raised in Hawaii and you know, Tahiti is the beautiful sister of Hawaii. It’s just that she carries a sharp knife, you know? Being raised in Hawaii, your connection with Hawaiians and Tahitians and the culture and the island mentality, the island upbringing, the values, all of those things make you feel very at home. So when I’ve gone to Tahiti, I’ve felt very comfortable there.” ■
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The
OCEAN WARRIOR From taking on Hawaii’s mega breaks and mentoring champion rider Kelly Slater to training Navy SEALs and SAS soldiers, Australian big wave surfer MARK VISSER talks his coaching techniques, special online program and catching the next big one… I N T E R V I E W B Y R E I L LY S U L L I V A N
B
orn on a farm in rural Victoria, Mark Visser wasn’t raised near the ocean. In fact, a near-drowning experience at an early age left him with a deadly fear of the water. It was only through learning to swim, and later by surfing as a teenager, that Mark was able to overcome these early reservations, kick starting a lifelong passion that has seen him achieve the unachievable. This meant setting out to do something previously considered impossible — surfing Maui’s legendary Jaws break at night, which he tells us “started as a dream.” The breaks at Jaws, situated roughly four kilometres off the coast of Northern Maui, hold an iconic, almost biblical position in big wave surfing lore. Jaws is frequently ranked among the biggest waves surfed by pro-surfers each year and was even etched into cinematic
history when it was ‘surfed’ by 007 in the 2001 Bond film Die Another Day. A challenge to expert surfers during daytime, to surf Jaws in pitch black was once considered out of the question. “Back then it was considered a non-achievable task and everyone was saying it wasn’t possible” Mark recalls. At 28 years old, following extensive training and mental preparation, Mark achieved this feat in 2011, making international headlines and earning a place in the big wave surfing legends book. Armed with customdesigned LED lights built into his board and solar-powered vest, he successfully surfed 30-40 foot waves in pitch black conditions. A chopper hovering precariously above helped film the action and the efforts were later marvelled at in the documentary Operation Night Rider.
CLOCKWISE (FROM TOP): Big wave rider Mark Visser captured by photographer Ryan Robson; Working hard on the ropes in the UFC high performance centre; Visser somersaults after bailing from a big wave in Tahiti
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Now 36, and based on the Sunshine Coast, Mark balances surfing with family, coaching, work as keynote speaker and life as a self-described ocean adventurer. He’s done TED events, spoken in front of a slew of corporate clients, coached Navy SEALs and SAS soldiers and for the past two years he has helped Kelly Slater prepare for the Billabong Pipeline Masters. When it comes to training, Coach Visser expects openness from the teams and individuals he works with. “When you’re working for the likes of Kelly Slater and elite military groups, if they’re OK to be open and
CLOCKWISE (FROM ABOVE): “Dropping into the sea for a long distance paddle training exercise that ended up going through the night, to help over come my fear of moving around in the water at night,” explains Mark Visser; underwater weight training; Visser exiting a military plane at 5,000 feet
vulnerable, I can help them a lot faster. If they’re closed off and just showing me what I want to see, I can’t help them.” A mind-body connection underpins his coaching philosophy. This is enshrined into The Ocean Warrior, a series of online training programs Visser has co-created to teach students the secrets to safely holding their breath underwater, as well comprehensive land and sea safety.
