Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/867968
probably say that time to themselves is a rarity. But, I've always had a strong work ethic, so even when I was a young model I probably didn't have much me time. My business is growing and it is very exciting. I can rest when I retire. What were some of the struggles you faced as a model in the beginning of your career? My shyness was probably the biggest hurdle I had to overcome. I was the model who would sit with the other models in the photo studio and think, 'I hope they're not going to choose me today.' I didn't enjoy the feeling of being the center of attention. What was the best piece of advice you were given as a young model? The first time I walked in a Chanel runway show, Karl Lagerfeld told me to just be myself. It was great advice that I have always tried to remember when feeling unsure. Who was your favorite photographer to work with and why? Every time someone asks me my favorite photographer or image, I feel like I'm avoiding the question, but it really is impossible to choose. There have been so many great photographers with incredibly different aesthetics who I've had the pleasure of working with and learning from. What was one of your favorite fashion campaigns and why? There have been so many, from the '90s up to the present day, that I have loved that it would be impossible to choose one. I've always been very selective about the work I accepted, so whether it's a Guess or Chanel campaign from the '90s, or a more recent one with Dolce & Gabbana or Balmain, I chose it because I love working with the team and believe in the product. When did you know you made it? I was in New York after having done the Guess campaign and I'd just come back from a tour of what seemed like every major city in America. I remember being in the elevator baffled as to why everyone was staring at me. Eventually, someone asked me if I was 'the Guess girl.' From that moment on, things moved very quickly for me. How were you able to stay away from having a tumultuous career? I worked every day and was always jumping on a plane somewhere else. That has its good and bad sides, but I never had time for doing anything too crazy. How would you sum up your experience of modeling in the early '90s? What were some of your greatest memories? Working on this book has really helped me recall amazing moments and experiences. It surprised me how many small details I remembered about each shoot we worked on—especially the teams involved. It was a great period of my life. How do you think the modeling industry has changed in the last 30 years? Social media has certainly changed the landscape, in that girls have more of an opportunity to take control—not only of the public's perception of them but also of their own visibility. In the '90s, a great agent would make sure you were being considered for key jobs, but now you can almost act as your own agent by sharing photographs and videos of yourself every day. There was a lot of camaraderie 30 years ago, which I don't know if there is now because the field is probably a lot bigger, but I think many of the changes are positive. 198 BAL HARBOUR "The first time I walked in a Chanel runway show, Karl Lagerfeld told me to just be myself. It was great advice that I have always tried to remember when feeling unsure." —Claudia Schiffer