UNEXPECTED ILJA

With Ilja and May, it’s never boring. The first time I met her, her waters broke. Seriously. We were at some sort of expectant-mother event and Ilja was already a few days overdue. During her esoteric foot massage, it happened, and there she was. We walked with her to the corner of the street where her beloved would arrive any moment. The contractions started immediately and, as crazy as it sounds, I saw her transform from a young woman into a mother. Her love came rushing in (with a plastic bag on the passenger seat) and five hours later I heard on RTL Boulevard that Poppy was born.

The last time I saw Ilja was also not exactly ordinary. The venue was the Lincoln Centre in New York where she showcased her ready-to-wear collection. Just whoop whoop bam like it was nothing. After the show, I immediately popped backstage because I just wanted to be the first to ask her how it was. I had a cameraman with me so I said; start the film.