Raquel Zimmermann is such an amazing artist and an even more stellar human being. It’s hard to think of a more talented model today, especially with an impact spanning more than two decades now. From her personality, creativity, talent, and benign spirit, it’s no wonder Raquel is the force that she is. Fashion is so lucky to have her and she truly makes the world a brighter place. Happy Birthday Raquel Zimmermann. Wishing love and happiness, always.
Always upon you, light never ceases Lost from yourself, light never ceases Thousands of eyes, gaze never ceases Light is upon you ’til life in you ceases – Isis, Backlit
In Perfect˙ Issue Four, The Perfect Magazine team focus on the idea of autonomy and its relation to the power of self, personal choice, and independence. One of the individuals chosen for Perfect’ Issue Four to illustrate autonomy is none other than Brazilian top model, artist, and transcendental mediator, Raquel Zimmermann wearing ALAÏA, DSQUARED2, and Luar.
Of all the great artists, poets, musicians, athletes, and personalities that I’ve watched or read about who profoundly impacted the 21st Century, Linda Evangelista without a doubt ranks among the brightest of cultural icons of our time. She’s what Sugar Ray Robinson is to boxing, what Audrey Hepburn is to cinema, what Emily Dickinson is to poetry, what Michael Jordan is to basketball, and so many greats I can endlessly list on. There are so many fan pages on social media dedicated to 90s music, film and fashion and though I was someone born in the early 1990s, I was far too young to appreciate or understand any of it at the time.
But out of all the incredible music acts, iconic fashion moments, and cult classic films of the decade, there’s one model who completely changed the way I viewed fashion and art. By sheer passion, love, and creative force, she was able to completely redefine not only what a model could be, but also what fashion could mean to people. What Linda Evangelista was able to do on the catwalk, campaigns, and especially in fashion editorials was nothing short of miraculous. It’s like if you could capture the brilliance of Scorsese film-making or the beautiful way Jimi Hendrix played the guitar into one or a series of photos, and even then that wouldn’t adequately describe the wonder of Linda Evangelista.
But more than anything else, underneath all of the fame and notoriety, Linda Evangelista’s character and spirit are what I admire most. The person I discovered from her own words in magazine and video interviews was so humble, open, critical of herself, kind, and hardworking. Her passion and love infected everyone around her, elevating colleagues, designers, make-up artists, photographers, editors, journalists and the very fashion she loved so much itself.
She’s been through so much lately and I can’t imagine her pain. There’s so many people who love her and she’s touched so many lives. I hope/know things will get better and I hope Linda Evangelista’s birthday is wonderful and filled with love.
When I first met you I knew that my life would never be the same And I knew that you felt it too Never feel alone again, boy ‘Cause your love makes me feel so secure You got me singin
What do you do when you’re Not satisfied And when you’ve done all that you can You know you tried, oh yeah And how do you say that You need to get away Don’t make it so hard When I’m there for you
Versace 1992
Love has truly been good to me Not even one sad day Or minute have I had Since you’ve come my way I hope you know, I’d gladly go Anywhere you’d take me
It’s so amazing to be loved I’d follow you to the moon in the sky above
Got to tell you how you thrill me I’m happy as I can be You have come And it’s changed my whole world Bye-bye sadness, hello mellow What a wonderful day
It’s so amazing to be loved I’d follow you to the moon in the sky above
I’d go
And it’s so amazing, amazing (so amazing) I could stay forever, forever (stay for ever) Here in love and no, leave you never (no, leave you never) ‘Cause we’ve got amazing love (amazing love) Truly it’s amazing, amazing (so amazing) Love brought us together, together (we’re together) I will leave you never and never (leave you never) I guess, we’ve got amazing love (amazing love)
My love she throws me like a rubber ball Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing She won’t catch me or break my fall Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing Baby’s got blue skies up ahead But in this I’m a rain cloud You know she likes a dry kind of love Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing
