SUMMER IN THE CITY

with Fajah Lourens

She once started as an actress in the classic Good times, bad times, then she made many a man wild from behind her DJ booth with her huge mane of curls, and nowadays Instagram is full of women fighting for a killer body. She is blessed with a backside that calls for a tight sports legging, and that just happens to be her latest gem. Fajah Lourens recently launched her new MKBM clothing line. Time to feel her out, uh, tooth. Fajah, tell...

It's summer...

What's in your glass?

‘Well, at the moment a smoothie from book two with mint and celery. I'm preparing for my first bikini competition in December, so unfortunately for me, nothing with sugar in it. No rosé, no cocktails this summer, just water and sugar-free powders that I add for flavor. But if that competition hadn't been there, I would be having rosé with you right now.’

A bikini competition you say, is that a tick on your bucket list?

‘Hmm, yes and no, I don't necessarily enjoy doing it, but I do find it fun to see how far I can go with my body. I also see it as something business-related that I have to do for my company. And also because I haven't trained for a while, it's a goal for me to work towards.

And then I'm back in the flow.’

Aside from that bikini competition, at that glass of rosé, do you order the bitterball or is it a portion of raw vegetables?

‘I don't order a bitterball unless I'm very, very drunk. But I see a spring roll there, I'll gladly take that.’

What is the reaction of people when you just have a glass of wine?

‘Yes, they are really surprised. ‘Well Fajah, are you drinking wíne?’ Yes, I am. Or when I'm at a party where a bitterball is served, people look at me with a questioning glance if that's allowed.’

People have a lot to say about you. What do you think about that and how do you deal with it?

‘Fortunately, I have completely let that go. I have completely lost that. It took me quite a few years and my mother helped me a lot with that. ‘Always let it slide off your cold clothes,’ she would say. Look, there are people who like me or don't like me, but that's on them and has nothing to do with me.’

Where do you settle when the mercury rises above twenty degrees?

‘On a beach bed.’

And what’s on your plate?

‘Well, at the moment just cod with an onion, garlic, tomatoes, and cabbage. But today I have a re-feed day and I'm just going out to eat, okay.’

Which destination is on your ticket?

‘Definitely South Africa or Mongolia. And yes, also a world trip.’

And do you choose your hotel based on the quality of the gym?

‘Yes, I definitely try to.’

Can you also not do anything for a whole week in terms of sports?

‘Yes, but I find that difficult. Now I couldn't do it because of my back, so I had no choice and I definitely have to get used to it. I just started training again this week. I haven't been able to train for almost five weeks due to radiating pain. Now I also find it fun that I've started again. I will go hiking on an empty stomach while on vacation.’

What comes out of your speakers during a workout?

‘House. And I've been meditating a lot lately. I have a kind of cleansing meditation music that has a sort of mantra in it, and I've trained a few times to that. My boyfriend looked at me strangely, but it worked and I was completely focused.’

 Your tip for when there’s a long flight ahead?

‘Drink a lot of water because you just dry out. And bring a face mask or nourishing cream. I definitely don't wear makeup, nice and clean.’

Chicken pasta or a snack of your own?

‘I bring my own. Recently my daughter had a sausage roll at the airport, I looked at the shelf life, it was good for a year. A YEAR, meat. No, I'll pass on that.’

How does your ideal summer day go?

‘My ideal summer day is very relaxed, together with my kids. I prefer to go to Het Twiske. Doing nothing and lying on a bed.’

Are you a luxury type or do you go back to basics in a tent and be green by the campfire?

‘Luxury. Although I would also like to camp in nature once, but then with my boyfriend. I really wouldn't be doing my kids any favors with that.’

Are you the tennis racket type or do your toes not come out of the sand?

‘Lying on my towel, I'm doing nothing.’

What do you do in the summer that would never occur to you in the winter?

‘Baking.’

Are you team soft serve or team water ice?

‘Soft serve ice cream, sooo delicious. I would love to have a little machine that lets me make ice cream myself with yogurt and such. Because there's so much sugar in everything.’

What else is on your bucket list?

‘Winning the bikini competition and I would really like to go on a world trip. Just traveling for a year with the kids and not knowing where you're going. Backpack on and go.’

Enough about summer, let's talk about your new clothing line, which you recently launched. What did you pay attention to during the production of this line?

‘The quality had to be top-notch. The pants shouldn't stretch, sag, or pill. It had to be really good right away because if you buy something once that you're not satisfied with, you won't do it a second time.’

Is your clothing really only for the gym or can you also just wear it on the street?

‘We have different leggings and nice hoodies and sweaters, so you can just keep walking around in them.’

Can we also find your clothing abroad?

‘Yes, we are already in Germany and Switzerland. And of course, I hope that many more countries will join. But take it easy; runners are dead runners.’

What will you reach for first after your bikini competition?

‘Warm apple pie with whipped cream or cheesecake. I love cheesecake. And a bar of Tony’s Chocolonely. But I really don't want to think about that right now or I'll get cravings.’

And then that world trip?

‘Well, at least a month of doing nothing, because something really fun is coming up next year. But I'll keep my mouth shut about that for now.’