CLAUDIA SCHIFFER
four – is nothing but modest
and very well-balanced. Indeed,
it seems, as she chats to Stylist about
motherhood, overcoming her shyness
and turning 40, that she has her head
firmly screwed on…
You’ve been living in the UK for nine
years now, does it feel like home?
Yes. Obviously my husband and
children are here and I’ve made many
friends here too. I don’t think that
I could go back now. I do still feel
German, though. Whenever I go over
there for a visit, I bring back loads of
German delicacies, like black bread
– a very healthy, dense bread. There’s
nothing like it here. I also bring back
German DVDs and music for my kids.
They’re fluent now as I speak to them
in German and Matthew speaks to
them in English.
You’ve been a model for more than
two decades, how have you managed
to maintain such longevity?
I really don’t know. I have never been
in this business because I wanted to be
famous; I wanted to be taken seriously.
My aim was always just to work with
the best photographers and designers
in the business. I think if you really give
it your all and are professional, people
really appreciate it.
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I also think it helped that I made
a name for myself early on. Young
models have a much harder time.
Seasons change so much more
quickly now and it’s not just models
who do magazine covers and
campaigns any more, but actresses,
singers and reality-TV stars.
You’ve built up a good relationship
with many designers over the
years. Who are your favourites
to work for?
Oh, so many. Alberta Ferretti, who
I’ve just collaborated on a fragrance
with. Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, who
I admire very much and have worked
with for a long time. I love Valentino,
who has been a very loyal friend to
me and I’m close to Stefano and
Domenico at Dolce & Gabanna.
Which photographers do you enjoy
working with the most?
There are a handful of photographers
that I like to work for, including Mario
Testino and Steven Klein and I think
Nick Knight is amazing. Trust is the
key to a good photograph. The more
trust there is, the more limitless the
creativity. With the right photographer
you can just go crazy; it might not end
up in the final shot, but something
great will always come out of it. If
THE�RISE�OF�A�SUPERMODEL
you’re in good hands they’ll coax the
confidence out of you.
What have you learnt from modelling?
I’ve learnt to overcome my shyness.
Modelling has been a great type of
therapy for me. Working with so
many different personalities – good
and bad – has forced me to come out
of my shell. Obviously all the travelling
has taught me to become very
independent and I’ve also learnt to
live each day like it’s my last.
As a shy teenager, how difficult was
it for you when you started out?
When most models start out, they love
and want the attention. For me it was
very much the reverse. When
I was first discovered [dancing in
a Düsseldorf disco in 1987, by Michel
Levaton, director of the Metropolitan
Model Agency] I didn’t want to
become a model; I didn’t even know
what it was. I was just so shy and hated
being the centre of attention. I always
sat in the back row at school, scared
From being discovered in a disco aged 17, to fronting multi-million ad campaigns, Claudia's career has
seen her reach global fame and spanned two decades. And there's still no stopping her…
Clockwise from above:
Schiffer fronts a 1990 Guess?
Jeans campaign; in the
same year Karl Lagerfeld
chooses her as the face
of Chanel; big-haired and
denim-clad in a Nineties
Versace ad; starring in
a 2009 Albera Ferretti
fragrance campaign
that someone was going to look at me.
When most models walk into a shoot
they want everyone to stare at them,
whereas I would walk into an Elle
or Vogue studio thinking: “Out of the
three girls, I hope they’re not going to
choose me. I hope I’m not going to be the
one in front of the camera, and I hope no
one notices me.”
As soon as I was signed, I went straight
to Paris, then to New York, then to LA
and it was the first time I’d ever visited
any of these places. I constantly could
not believe it was happening to me.
How did you overcome your shyness?
I learnt from other people. I analysed a
lot, still do. I almost know what everyone
“I THINK I’M A VERY GROUNDED,
BALANCED PERSON. I DON’T
LIVE TO BE FAMOUS”
is thinking and feeling as soon as I walk
into a room. It’s a very tiring thing to do
and I had to actively try to stop doing
that, stop worrying about what everyone
else was thinking and be more confident.
I just became better and better at it. I still
read everyone’s emotions, though and
know immediately if I’ve said something
wrong. I guess I’m just sensitive.
You’re 40 next year, have your enjoyed
your 30s?
Completely. I think that, because I had
been so shy, my 30s have been the best
years of my life so far. I would never want
to be in my 20s again, I definitely didn’t
feel as good as I do today. I know what
I want now and I don’t feel as shy about
asking for it. I’ve never done anything that
I didn’t want to do, because I think I have
quite good instincts.
What’s your attitude towards getting
older? For some it’s terrifying…
I’m surprised to say that it doesn’t
bother me. I have a lot of friends who
are the same age and we’re all growing
older together; it’s just what happens
in life. It’s 100% normal and I’ve always
felt that way. For me, the most important
factor is good health. It’s far more
important to worry about what you’re
putting into your body than to worry
about your wrinkles.
I’ve done so much in my life so I don’t
look at 40 and think: “Oh my God, what
have I achieved?” It’s a nice place to be in
my life because I don’t have to work every
single day, I can pick and choose what I
want to do. You don’t have to do the job
that means you’re away from the kids.
I think I’m a very grounded, balanced
person. I don’t live to be famous, I don’t
live to be invited to parties, I don’t live
to be the centre of attention. I think
the people that struggle with getting
older are those who focus too much
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