I’m losing you I’m losing you Ain’t love the sweetest thing
I wanted to run but she made me crawl Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing Eternal fire, she turned me to straw Oh oh, the sweetest thing You know I got black eyes But they burn so brightly for her This is a blind kind of love Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing
The sun’s still shining in the big blue sky But it don’t mean nothing to me O-o-oh let the rain come down Let the wind blow through me I’m living in an empty room With all the windows smashed And I’ve got so little left to lose That it feels just like I’m walking on broken glass
And if you’re trying to cut me down You know that I might bleed ‘Cause if you’re trying to cut me down I know that you’ll succeed And if you want to hurt me There’s nothing left to fear ‘Cause if you want to hurt me You do it really well my dear
Walking on, walking on broken glass Walking on, walking on broken glass
You were the sweetest thing that I ever knew But I don’t care for sugar honey if I can’t have you Since you’ve abandoned me My whole life has crashed Won’t you pick the pieces up ‘Cause it feels just like I’m walking on broken glass
Photo by Steven Meisel
I’ll give you the sun, the rain, the moon, the stars and the mountains I’ll give you the world and all that you wish for And even more Girl I’ll love you more than you could know And that’s for sure I’d climb the highest hill, cross the widest sea Nothing could discourage me And I pray that you’ll be always there for me forevermore, oh
Ready or not I’ll give you everything and more All that I’ve got is yours I’ll give you everything All that you’re looking for
I’ll give you my heart, my soul, my time my love is a fountain I will be your earth Ooh and all that you need for and even more ‘Cause girl I love you more than words can show My love is pure I, I’ll walk a thousand miles, sail a thousand seas Nothing will discourage me And I pray that you will be always there for me forevermore
Since you been gone I been hangin’ around here lately With my mind messed up Jumped in my car tried to clear my mind Didn’t help me I guess I’m all messed up now baby Soon as I jumped into my ride Those memories start to play A song comes on the radio And there you are baby once again
It’s just another sad love song Rackin’ my brain like crazy Guess I’m all torn up Be it fast or slow It doesn’t let go Or shake me And it’s all because of you
Yeah, yeah, yeah Oh, lover boy to you I belong But maybe one day you’ll wake And you’ll find me gone But lover boy if you call me home I’ll come driving, I’ll come driving Fast as wheels can turn Oh, lover boy I know you too well And all of my lonely secrets To you I tell The highest of highs, the lowest of lows I’ll come driving, I’ll come driving Fast as wheels can turn Fast as wheels can turn
Take a bow, the night is over This masquerade is getting older Light are low, the curtains down There’s no one here (There’s no one here, there’s no one in the crowd)
Say your lines but do you feel them Do you mean what you say when there’s no one around (No one around) Watching you, watching me, One lonely star (One lonely star you don’t know who you are)
See the medal reverse This hope is not lost There’s mischief to turn Your ship to send off
Barbed wits and gowns They’ll ransack this town I’d rescue you now But in velvet you’ll drown And dance again
Oh Austere, lay by my side You’ve been left here but you’ll make no sound Hey, last word, don’t let me down You’re just another unfinished story now
Bestowed with imitable grace, poise, and amiable charm, the screen legend and humanitarian, born Audrey Kathleen Rusten would not only survive the ravages of World War II, but go onto leave a lasting impact on film, fashion and forever live on in the hearts of countless around the globe. But before the awards, honors, and international acclaim, the modest aspiring ballerina could have never foreseen such a remarkable life before her that was so drastically different from her childhood.
Born on May 4, 1929, in Brussels, Belgium, Audrey Kathleen Rusten, later changed to Audrey Hepburn was the daughter of Dutch Baroness Ella van Heemstra and banker Joseph Hepburn-Rushton. A shy and introverted tomboy, young Audrey Hepburn spent time with nannies and her beloved brothers. Yet as well off and aristocratic Audrey’s family were, her parents argued incessantly. Audrey’s father growing more enamored with National Socialism was a sign of things to come as her family life was already fractured.