Although he can hold his breath underwater for over six minutes, he’s quick to reiterate that the skills required to recover from a serious wipe-out have little to do with a six-minute record. “The amount of time has no relevance in the scheme of things. When you’re getting washed around in the water, a sixminute breath hold doesn’t matter,” he explains. The Ocean Warrior courses are full of practical advice about what to do in such scenarios. “It gives people a lot of advice to navigate any uncomfortableness in any area or sport. That’s why I’m able to work with so many sports and teams.” Mark’s philosophy, and experiences as a surfer, lend themselves to almost any sport or industry. Indeed, life is but a series of proverbial – or in Mark’s case, quite literal — waves and wipe-outs. Therefore, it was only natural for Visser to expand the Ocean Warrior courses, introducing the Elite Mindset program. This course is broken up into six stages and incorporates mental and physiological elements in the pursuit of reaching goals. While the course can be completed online, Mark has run
“I ALWAYS WANT TO BE THE GUY WHO HELPS SOMEONE — THAT’S WHAT BRINGS ME JOY.” Elite Mindset retreats for corporate clients overseas. He’s also a big proponent of the spiritual and invigorating aspects of surfing as both sport and recreation, and insists it’s never too late for beginners to pick up a board. “It’s totally open to anyone ready to have a go,” he says. “The only reason I believe people struggle when they’re older is ego. The door is wide open at any time, it’s a matter of being OK with learning.” Unlike some sports, Visser says that surfing isn’t about anyone else — it’s about enjoyment. Having scaled, and surfed, previously unimaginable heights at Jaws, Mark and his pals are once again working to track and research waves in the Pacific, although he’s slightly secretive about this process and precisely where he’s heading next. “I’m working on this project to explore in the middle of the open ocean to see if there are some waves out there that are possibly the biggest waves in the
world. It’s between Australia and Chile… that doesn’t really give too much insight into the exact location!” Despite his remarkable accomplishments in big wave surfing, Visser is humble and somewhat nonchalant about his achievements during our interview. In fact, when it comes to professional fulfilment, he insists helping others remains the most rewarding part of his journey, particularly “seeing people’s lives get turned around.” And he recently got a great affirmation on this front. “The other day I was out in the surf and this kid said, ‘You’re the guy who does that Ocean Warrior thing! That thing saved my life, thanks so much for doing it.’ I always want to be the guy who helps someone — that’s what brings me joy.” ■ For more information about The Ocean Warrior and Elite Mindset programs, go to www.theoceanwarrior.com
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WOMAN OF THE WORLD
KIWI COOL ... P H OTO G R A P H E D BY G I L L E S B E N S I M O N STYLE D BY CAR O L I N E C H R I STIAN SS O N BY Z EYN E P YE N I S EY
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B O DYS U I T, A G E N T P R O V O C AT E U R . B E LT B Y , A L A Ï A
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WOMAN OF THE WORLD
ock, geek, homebody; the way Georgia Fowler later describes herself seems totally at odds with the ethereal beauty who steps out of an elevator and into a sprawling photo studio in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. Her hair in a bun, slicked as if by the rain; she looks angelic if not wholly innocent, with the sort of bee-stung lips that cosmetic surgeons have made fortunes trying to copy. Fowler has to hop on a flight immediately after her shoot with photographer Gilles Bensimon. Yet, despite the hectic day to come, there’s a striking tranquility about her, a serene quality perhaps instilled from an idyllic childhood spent on the beaches of New Zealand. Her father is Australian golf pro Peter Fowler, so athleticism runs in the family. “When my dad wasn’t on tour, he had me at the cricket nets or at the driving range with him,” she recalls. “I was quite the tomboy. I loved playing with the boys and putting my hand up for any and all sports available.” Signed to a modelling contract at age 12 after accompanying her older sister to a local agency in Auckland, Fowler was scouted by industry powerhouse IMG at 15, and moved to the U.S. at 18 to pursue her career. “Having the biggest modeling agency in the world asking you to move to New York was too much of an exciting opportunity to turn down,” she says. Now 27 and and a bona fide New Yorker, much has changed since her freewheeling youth. Fowler’s busy schedule is typically characterised by high-powered modelling shoots, glossy magazine spreads and glamorous red carpet appearances. She has walked in runway shows for Chanel, Armani, Balmain, Miu Miu, Yeezy and Off-White, among others, and has appeared in campaigns including H&M, Diesel, Banana Republic, Agent
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Provocateur, Gap and, perhaps most notably, Victoria’s Secret. And even if you don’t follow fashion, you might have seen her in the music video for Kygo and Selena Gomez’s “It Ain’t Me”. “I always knew about Victoria’s Secret Angels and loved fashion magazines, but I never really thought something like that would happen to a little Kiwi girl who preferred to be barefoot than in a dress,” Fowler says of her big break with the lingerie megabrand. Of course her personal life has been suitably high profile as well, and she’s been photographed with Leonardo DiCaprio and romantically linked to the likes of Harry Styles and Nick Jonas. But more recently, the Kiwi cover girl has been embroiled in an entirely different kind of commitment. “The amount of time I spend flying, it feels like I’m in a relationship with Delta Air Lines,” she
says. “They cancelled on me last week, so we’re kind of on the rocks at the moment. I’m looking for someone a little less all over the place.” Gentlemen, take note. Regardless of her jet-setting lifestyle, Fowler is all about keeping it simple. “I’m pretty transparent, and what you see is what you get,” she says. “In the evening if I’m in New York, I’ll end up at my apartment cooking, or more likely ordering in, for a bunch of my friends, with a bottle of wine and a board game or a movie.” Which is just as well since becoming a huge success in the modelling world was no easy task. “I had five years of rejection for the show before I finally booked it,” she says about landing a coveted slot in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Even in the face of setbacks, Fowler doesn’t take no for an answer when it comes to accomplishing her goals. Now, she’s become a regular on the VS runway,
“ THE AMOUNT OF TIME I SPEND FLYING, IT FEELS LIKE I’M IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH DELTA AIR LINES.”
