It’s hard to believe that Claudia Carpentier, a French model with Caribbean roots, was bullied at school for her looks and couldn’t believe that one day she’d shine on runways and be selected among the most beautiful women in the world. Her natural allure and perseverance have granted her collaborations with some of Europe’s best designers. Despite having other professional passions such as event production and art management, Claudia admits that the fashion world is a big part of her life and in many ways defines who she is.
Claudia, tell us about yourself, how long have you been modeling?
In 2013, I started my journey with Elite Model Look in Reunion Island, an event organized by Aziz Patel and Stephane Pescimoro, the director of Operations for the World Final. I was surprised to be chosen because I never thought I could be a model due to the bullying I experienced at school. The hurtful nicknames about my looks made me doubt myself. But being selected among thousands of candidates boosted my confidence. Can you believe it? I was actually selected! And you know, it turns out being a model is not just about looking good, but also about having a thick skin – especially after dealing with all those school bullies and their inventive insults! But hey, I showed them what I’m capable of!
Since then, I’ve been in love with modeling as it fulfilled my passion for art and my determination. At the same time, I worked as an event producer and started organizing concerts when I was 16. I learned how to balance both worlds later on.
Let’s talk about your participation in the Miss World pageant in South Korea, how difficult was it?
I went to this pageant with my best friend, Miss Poland, Magdalena Kucharska. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the organizer Liinda Grandia, our schedule during the trip was tightly structured, starting our day at 6 am and ending at 8 pm. It was challenging, but my experience as a fencing champion helped me keep up. This contest became my favorite journey, giving me the chance to meet beautiful souls, make new friends, and share glamorous moments throughout the competition. I was happy to wear stunning dresses from Fashion Cross Over London’s showroom (whose CEO is Since Wang), which features incredible designers from Asia and the UK. My time in South Korea left a lasting impression, and I hope to go back one day.
Is modeling for you a business or a way of life? What qualities should a girl have in this profession?
Modeling is more than just a job; it’s a way of life and a form of self-expression for me. It allows me to display my creativity and personality through art. Despite the business aspects like contracts, my true focus lies in my passion and dedication every single day. Since 2017, I’ve been with Fashion Cross Over London’s showroom and it’s been a magical experience! They never fail to provide me with incredible designers and exceptional hospitality. This showroom is like stepping into a real-life fashion fairy tale! Modeling has now become a big part of who I am and helps me grow personally and professionally.
In modeling, there’re several essential qualities that can help you succeed. Firstly, confidence and poise on the runway are crucial, along with the ability to project different emotions and poses naturally. Good communication skills and adaptability are important when working with diverse teams and clients. Staying healthy with physical fitness and skincare is crucial too. And let’s not forget, being professional, punctual, and resilient when facing challenges is key to building a successful modeling career.
In 2022 you opened Spirit Art Space gallery, what prompted you to do it?
Due to Covid-19’s unexpected impact, I found myself diving into this project earlier than planned. Art experts, Magnus Resch and Santiago Rumney-Guggenheim convinced me to channel my energy into it. As someone who’s always been passionate about Art, I thought, “Why not give it a shot?” So, with the help of my sister Éléonore Carpentier and brother Frantz Carpentier, Spirit Art Space became a fun family business.
I love Art and saw this as a great addition to my production company, Green Oracle, founded with my associate, Maria Ries. We had a blast producing the first UNICEF Gala in St. Barts in 2021. And since then, we’ve been organizing big charity events annually on my sunny island and internationally. Now, with this art gallery endeavor, things are really taking off! In just two years, we’ve attracted some amazing artists, and guess what? 75% of them are fabulous female artists because we want to rock the art world with more girl power! You are working on such an important topic as women’s rights. Share your experience and vision on this issue.
You know, it’s crazy how despite some progress, women still face inequality in education, jobs, healthcare, and leadership. We really need to shake things up and strive for real gender equality, don’t you think? Let’s support women’s rights for a brighter and fairer future!
As an event producer, I raise funds for women and children in need. Working with organizations like the United Nations and Unicef helps to make a global impact on women’s rights. And guess what? In 2020, we rocked out to the song “I’m Standing With You” remixed by Diane Warren and Valeria Altobelli to lift women up and empower them. Music is a powerful force for change!
I’m super passionate about gender equality, and it drives me to keep making a difference for women in all my projects. My goal is to work towards true equality worldwide, through Art, Fashion, and Music. Together, with women empowering each other, we can totally build a better and brighter world! I invite all the women to reach out and join me on this journey, let’s do this!
– Production: Fashion Crossover London (@fashioncrossoverlondon)
– Model: Claudia Carpentier (@claudiacarpentier)
– Photographer: Akin Lasisi (@akays.photography)
– Stylist: Silvia Asuquo (@asnegreg)
– Hair & Make-up artist: Misty Mosharrafa (@mistymosharrafa_hair_makeup)
Fashion Crossover London Designers:
Glam – Look 1 (cream embroidered dress): Eden Keshia Bridal (@edenkeshiabridal)
Glam – Look 2 (white and blue shirt): Claire Tiplady (@clairetiplady) Shivani Tyahi ( __shivani_tyagi___)
Glam – Look 3 (purple dress): Claire Tiplady (@clairetiplady) Shivani Tyahi ( __shivani_tyagi___) BAILLIECELENE (@bailliecelene)
Glam – Look 4 (natural pearls necklace): Shivani Tyahi (__shivani_tyagi___)
Glam – Look 5 (green suit): Niamh Coughlan (niamh_coughlan)
Glam – Look 6 (black corset, black skirt and bag): Cristina Grecu (@grecuc), bag BERACAMY (@beracamy) BAILLIECELENE (@bailliecelene) necklace LEUMAS S.T. (@leumasst)
Glam – Look 7 (black dress with blue and green flowers): HIRUSHI (@hirushi.official)
Glam – Look 8 (grey jacket + silver dress): SKCreations, LLC (@skcreationsllc) BERACAMY (@beracamy) Eden Keshia Bridal (@edenkeshiabridal) Shivani Tyahi ( __shivani_tyagi___)
Glam – Look 9 COVER (silver dress): Eden Keshia Bridal (@edenkeshiabridal)