Here on the stage, the time has come With the strains of “Be my Angel”, of rock in two four Time may keep alive that old swan song That we’ve been playing forever ‘Til the time may be right to say “goodbye” My voice is aching I’m tongue tired And the sounds we are making are so…
Audrey’s mother concerned with her being withdrawn, decided to send young Audrey to a boarding school which Audrey described as “shock therapy:” “From a very early age, she was always rather shy, and withdrawn, and introspective and it had gotten to the point where her mother was worried about her. So her mother sent her to a boarding school in England as ‘shock therapy’ and it evidently worked.”
Audrey excelled at school and even took interest in dance. But tensions continued to worsen and Audrey’s father soon divorced the baroness and completely abandoned the family, an abandonment that would forever leave Audrey feeling scarred and insecure:
“My father leaving us, left me insecure for life, perhaps. I do think there are things, experiences in childhood, form you for the rest of your life.”
As World War II broke-out in Europe in 1939, Audrey’s mother decided to relocate them to her native country, the Netherlands as the baroness believed the country would be safe because of its neutral status. But on May 10, 1940, the Netherlands was invaded by Nazi Germany. While under Nazi occupation, Audrey and her family had to endure nightmarish hardships, suffering terrible famine and starvation which historians refer to as “The Dutch Hunger Winter.” It was so severe that Audrey had to eat chewed up bulbs and cooked grass:
“There are so many images that will never go away. I saw these German tanks coming for hours, marching, driving. Holland fell after five days. There was a knock on the door and they took my uncle away who six months later was shot and another uncle, too, and my brothers went underground. But, a child is a child, is a child! You live by the day.”
Goodnight song, played so wrong Blame the crowd, they screamed so loud, so long
Throughout the occupation, Audrey would use her natural gift of goodwill and humanitarianism. Although her mother was initially a Nazi sympathizer, the baroness views quickly changed when Audrey’s uncle was imprisoned and killed. Audrey and her mother began to support the underground Dutch resistance where Audrey raised funds with her ballet performances and served as a courier to deliver messages for the anti-Nazi resistance.
On May 5, 1945, Just a day after her 16th birthday, the Nazi occupation had ended and the Netherlands were liberated. Within days UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) had brought emergency supplies and food to the Dutch. The humanitarianism by UNRRA would forever give Audrey a new lease on life and inspired her to provide the same to others so desperately in need.
“The day we were liberated was so exciting and that’s when life started again. As soon as I could, I wanted desperately to become a dancer and I got a scholarship in the Rambert Ballet School in London.”
After the war, Audrey and her mother relocated to London, England where Audrey continued to pursue her dream of becoming a ballerina. But at 19 years old, Audrey’s dreams could never be materialized as she was told she was too tall and too old to ever become a ballerina: “I was never going to be a great dancer. I was too tall. I didn’t have the training that I should’ve had when I was young because of the war and so forth.”
Dismayed but not deterred, Audrey Hepburn still committed herself to the stage, receiving a few modeling assignments from fashion photographers, taking acting classes, and in 1948, made her first stage debut as a chorus girl in the musical High Button Shoes in London, where a few more small parts followed. Two years later Audrey made her feature film debut in 1951’s One Wild Oat, the, Young Wives’ Tales and Lavender Hill Mob, starring Alec Guiness.
But Audrey Hepburn wouldn’t become a star until she was discovered by French writer Colette while working on Monte Carlo Baby. Colette was so awe struck by Audrey that she insisted Audrey star in the Broadway version of her novel Gigi. Audrey was hesitant and felt undeserving of such an opportunity. Yet in 1951 in the same year Audrey decided to board the Queen Mary to New York for her lead role in Gigi. Her performance was met with great success which led to Audrey Hepburn landing a lead role in William Wyler’s highly acclaimed romantic comedy Roman Holiday (1953).
From then on, Audrey Hepburn’s ascent into a premier Hollywood starlet and cultural phenomenon were undeniable, starring in universally praised and beloved films like Sabrina (1954), War and Peace (1956), Funny Face (1957), and the Nun’s Story (1959). In just five years, Audrey raked in Academy, BAFTA, and Golden Globe Awards. But her crowning achievement came in 1960 with her first husband Mel Ferrer, as she welcomed her first child, Sean Ferrer.