T H I S PA G E : B E LT & S K I R T , A L A Ï A O P P O S I T E PA G E : K I M O N O , M E S D E M O I S E L L E S PA R I S
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WOMAN OF THE WORLD
strutting her stuff for the third time in 2018. “It was my dream since before I can even remember, and it didn’t happen easily,” she says. “That’s why it was so rewarding for me when it finally happened, and why I’ll continue to appreciate and work as hard as I can to really deserve everything that comes my way.” Such success can come with a price. For the family-oriented Fowler, being away from her loved ones is the toughest aspect of her modelling career. “However I’m very lucky,” she says. “I get to cross paths with mum and dad if our schedules align, or they’ll come to visit me wherever I am in the world. I also shoot lots in Australia and jump at any opportunity to get back to Sydney as that’s where my sister and nieces live, so even if it’s just for a day, it’s always worthwhile.” In a different universe, however, modelling wouldn’t have been Georgia’s first career choice. Instead, she’d be a famous singer, a dream she’s had since she was a little girl. “When I was really young I wanted to be a star. At this time I believed I was a fabulous singer, much to my family’s amusement,” she recalls. “So if I could do anything or have that talent I would be a singer.” More realistically, Fowler says she envisioned herself becoming an engineer had her modelling career not taken off. “I really loved math, science, and design at school, so I was looking into engineering,” she says, adding that she was “also a bit of a geek” as a kid. While her modelling schedule kept Fowler plenty busy as a teenager, it didn’t stop her from excelling in school. “I got grades high enough to get into university my second to last year of high school, so at 16 I enrolled,” she says. “When I studied, I began a bachelor of science in psychology because I just find people and the brain so interesting. I would be dedicated to that.” When it comes to accomplishing her goals, Fowler is already crushing it in 2019. “Booking a magazine cover is a huge deal for a model, and a magazine like MAXIM really cements your place, not just in the industry as a fashion model, but also as more of a household name,” she says. “MAXIM puts only the top and most successful women on their covers. I can’t really believe I just did it!” ■
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“I’M PRETTY TRANSPARENT, AND WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET.”
T H I S PAG E : KNIT DRESS, ALAÏA; EARRINGS, HOUSE OF EMMANUELLE O P P O S I T E PAG E : TO P & S K I R T, A L A Ï A
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WOMAN OF THE WORLD
“I’M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE A LITTLE LESS ALL OVER THE PLACE.”
T H I S PA G E : B A BY D O L L TO P A N D PA N T Y, A G E N T P R O V O C AT E U R EARRINGS, HOUSE OF EM MANUELE O P P O S I T E PA G E : S K I R T, B E LT , & B O O T S , A L A Ï A
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WOMAN OF THE WORLD
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““I WAS QUITE THE TOMBOY. I LOVED PLAYING WITH THE BOYS AND PUTTING MY HAND UP FOR ANY AND ALL SPORTS.”
T H I S PA G E : B O DY C H A I N S , HOUSE OF EM MANUELE O P P O S I T E PA G E : D R E S S , L U X E FA S H I O N L A B E L ; SU NG LASSES, DSQUAR E D2
M A K E - U P, C Y N T H I A S O B E K F O R A R T D E PA R T M E N T ; H A I R , YO I C H I TO M I Z AWA F O R A R T D E PA R T M E N T
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O N L I N E D AT I N G
ARE YOU SWIPE WORTHY? Having no luck on dating apps? It might be because your profile and bio blurb ain’t worth swiping for. Don’t fret! Wellness expert, lifestyle coach and bestselling author ANDI LEW tells you how to draw them in…
ABOUT ANDI As a certified wellness and dating expert, lifestyle coach and bestselling author, Andi Lew appears on several TV shows, both in Australia and in the U.S., helping one and all with her handy relationship and professional advice. Stay connected with Andi via her Instagram @andi.lew
#INSTALOVERS – DIGITAL DATING, DM DISASTERS AND LOVE STORIES by Andi Lew is out now, rrp$27.99, in book stores across Australia or 50% off available at andilew.com
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H
ow you present is what you attract. It’s going to sound crazy but you’re putting yourself on a market and you’re selling your best self on the “singles shelf ”. There’s nothing wrong with being on the singles shelf when everyone’s joining you, and there’s no expiry date, but you only get one chance! I’m all about getting to know someone before you judge them. “So you’re hot, what else ya got?” This is one of my mantras but how will we even give you a chance if all you show us is a not-so-great profile? You’ll be thrown into the mix of the myriad of others who are investing in showing their best self and that match that could be yours has now chosen someone else to banter with and potentially date. So, here are my suggestions for a bio on a dating app that will give you your best chance of matching with a potential date:
✖
BE SO LIT SHE CAN’T SWIPE LEFT Your lighting is everything. If you choose a photo which gives you shadows that change the look of who you are, or we can’t quite see you, you come across less mysterious and more like someone wvho can’t be arsed or has something to hide. Choose photos that are bright and well lit. You don’t need to go to a professional photographic studio — mobile phones these days have amazing capabilities but do choose a sharp image that gives them an honest and clear picture of you.
