THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HANNE GABY ODIELE
Model Hanne, 35, has walked runways om Chanel to Prada and starred in campaigns for clients including Mulberry and Balenciaga. As one of Belgium’s greatest fashion exports, she shares her style advice.
On being scouted at 17…
I got scouted by my mother agency Dominique Models when I was 17, at a music festival in my town. A couple of weeks later I was o on my very rst plane to NYC, to participate in New York Fashion Week. My rst show was for Marc Jacobs.
On learning her model walk…
I didn’t grow up in fashion – I had never worn heels or make-up until I started modelling. Heels were an especially big obstacle for me in the beginning. I had a bad car accident a er my rst year in New York, where I had a long recovery, but I was determined to come back. I wore heels when I was riding around in my wheelchair and when I had to learn to walk again I wore heels, and nally gured them out.
On her favourite fashion shows…
When I was able to walk in heels, I did many shows like Prada, Balenciaga, YSL, Louis Vuitton. It’s hard to pick just one favourite, but I was especially honoured to walk Mc ueen’s shows under Alexander Mc ueen.
On the modelling industry then and now…
When I rst started modelling, we didn’t have smartphones. I was living in a model apartment and each evening we patiently waited to get our schedule for the next day – and hoped there was enough ink in the printer. ere wasn’t social media yet; I think relationships were a bit more natural and we had more privacy.
On life as a model…
Modelling has given me so many amazing opportunities; thanks to social media, models are given a much larger platform. In 2017, I came out to the world as intersex. For many people it was the rst time to hear about intersex and for many intersex people it was the rst time they saw themselves represented.
On dressing up now…
I dress for myself and the moment. I actually enjoy fashion month quite a lot – it’s like one big travelling circus! It can get hectic sometimes and then my advice would be ‘just breathe’.