“She very much wanted to have children. She loved children. I think it may have been a way to heal her own youth, but I think she wanted that friendship which she got. We were great friends.” – Sean Ferrer
Audrey would return to the screen in one of her most defining roles ever as an flamboyant and fashionably chic call girl in Blake Edward’s breakout romantic comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961). Audrey now at the height of her career went on to star in cinematic hits like The Children’s Hour (1961), Charade (1963), Paris When It Sizzles (1964), My Fair Lady (1964), and How To Steal a Million (1966).
After nearly 16 years as a lead Hollywood actress, in 1967 Audrey Hepburn separated from her husband and semi-retired from acting, where she wouldn’t do another film until 1976. Although Audrey mostly starred in romantic comedies, from Roman Holiday (1953) to How to Steal a Million (1966), each successive Hepburn performance was nothing short of sensational and completely outdid the last.
Despite not having any formal training as an actress, Audrey was a natural and possessed great depth such as her work in Fred Zinnermann’s The Nun’s Story (1959), William Wyler’s The Children’s Hour (1961), Stanley Donen’s Two for the Road (1967), and Terence Young’s psychological thriller Wait Until Dark (1967). Almost every poll or list of note of greatest Hollywood actresses of all time like AFI’s (American Film Institute) 100 Years… 100 Stars, Audrey is always ranked in the top 5 or 10, and several of her films are deemed culturally significant, given universal high marks by critics and fans alike.
“I think what those clothes signified for her were more than just the fashion. They were sort of an armor of love if you can call it that, of something that enabled her to be appropriately dressed which she believed in.”
Whether on or off the camera, from the big screen to fashion shoots, Audrey without a doubt was the fashion icon of the 20th Century and even today, you can see her look and style emulated throughout the cultural landscape. Owing to her learned poise, steaming from years performing ballet, Audrey maximized her innate elegance and simplicity to achieve a look that was so unlike anyone else’s of the time. To Simple tops, beat-necks, ballet flats, headscarfs, to her iconic little black dress, Audrey’s looks were so timeless and exquisite.
Yet Audrey’s iconic look wasn’t something completely contrived on its own as Hubert de Givenchy designed many iconic dresses for the actress like the white lace gown worn at the Academy Awards in 1954 or her unforgettable black cocktail dress worn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Although initially Givenchy wasn’t impressed by Audrey when they first met, the two hit it off swimmingly shortly after, where an inseparable lifelong friendship was cherished between them:
“She’d tell me something. I always remember and very touching. She said, ‘You know, when I’d wear a white blouse or a little suit you create for me, I have the feeling to be protect [sic] by your suit or by your blouse, and this protection is very important to me.’” Hubert de Givenchy
Although Audrey Hepburn was so revered by the public and thought to be one of the most beautiful women in the world at the time, she couldn’t understand their adulation and never saw herself as beautiful:
“She didn’t think she was particularly beautiful or striking. She did feel she was awkward and too thin and maybe not as appealing as other movie stars. And so she always looked at the fact that she was so famous as kind of a freak accident of nature.”
Audrey Hepburn’s final film, Always (1989), was a romantic fantasy drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starred Richard Dreyfuss. Finally departing from acting, Audrey who always held a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude to UNRRA for assisting her and many victims of War World II with food and medical supplies, jumped at the opportunity to become a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Audrey’s first field mission was in Ethiopia. While there, Audrey witnessed unfathomable horrors of civil strife and dreadful famine. Although Audrey disliked being a celebrity and being in the spotlight, she nonetheless felt compelled to use her fame to raise awareness to the plight of children suffering from extreme poverty and famine.
“My mother always impressed upon us. You have to be useful, to be needed and to be able to give love. I think that’s even more important than receiving it.”
According to Luca Dotti, Audrey Hepburn’s son, in the recent book Warrior: Audrey Hepburn authored by Robert Matzen, at the age of 60 years old, Audrey braved bombs and bullets in the most dangerous war zones like Somalia in the world to give aid and shine a light on nightmarish conditions children had to survive in underdeveloped countries. “‘I love this woman,’” says Matzen. “Warrior is the story of a genuine hero who signed on to UNICEF and then drove herself mercilessly for the cause.”