✖
✔
CHOOSE A CURRENT PICTURE ✖ Be careful not to upload too many photos that are not very recent. I once dated a guy I matched with on Hinge and he arrived with a bald head. Lucky for me, I found it really attractive, but all his photos had either dated pics of him with a full head of hair, caps or beanies. Be honest and vulnerable to a point.
Simply email me at
DITCH SELFIES Unfortunately too many selfies in a bio on a dating app will make you look either selfish or lonely. Many men don’t really take photos of themselves unless they’re out drinking with mates, so I do acknowledge it may be hard to get a photo of yourself that’s been taken by someone else, but the investment may pay off. As a rule one selfie is OK, but the rest need to be of you on a holiday or doing something you love. Everyone takes pics on holidays, right?
YOUR PERSONALITY IS ATTRACTIVE Women really love men who are confident and funny — be both! How you think is going to show a lot about your personality and will be more telling than your photos. Women like to read and they will read your comments. Some dating apps allow you to write a little about yourself. Some “datees” have written things like how much they love to assemble IKEA furniture. Some of us really can’t stand putting those things together so this is a really fun and flirtatious example of how conversation can start.
INFO@ANDILEW.COM and mention this article for
$20 OFF your first hour with Cupid here!
If you’re on a dating app, it’s because you’re ready to date. Be fun, kind and respectful. Your bio should reflect all these things. Before you upload, ask yourself if you would date you? And for dating profile set up, and bio ghost writing help, allow me to coach or write for you. ■
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24 HOU RS TO LI V E
Luke
As this award-winning Aussie comedian embarks on his latest national stand-up tour, Lowbreed, this month, he sheds some light on his last day on Earth… I N T E R V I E W BY S A N T I P I N TA D O
What can audiences expect from your upcoming shows? Actual stand-up. I won’t be standing there crying, or attempting to change opinions, or repeatedly yelling the same tolerance mantras. I’m not unloading my problems on a group of people who just forked out their hard-earned. It’s just a bunch of stuff that’s annoyed me recently.
Are you going to Heaven or Hell? Not really up to me, but Heaven. There are a lot of worse bastards out there than me, although you wouldn’t know that from reading the messages I receive from disgruntled TV viewers. Having said that, if you’re not allowed to be mean for fun in Heaven, I don’t think I’ll be allowed to stay.
Name one thing you’re glad you’ll never have to do again? Go on a date. Yuck. F—kin’ nightmare.
Have you ever felt like you’ve died onstage during a stand-up gig or otherwise? All the time. I’ve died so hard at some corporate gigs I thought they’d ask ME for money. I’ve had the boss of a company yank the microphone from my hand. I was dying so hard at one I could hear someone opening a packet of chips 50 metres away.
What would you like to be reincarnated as? A koala – no-one rouses on you for sleeping in.
What are your family saying over your casket? “I want my suit back before he goes in that oven.”
What quality advice, will you take to the grave with you? Don’t move a ladder while you’re on it.
What’s written on your tombstone? Don’t touch my stuff.
How do you want to leave this world? After all my foes are dead and with at least one person in a headlock. Do you have any deathbed confessions? Absolutely not. I’m not telling anyone. The remains will eventually be found. What’s your last meal? Leftovers.
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What’s your greatest achievement during your time on Earth? I’m compelled to say family in case this gets back to them, but one time I used my slingshot to deposit an egg through one of my enemy’s windows at a distance of over 40 metres. One in a million shot!
What are your mates saying over your casket? “I bags his cricket bat.”
Got any last words? Probably, “Hey, dickheads! Watch this!”
“IF YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO BE MEAN FOR FUN IN HEAVEN, I DON’T THINK I’LL BE ALLOWED TO STAY.”
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