Noemie Lenoir is a supermodel. The exotic beauty is well known for her appearances in Elle, Sports Illustrated and Victoria's Secret.
Born on September 19, 1979, Five-foot ten-inch stunner Noemie Lenoir (pronounced "Linwah") hails from the equally breathtaking town of Versailles, just outside of Paris, France. The daughter of a French father and a mother from a small island off Madagascar, Noemie has, as a result, always had an alluring, international look.
This didn't go unnoticed for long; at the age of sixteen, while at her neighborhood post office, Lenoir was spotted by an agent from the prestigious Ford Modeling Agency, and a magazine shoot for Marie Claire and Ralph Lauren in Paris soon followed. But Lenoir was determined to finish school and learn English before setting out into the turbulent world of modeling. With those goals achieved, Noemie moved to New York in 1999 to give herself a better chance at furthering a modeling career.
The move certainly paid off; within a year she was already making waves. At Oscar de la Renta's fall 2000 show, anti-fur activists climbed onto the stage in front of her, but Lenoir quite literally took the disruption in stride, and she kept strutting right down the runway. It was that kind of show-must-go-on attitude that helped her get selected the following year to exclusively walk the Gucci show in Milan.
By now, Noemie Lenoir has modeled for just about every major designer around the world, and has worked with some of the fashion industry's hottest photographers, such as Mario Testino (for the prestigious Pirelli Calendar), Ellen von Unwerth, Steven Meisel, and Peter Lindbergh. In addition to Marie Claire, Lenoir's photos have appeared in such magazines as Allure, both American Elle and British Elle, Glamour, Mademoiselle, and Interview.
She has also had two shoots for Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Edition in 2000 and 2001, and even graced the New York Times Magazine. Her modeling credits for ad campaigns are just as impressive: the Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, Ann Taylor, Ralph Lauren Jeans, Pantene Europe, and Victoria's Secret catalogue. She has also worked as a spokesmodel for L'Oreal.
In 2002, Lenoir took her first stab at the movie biz, appearing in the 2002 French film Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre. The movie was based on the popular French comic book Astérix, and starred French screen icon Gerard Depardieu.
With so much work in so little time, it should come as no surprise that Noemie has a hectic lifestyle. She spends three or four days a week just traveling, often to such far-flung locales as Pankor Island, Malaysia (where her favorite hotel is located). But Lenoir knows how taxing such a schedule can be on her body -- her main asset -- so she makes a point of eating right and getting plenty of sleep while on the road.
When she's home in New York, Lenoir also likes to get plenty of exercise. To stay in shape, she swims whenever she gets the chance. Also an animal lover, Noemie Lenoir is an experienced equestrian: She often rides a horse named Boston at the Chelsea Equestrian Center on Manhattan's West Side. Lenoir loves riding because, she says, it brings her closer to nature while clearing her mind and relaxing.
The rest of Lenoir's time is spent doing one of her favorite activities: shopping. She's especially fond of shoes, handbags and pants, and carries around her sunglass collection (more than ten pairs) with her when she travels. As for what's in store for the future, Noemie speculates that she might even end up working in another area of the fashion industry, but for the moment, she says, "I'm not worried about that."
Posted: Tue 19 Jun 2007 23:32 Post subject: Noemie interview
Ford supermodel and Dream Team Ambassadress to the world for L?Oreal Paris, French model turned actress, Noemie Lenoir on what makes her world go round.
Discovered by the Ford Models when sixteen, Noemie's face has graced the covers of French Elle and Marie Claire, followed by campaigns for GAP, Tommy Hillfiger, Ralph Lauren and H&M:
* Discovered at the age of 16, stardom at the age of 21, has it changed your perceptions of life and how has it affected your day-to-day living?
NL. No, it has not changed anything at all. I have no pretensions of my success and I'm an ordinary person just like everyone. I will not change for stardom.
* What is your opinion of the fashion industry in Paris as compared to the fashion industry in India?