After nearly four years of tireless humanitarian work for UNICEF, Audrey Hepburn was diagnosed with colon cancer. Given just months to live, she returned to her home in Switzerland to be with her sons Sean and Luca, and long time partner, Robert Wolders. On January 20, 1993, Hepburn passed away in her sleep.
Get some honesty Take the best of me and then the rest let go In every situation with it’s tireless rage Step outside the cage And let the real fool show I should have stayed ’round to break the ice I thought about it once or twice But nothing ever changes Unless there’s some pain
It’s quite remarkable the loving legacy and rich cinematic wonders Audrey Hepburn left for the world. Despite all of the tragedies and darkness that followed Audrey Hepburn throughout her life, with the goodwill teachings of her mother and Audrey’s innate brilliant humanity, she possessed an uncanny altruism which she showered onto the world. And whatever pain or sadness she might’ve found herself in, she could always feel renewed comforting and loving others, and in a beautiful life cycle, the world felt convalesced in her love:
“She was a living embodiment of the best in the human heart, the human mind, and soul. And I think people drew sustenance from that.” – Harry Belafonte
In her modesty and selflessness, Audrey Hepburn couldn’t help but feel all the awards, heaps of praise, love, and global notoriety were unmerited. She never saw herself as beautiful, that talented or fathom how she could be a star at all: “She was happiest not wearing makeup and at home with the dogs and the flowers and giggling away or going to the movies, and not being a movie star at all.” – Doris Brynner
Goodnight song, played so wrong Blame the crowd, they screamed so loud, so long
Audrey Hepburn was just as insecure, as unsure of herself as the rest of us. But she beautifully braved the human condition. She showed us an inner beauty that is unselfishly in the service of others, a goodwill that can transform the world for the better, an outward manifestation of love that can mend our inner sadness and pain if we let it. She was the embodiment of love and on the stage of life, she shined like nobody else.
“She’s the girl from across the landing who puts on a little black dress and she’s a wonderful package of imperfections and yeah, she pulls it off and she goes out there and makes it happen. “And we root for her and we feel a certain ownership, we feel her as one of us, that is really the best way I can describe it. And it’s extraordinary.”
I’m so happy for Linda Evangelista. Her impact on fashion, art, and pop culture are immeasurable. I loved reading her interviews in fashion magazines and the person that I found was so humble, caring, hard working, selfless, and couldn’t help but uplift everyone else around her. She’s such a creative magnet and her work and passion truly brings out the best in people. Thanks for sharing your story. I’m sure there will be a resolution to all this one day. Wishing You Happiness & Infinite Love ♡
Canadian supermodel Linda Evangelista opens up about the fat-freezing nightmare that left her "permanently deformed" https://t.co/JFVlXBbJFv
Go behind the scenes of this week's cover story on the PEOPLE Every Day podcast, where we're breaking down everything supermodel Linda Evangelista had to say about her life changing cosmetic procedure. https://t.co/eIACoME5GWpic.twitter.com/45zy6QrNSC
Exemplifying all the colorful pantomime charm of silent film era great Charlie Chaplin while exuding the elegance and chameleon-like versatility of Linda Evangelista, Raquel Zimmermann, a native of Bom Retiro do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, has been a stalwart, inspiration, and friendly presence in the ever changing, fast paced world of high fashion since debuting in 1999. Yet this illustrious 20 year fashion journey, too, had its humble beginnings in a young rock ‘n’ roll soul, who was far more preoccupied with strumming away to her favorite Legião Urbana songs on guitar than being bogged down in makeup and dresses.
Threw you the obvious And you flew with it on your back A name in your recollection Down, among a million same
As a carefree child with hardworking parents, Raquel described herself as a bit of a rascal, frolicking in nature, climbing trees, racing bikes, and being virtually indistinguishable from her older brother: “I had a very happy childhood, with an older brother and a younger sister. I was a rascal. Novo Hamburgo is very green and I was always able to play outside. Although my life is now very different, my childhood was stamped on me as I still love natural surroundings the most.”
