INTRODUCING OUR NEXT MUSE: THE EMBODIMENT OF BOLD BEAUTY, EFFORTLESS ELEGANCE, AND UNAPOLOGETIC SELF-CARE. A POWERFUL STYLIST AND ACTRESS, BORN IN ROMANIA AND IMMIGRATED TO NEW ZEALAND.

A MUSE BORN OF RITUAL, RADIANCE, AND REVERENCE. SHE IS THE FEMININE SPIRIT REIMAGINED AND SHE’S JUST GETTING STARTED.

To start, please share a bit about your background and what inspires you in your current role?

I have been passionate about fashion and beauty since as long as I can remember. My earliest memory of this is playing dress up in my grandmother's closet as a little girl growing up in Romania. I would day my grandmother was a huge inspiration to me as she was always into dressing beautifully and paid attention to her beauty routine daily with skincare, body care, makeup and perfume. At 19, I decided to put a pause on my Arts and Media degree and pursue my passion for makeup artistry by moving up to Auckland from the south island and finishing a Makeup Diploma at Samala Robinson. That kick started my career in retail within the beauty industry, seven years later I decided I wanted to pursue my love for fashion which landed me a job at luxury fashion working for Louis Vuitton. After a while there and taking some time off to travel I came across Faradays. I have been the store director here for two years, everything from the designers we stock, to the  architecture and our beautiful and loyal clients inspires me daily. 

You moved from Romania to New Zealand 19 years ago. What made you move to New Zealand and how has it influenced your journey and career? 

My parents wanted a better life and education for my two siblings and I which sparked our move here. I am so grateful to them for having the courage to do that in their forties, it was an incredibly hard journey for our family in the early years of being here and me not speaking the English language at all but it was all worth it when I look at what I have done and achieved in my life now. I think being an immigrant in my teenage years really helped me build a lot of internal resilience as well as a genuine sense of gratitude for everything I have been able to do and experience. It has driven me to follow my creative passions and remain grateful for every opportunity I have been given.

You have the most amazing refined style, tell us what inspires you when creating your looks and how do you define your personal style?

I am inspired by the 90s a lot, I do love looking back through old magazines and fashion photography books that I keep close by to get inspired. I would describe my style as generally elegant with a sexy edge, it really does depend on my mood also and I love to play different characters through the way that I dress.

Surrounded by the best of luxury in New Zealand, what are your favourite labels and how does this influence your everyday wardrobe?

Alaïa, my personal favourite brand, is the pinnacle of elegance mixed with a sexy and classy edge. I also love savouring a lot of vintage stores and finding really unique pieces. One of my all time favourite finds I currently own is a vintage  Thierry Mugler velvet top which is very synced in at the waits and really actuates  the female form without showing too much skin.

How do you define your personal approach to beauty? 

I try and approach beauty from all angles, so for me its more about the essence of a person rather than just how someone looks. Beauty is very subjective and I find that fostering a positive and loving attitude is one of the ways to keep the essence of beauty alive. Physically, I do use skincare and body care to take care daily to nourish my skin. I have created a daily morning and evening ritual that works for me. Not only does this give me a sense of daily self care but I also find it is a nice way of staring and ending the day.

Which Tronque product do you find yourself using most often, and what makes it a standout in your routine? 

I have had a lump removed from my breast earlier this year so the Tronque scar concentrate has been a must for me as I have used this to treat my post surgery scar

The triple active body milk has been an absolute star for me, since its launch I have not been able to put this down. It leaves my skin so hydrated and plump and I love how lightweight the formula is, oh and of course the iconic Tronuque fragrance.

Quickfire Questions: 

Favourite self-care indulgence when you need a reset? A sauna followed by a cold plunge is one of my favourite ways to reset my nervous system.

Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Things are never as bad as they seem.

One book or podcast you’re loving right now?  I have always been a big fan of Tim Ferris and his podcast, I find him extremely interesting and intelligent and he is a great interviewer who speaks to a diverse range of topics.

If you could teleport anywhere for a weekend, where would you go? I would absolutely love to be teleported to the Maldives for the weekend. I have always wanted to go.

Last song you had on repeat? Jeff Buckley “Lover you should’ve come over” ( I am a hopeless romantic)