NL. That's what I will discover I hope when I get there, because to be honest, I'm not very much aware of Indian fashion.
* You?ve been photographed by the best names in the fashion industry. How do you prepare yourself before a photo shoot?
NL. I don?t do anything special, but I always make sure to get up early, have a good breakfast, shower to arrive with clean hair and a clean face. Then I?m ready to work and in a good mood. But now that I have my son, I have to look into his preparation at the same time as mine.
* Your favourite photographer and why? What was it like on the first day of your shoot?
NL. I don?t have any favourites...they are all so individual and are exceptional talented artists in their own ways, that you can only appreciate each one at his value and his work. But for my first shoot day, Wow! I was nervous but I let him lead me through each step and he managed to make me feel so comfortable that the day flew by too quickly..
* Designers you really love working with and why?
NL. Everyone. I love Jean Paul Gaultier, but also for example Roberto Cavalli, Azzaro, Leonard, Fendi and a French stylist called Barbara Bui that has beautiful little dresses for day and evening wear. * You can?t leave home without?
L'Oreal Ideal Balance foundation, Blush Delicieux, a bit of gloss and that's it.
* What are the essentials in your travel bag?
NL. My recent book, my music ...and of course a tooth brush and face cleaning products, with my favourite shawl to keep me warm and cuddle up with to sleep, especially on a long flight.
* How would you describe your relationship with God?
NL. Very special and close in everything and everyday.
* From being a model to an upcoming actress, how did cinema happen to you?
NL. A very special haphazard encounter with Alain Chabat that gave me my first chance in `Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra!?
* How do you balance the demands of both the professions? What are the similarities between these two roles?
NL. They are the same for me, no matter what, when you are modeling or acting you are always in the skin of someone else, playing the role of someone else. I find them very compatible.
* As the brand ambassador of L?Oreal worldwide, what are your responsibilities towards the brand? And how do you identify yourself with it?
NL. I promote the brand to its maximum as it has first of all a great variety of products for hair, make-up, body and face treatments. Each product can be used and bought by everyone women (and now men as well!!) as they are clinically tested by scientists and dermatologists (and not on animals!!!) and at a very good price, suitable for everyone?s purse and the fact that I can and want to represent all the multi-ethnics in the world. I'm very proud of this exposure and have a brand of this importance in the world show that there is no differences in being black, coloured or white. We are all equal and beautiful.
* What goes into making a perfect day in your life?
NL. Making sure that my son and family are happy.
* As a person deeply involved in charity and voluntary work, what is the message you are trying to convey to your fans?
NL. That love and attention is free, so please help the person next to you in need, no matter how important or not you are.
* As a young mother, what values would you like to instill in your son?
NL. To be open minded, have a multi-cultured education, above all to be generous and loving and to show him that you need to work hard in life to succeed.
Her husband is an African businessman and they have one son whose ~5.
* In the spring of 2004, Noémie met and married French footballer Claude Makélélé who is currently contracted to Barclays Premiership Champions Chelsea FC.
* In 2005, the couple had their first child, a boy named Kelyan.
Claude Makélélé (born February 18, 1973 in Kinshasa, Zaire) is a French international football player, who currently plays defensive midfield for Chelsea in the English Premiership. He is married to the French supermodel Noémie Lenoir..
Thanks for the clarification. I just remember seeing him on another forum. I also saw a pic of her son last year, and the boy loked about 2-3 years old. That why I said around 5 years of age. He also looked like Eddie Murphy's kids. I'll try to find his picture.....
Thanks for the clarification. I just remember seeing him on another forum. I also saw a pic of her son last year, and the boy loked about 2-3 years old. That why I said around 5 years of age. He also looked like Eddie Murphy's kids. I'll try to find his picture.
The kid is light in the first picture and dark in the second
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He also looked like Eddie Murphy's kids. I'll try to find his picture.....