Raquel as a child also sung in her church’s choir, was a girl scout, and wanted to be a ballet dancer, taking up the performative art for a year. Raquel recounts taking guitar classes at the age of six years old with her classmate and friend Renata, both thinking they were the coolest kids around and hilariously carrying around guitars that were bigger than they were:
“I loved music and took guitar classes with my friend when I was 6. It was Raquel and Renata: the couple Ra and Re. We used to make up songs and it was so cool! We would walk around with our guitars that were bigger than we were. We used to play musica sertaneja (kind of country music). Pense em mim, chore por mim, liga pra mim, não, não liga pra ele. We used to play at school, in front of all the other kids.”
Difficult not to feel a little bit Disappointed and passed over When I look right through To see you naked, but oblivious
And you don’t see me
Yet as Raquel got older, the same height that would lead to an international career, was at first a hindrance, making her awkwardly standout among her classmates, unfortunately becoming a target of nick names and name calling. “School was a low point. When I was 11, 12 the girls were already wearing little dresses, with curves. About 13, 14 years old. I was the ugly duck. I was always hiding. I used to wear my father’s shirts, really big ones. I’ve always had a bad posture. Because I was much taller than the other girls.”
But at the age of 14 years old, the wheels of fate began to turn, as classmates would compare Raquel to fellow Brazilian model Shirley Mallmann and encouraged Raquel Zimmermann to give her hand at modeling because of her height. Raquel never even fathomed becoming a model, yet her interest was peaked and she was eventually scouted in Sao Paulo at the age of 15. Shortly after, Raquel was already in fashion epicenters like Tokyo, Japan, Milan, and Paris.
Raquel’s parents naturally had their apprehensions about their daughter venturing out oversees alone and not waiting to finish school, Raquel in hindsight, too, agreed with her parents, lamenting not completing her education before becoming a model: “My parents were a bit against me being a model. They thought I should finish school, and I think they were right. I studied until the 8th grade. They wanted me to be a teacher. And for me, that was a good idea back then.”
Speaking very little English, having to mime to communicate, being homesick, and missing her family back in Brazil, Raquel almost called it quits while on a casting to a Giorgio Armani show where there were 200 girls, all tall, beautiful, and thin. “The line was around the block and it was cold. I was tired and I really missed my family. At that time, I thought: ‘Raquel, do you really want to do this?’” Raquel, usually calling on the strength and wisdom of her grandfather in her time of need, gathered up her courage and determination and said:
“‘No, Raquel. You will wait in this line, you’re doing the casting and you’re booking this show!’ And that’s what happened. My first show in Milan was for Giorgio Armani. I’ll never forget. Armani himself chose me.”
Raquel’s big break finally came after arriving in New York in 1999, having a chance meeting with legendary photographer and a man she would regard as her fashion godfather, Steven Meisel. “In 1999 I came to New York, I immediately fell in love with the fast dynamics of this city. Shortly after I arrived there, Steven Meisel saw a Polaroid of me and shot me for the cover of the Italian Vogue. From there, it started correctly.”
“When I was chosen for the job, people told me he was the greatest photographer and my career would change.”
Along with gracing both back to back covers for the Vogue Italia August and September issues photographed by Steven Meisel, some of Raquel’s first fashion shows were for Balmain, Chanel, Loewe, Emporio Armani, Sonia Rykiel and several other big names like Isabel Marant, Givenchy, Versace, and Valentino. Her incredible momentum would carry over on to the 2001 season as she walked for everyone from Christian Dior to Guy Laroche!
In 2002, Raquel would once again grace the cover of Vogue Italia shot by Steven Meisel, and saw her first commercial success with Valentino’s Fall/Winter ad, also photographed by Steven Meisel. Raquel also walked her first of three Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows in 2002. By the end of the 2002 fashion season, Raquel had easily walked in a hundred or more shows in her first two years.
