Ester camatari - PRINCESS OF BURUNDI, A SMALL EAST AFRICAN COUNTRY BORDERING WITH TANZANIA AND RWANDA. In the 70s, she became the first model from Africa to conquer the Paris podium. TODAY SHE WRITES BOOKS, READS LECTURES AROUND THE WORLD AND STEPS WITH ACTIONS IN DEFENSE OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS. NOT SO LONGLY FRENCH BRAND GUERLAIN APPOINTED HER AMBASSADOR OF BEAUTY. WE MET WITH ESTER IN DUBAI AT THE HOTEL ONE & ONLY THE PALMWHERE THE FIRST SPA GUERLAIN OPENED IN THE UAE last year.
Esther, how do you feel when you first arrived in Dubai?
Esther Kamatari: Dubai is the city of the future. Just fantastic. I won’t be surprised if in ten years cars will begin to fly through the air here, as in the movie The Fifth Element. Everything seems to be possible in this country. Take Dubai Airport. Yes, my whole country can fit there! (laughs)
At one time you "revolutionized" the fashion catwalk of Europe, becoming the first model from Africa. What message do you transmit to the world today?
Esther Kamatari: My message is that beauty is multinational. 50 years ago, a blonde with blue eyes and preferably with a “babette” on her head was considered beautiful. But many looked at themselves in the mirror and realized that they were far from this image. Today we come to understand that beauty can be different.
Beauty is within you. Beauty is you. Beauty is how you love yourself, how much you respect. Beauty is the message that you broadcast to the rest. Beauty is tolerance, this is humanity, this is mercy. And this beauty also needs to be maintained and cultivated. My role as Ambassador Guerlain is the transfer of knowledge, the broadcasting of culture and the art of beauty.
What do you do to maintain your beauty?
Esther Kamatari: Today we all come to the conclusion that maintaining beauty is a skill that can be acquired. And every woman should know how to be beautiful, and learn this. Parents should teach, first of all mother. But if this is not the case, then authorities in various fields should learn. And I see my role in Guerlain just in this.
Today, when you have money, you can buy different branded items and look expensive. But you cannot buy elegance. Elegance can only be learned. The "effect of presence" - when you arrive somewhere and all attention is directed to you - it is impossible to imitate. It comes from within. This is how you relate to your environment, what vibrations you emit. If you respect others, you get respect in return. There is no other way.
Together with Guerlain, we organized a master class in Paris on how to be a princess. To start, I teach you how to walk. Look around - everyone is slouching, hunching, lowering shoulders when they are sitting. But elegance is a straight back. Is always. You can't stoop elegantly - it's from different areas, understand? But elegance can be learned! You have to keep your back straight, pull your stomach in, hold your arms correctly. This is called the culture of beauty.
What Guerlain products do you personally use?
Esther Kamatari: I love Orchidée Impériale Black - it is incomparable. All products of this brand are very precisely calibrated and aimed at the needs of our skin. After all, the brand has existed since 1828, it is the knowledge of beauty accumulated in each jar. For this I love Guerlain - they know what they are doing. In addition to cream, I usually use mousse to cleanse the skin and eye serum.
After cleansing the skin and applying the cream, I always give myself a massage with the fingertips around the eyes. After all, you go to the gym, shake the press, legs and arms, but it is unlikely that you pay as much attention to muscles and face tone. A small massage every day will allow you to maintain a radiant look for a long time. And this is what should go into your daily ritual. Only then will you remain youthful. I deal with the face for half an hour in the morning, half an hour in the evening. Everyday. And, of course, I believe in myself. It is very important. When you leave the house and close the door behind yourself, say to yourself: "I am the queen!" And let the whole world think what he wants!
Do you think it is time for women to change this world?
Esther Kamatari: Women have always changed the world to one degree or another. Remember Nefertiti? Since then, nothing has changed. But we women are still ashamed to show our true strength. We are too modest, we always worry about what others will say or think about us. But we must respect and realize ourselves in this world. We must be becoming bolder.
FACTS ABOUT ESTHERS:
Esther Kamatari, 65
Lives in Paris
In the 70s, it became known as the first African-American model in France, which represented brands owned by LVMH. Esther also became known for her struggle for the rights of refugees and orphans and humanitarian projects that assist the poor in her homeland. Since 2008, she has been twice elected municipal councilor in Boulogne-Bilancourt in the western suburbs of Paris.
Interviewed by Irina Malkova
