The most fun project of last year was being a judge on Holland’s Next Top Model. And going to New York, and with Fred, and with Anouk and with Dirk and getting to work with all those beautiful girls in the bud of their bloom.
So when executive producer Femke called me while I was stuck in a suicidal traffic jam to tell me that we were continuing with the same team this year, the sun broke through.
I booked a tutoring session with presentation coach Minoesch Jorissen and called my favorite stylist from my Marie Claire days, Anouk van Griensven. When I tell you that Anouk is also the regular stylist for Ilse DeLange, you understand why. “Do you still have a sample size, May?” she asked me. I believed so, and off we went.
From that moment on, there was a WhatsApp bombardment with possible looks. Or we briefly went through the collection of Dolce & Gabbana over the phone. What I thought of the Rochas embroidered with gold thread, and that nice asymmetrical always-good dress from Barbara Bui. A box of Wouters & Hendrix jewelry was sent, and Chanel sent the most beautiful cuff bracelets.
For the leader, we chose a dress from Viktor & Rolf. Ultra-short, made of very dark blue tapestry-like material with funky pockets in fluorescent yellow. As soon as I stepped out of bed, I texted a photo of the dress to Fred, my style compass, and he apparently threw it into the HNTM app group because everyone was talking about The Dress.
Where it was from, whether it was also just for sale, what it would cost approximately, how I could get it, and whether I could keep it. And then that all over again.
It was clear that it wouldn’t be about the dress today.
When I was in make-up, even fellow judge Dirk Kikstra seemed to interfere with my outfit. A message popped up with the text; “Are you in H&M?”
“Dude.”, I wrote back. I think H&M is super, but for the leader, I find it a bit too ordinary. I’m in V&R today.
“What’s V&R?” Dirk asked.
“Dude. Viktor & Rolf.”
“I think it’s really nice to know what you’re wearing, May. But with H&M, I meant Hair and Make-up.”
That immediately made it clear that we have a different view of the world. And that’s what makes it so fun.