But I threw you the obvious Just to see if there’s more behind The eyes of a fallen angel Eyes of a tragedy
Despite her hard earned success, Raquel was on the verge of burnout in 2004 until Raquel’s fashion godmother, Miuccia Prada gave Raquel a much needed push by featuring her in an upcoming Prada show and campaign: “It was precisely in 2004, when I was going through a phase of few jobs and almost gave up on the profession. I thought about returning to Brazil and studying. I thought it was time to change.”
By February of that year, Raquel’s star had arrived, as she opened for Prada’s Fall 2004 Ready-to-Wear show and landed major campaigns for Escada, Prada, and Versace, all photographed my Steven Meisel! That same year, Raquel would go on to walk for major names such as Balenciaga, Celine, Chanel, Chloe, D&G, Fendi, Lanvin, Michael Kors, Miu Miu, and Viktor &Rolf!
By the mid 2000s, Raquel Zimmermann was a fashion powerhouse, starring alongside Doutzen Kroes in 2005 for Gucci’s Fall 2005 Campaign, scoring Chanel’s Eyewear Resort 2006 campaign, Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring Summer 2006 campaign, and Dior’s Eyewear Spring Summer 2006 Campaign. When Raquel wasn’t lighting up the runways or being featured in fashion campaigns, she was routinely working with greats like David Sims, Inez and Vinoodh, Mikael Jansson, Mario Testino, and Steven Meisel for Vogue Paris.
Raquel was also a hit commercially, amassing campaigns for Louis Vuitton Resort 2006, Max Mara Spring Summer 2006, and Viktor & Rolf for H&M. Raquel also had some of her most iconic runway moments for the 2007 and 2008 seasons, walking in Versace’s Spring Summer 2006 Show, Dior’s Haute Couture Spring Summer 2007 Show, and Alexander McQueen’s Spring Summer 2008 fashion show.
Raquel Zimmermann was such a force on the runways that she eventually caught the eye of the great Karl Lagerfeld, where she had the honor of opening for Chanel’s Spring 2007 Couture Show, walking arm in arm with Lagerfeld in Chanel’s Fall 2007 Couture Show, opening for Chanel’s Resort 2008 show on a Los Angeles Airfield, and one of my personal favorites, opening for Karl Lagerfeld’s Spring 2008 Ready to Wear Show, where models actually walked on a neon rainbow runway! Raquel and Lagerfeld even became good friends over the years, becoming a major inspiration in Zimmermann’s life:
“What I like about fashion is that it’s connected to the cultural world. Each designer has it. Some travelled, got an inspiration. Or they met someone, or read a book. People have this image, ‘Wow! Karl Lagerfeld.’ But he’s such a sweet, friendly, funny person. And he’s really connected to culture, art, travelling. I had the pleasure to work with him many times. He’s not as technical as Steven Klein or Steven Meisel. He’s more of an idea, a moment, taking a picture and that’s it. Quickly. He’s more about having a good time.”
After more than a decade in the fashion industry and having one of the most decorated careers a top model could dream of and reaching icon status, Raquel Zimmermann began to transition from being a full time model to enjoying downtime riding horses, going to museums, spending time in nature, and skateboarding for a time, but after a bad fall, she began to learn to surf. But her life would undergo another major change, when acclaimed film director David Lynch, suggested Raquel practice Transcendental Mediation while shooting for a Gucci Campaign:
“Transcendental Meditation changed my whole lifestyle in a year. And one big change happened four months ago when I realized I had to quit smoking. It was something that I’ve been carrying with me through all my modeling career cause I thought smoking would keep me thin and I started to realize all these challenges, these things were good things, so stop smoking. It’s something that made me proud to be a non smoker and to take care of myself.”
“Now I wake up and before I used to wake up and the only thing I could think about was how I needed a coffee to get out of bed and how I needed to watch the news that thing already starting the day with that stress and the worries and everything was a problem. And now, I wake up, always in a light mood, and I do my meditation and it makes me feel, it’s funny like when I meditate I feel this excitement like what is the day going to be like today. It’s almost like how people say, ‘Live every day of your life like if it were the last day?’ That’s the feeling I get like today is the day and all these things that I can do today! And it’s like an excitement feeling but at the same time it’s like calming. And now more and more, I know it’s been a year now, I really start to feel this blissful feeling, and it comes and you’re like, ‘wow.’ You know, it’s beautiful.”
Here, I am, expecting just a little bit Too much from the wounded But I see, see through it all See through, see you
Out of the amazing iconic cast of top fashion models of the 2000s, Raquel by many is regarded as the most versatile, daring, and wildly creative. From the runways, campaigns, covers, and editorials, Raquel could tap into any range of characters, emotions, concept or artistic vision, and bring the best out of the creatives around her.
Her work in many editions of Vogue Paris and Italia would leave any art student or photographer in awe of her creativity and adaptability. David Sims, Steven Meisel, and Inez & Vinoodh could always get the best out of Raquel, creating seminal work like David Sim’s Future Shock or his out of this world 2013 ad for Alexander McQueen, or Inez & Vinoodh’s lively editorial for Vogue Paris November 2011, or one of my personal favorites from Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia August 2011 where Raquel puts on the most whimsical, gender bending pantomime display like a fashion model meets Broadway Musical. The editorial is so masterfully done and it’s arguably some of the best emoting you can see from a model since Linda Evangelista.
Oh well, apparently nothing Apparently nothing, at all
“She lives each story with intensity and can really bring to life the female characters that characterize the different collections of the brand.”
– Luis Fiod, creative director
“Raquel has the rare quality of mimicry. She could be a royal lady, a 15th century Spaniard, a rockabilly boy, a sexy goddess and even a elegant woman. And the synthesis of what we mean by ‘model.’”
– Saulo Fonesca, makeup artist
“The energizer model! I think she’s the only model of the last ten years who never goes out of fashion. It’s as though she never ages yet gets better-looking each season. Probably the most versatile model of all, she truly could be in any show. Her professionalism rivals any model and her timeliness is equal to Cindy Crawford’s, whose punctuality was legendary.”
– James Scully, casting agent
You don’t, you don’t, you don’t see me You don’t, you don’t, you don’t see me You don’t, you don’t, you don’t see me You don’t, you don’t, you don’t see me
Outside of all the glamour and prestige of fashion modeling, Raquel Zimmermann is extremely humble and a down to earth person, a conscientious thinker who loves to read Kahlil Gibran, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Rudolf Steiner, Maharishi Mahesh Yogiand, and just like her rock ‘n’ roll style icon Patti Smith, Raquel prefers the laid back style of a simple t-shirt, jeans, leather jacket, and boots. “I’m at the stage where I want to live each day as if it were the last. I don’t plan for the future. Today I’m here and I want to make the most of it.”
A true to life allegory of a teen struggling to find their place in a disconcerting world and feeling invisible because of her appearance to harnessing a unique creativity and amiable inner-beauty, Raquel Zimmermann has “fashioned” a monumental career in a decades long journey and impacted an industry, designers, and colleagues profoundly along the way. A super-conscious mind, heart, and inspiration, a true thesis of love, Raquel Zimmermann.
You don’t see me You don’t, you don’t, you don’t see me, at all
Bestowed with imitable grace, poise, and amiable charm, the screen legend and humanitarian, born Audrey Kathleen Rusten would not only survive the ravages of World War II, but go onto leave a lasting impact on film, fashion and forever live on in the hearts of countless around the globe. But before the awards, honors, and international acclaim, the modest aspiring ballerina could have never foreseen such a remarkable life before her that was so drastically different from her childhood.
Born on May 4, 1929, in Brussels, Belgium, Audrey Kathleen Rusten, later changed to Audrey Hepburn was the daughter of Dutch Baroness Ella van Heemstra and banker Joseph Hepburn-Rushton. A shy and introverted tomboy, young Audrey Hepburn spent time with nannies and her beloved brothers. Yet as well off and aristocratic Audrey’s family were, her parents argued incessantly. Audrey’s father growing more enamored with National Socialism was a sign of things to come as her family life was already fractured.
Super Love Unknown 
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