Erin O'Connor
She’s one of the most recognised supermodels in the world and has modelled on the catwalk for the likes of Prada, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and many more top designers. Erin O’Connor talks fairy liquid, friends and fashion to Haleema Shabir.
The British supermodel has a refreshingly down-to-earth attitude with the combination of glamour, sophistication and intelligence.
The latest campaign Erin is involved in is new Fairy’s Clean & Care. It still got great dish cleaning quality but is coupled with P&G’s skincare expertise to bring you a touch of Olay softness.
Scientists and experts from Olay and Fairy have worked together on this major product upgrade to provide a daily solution that is proven to make hands feel noticeably softer and smoother.
Erin describes the collaboration between Fairy and Olay as really cool and has fond childhood memories of having a wash in the sink with her siblings and Fairy Liquid: “Of course we went mad for the bubbles and again there’s that lovely memory for me with skincare, being 14 being sent to the family in Ireland over summer and my first skincare purchase was Olay. So it’s a bit sentimental really, it’s a bit convenient isn’t it, the two coming together.”
The 32-year-old who has been modelling for 15 years now says how it was nice to get involved in something which concentrates on the home. She said: “You know for me home is bliss because I’m lucky enough to travel all over the place, but actually staying at home is exotic and it’s really rather nice and I wouldn’t claim to be the best homemaker in the world but I buy into the idea of having a place for me of real importance.”
She goes on to reveal that one of her ultimate heroines is Dot Cotton form Eastenders: “She always keeps a clean and tidy home.”
She says how she is obsessed with Mrs Dorothy Branning and how she is her fashion icon inspiration: “The woman has been dressing the same way for 40 years she’s always well presented it’s that kind of keeping up appearances era isn’t it.”
But when it comes to true bold British fashion her icon is Dame Westwood: “She’s tactile you know, she knows how to dress women but she’s also an icon in her own right. And what I love about her is just that she kind of just reinvents traditional clothing and makes it sexy.”
We could have lost Erin to a classroom of children if she didn’t get spotted by a fashion scout on her school trip. The model was planning on a career in teaching but fate has other plans for her: “I wanted to be all sorts of things when I was little I wanted to be a musical conductor to a nun to a ballet dancer I think that’s what’s lovely about being a child you think everything is possible. And then I ended up being a fashion model which I’m very happy about.”
Her school years were all about drama, music and literature, she said: “It’s quite nice because I get to use some of those now to show off on stage or on a photographic set they’ve kind of come in handy, it’s really all about the arts for me.“
When asked if she likes acting as well as modelling and if she would ever act in a movie she said: “Wellllll I wouldn’t say that I’m an actress no, but I do think that there’s an element of performance which I like. I think we’re a bit different, models from actors.
“During Couture and working in Paris you don’t necessary get any direction. So it’s all spontaneous but I love the adrenaline of the performance not knowing quite what you’re going to do once you get out there. Like to me that’s a thrill that I never tire of.
"I think there’s only one room for one narcissistic career of a lifetime and modelling choose me I don’t know that I’m ready to tread the boards yet in theatres.”
Erin has worked with countless models form Naomi Campbell to Twiggy. But reveals that the one model that really hit her with real forceful impact in a positive way was Christy Turlington: “I think she kind of taught me that you can think outside the box and you’re not just there to pose but you can form an opinion and if it’s something worthwhile you know you can use your voice. She does a lot of things outside modelling I think she’s been a big inspiration.”
The 6 ft model explains the fashion world as a bit of a bubble, running into the same people quite a lot of the time and how working on set with other models can be intimate. Outside work however she describes herself as low-key: “I’ve got a photographic studio so I don’t tend to knock around with them out those four professional walls.
"But I have got models that I’ve been mates with since the beginning and I’ve been modelling for 15 years now so I’ve got quite a nice little collection of friends.”
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Erins tells us: “I think in a way for me it’s a bygone era I remember growing up and being a teen and looking at all of these women collectively and in a sense it is a bygone era but I still relish all these memories I have of them being this forceful kind of, they were a powerful force actually they were businesswomen first and foremost that’s what they were and I think that’s the appeal for me sort of diversity to their appeal and what they do and it’s about being self-sufficient and claiming independence as a woman.
"I think that was quite an important message to me when I was growing up also there’s nothing wrong with a bit of glamour.”
Of course to be in the fashion world you must look after yourself which Erin does very well, when revealing her current workout routine she describes it as quite sporadic: “I’m boxing at the moment don’t laugh. I tell you what, it’s good for the soul and its good for toning the amount of carbs that you probably burn off is unimaginable but I quite like it as a stress release.
"I was a bit worried at first when I did my first lesson I couldn’t believe it. And we do it outside as well due to my 183cm tail. Very long arms you see.”
Erin’s shares her fashion must have this season which is a good old coat. “It’s all about a good coat for style and practicality reasons there is no reason why the two can’t co-exist. This season I’m rocking a nice little Kinder jacket its quite military.
"And he’s ‘a good guy as well I’ve known him for a long time. In fact I met because I modelled in a Versace men’s collection once I quite like how tailored his stuff is it really suits my kind of frame.”
On describing her own fashion style she said: “I would say it’s a mish-mash I do like my designer labels for sure but I’m also never happier then when I’m tucking in to Topshops deliveries on a Tuesday morning. I just brought a really lovely cardigan with a faux fur trimming on the shoulders it was a bit of a luxury buy for me at the moment.”
She shares her thoughts on Britain’s Next Top Model: “I’m more of a person that is within the fashion industry and what I understand and appreciate is that it makes a really good entertainment show but for me I’m not sure that it has much relevance in terms of how the industry runs day to day.
"I know that it’s an exciting show but I think the reality is quite different. I have my own thing that I do with the Model Sanctuary which I founded four years ago so that’s what kind of floats my boat.”
She has been described as one the best models in the world but like us all Erin has a few guilty pleasures: “Watching Eastenders in bed on my laptop for sure. Come Dine with me is my other guilty pleasure.
"I love the fact that the cooking is secondary to the premise of the show; it’s just about a bunch of people random getting together and going through other people’s knickers drawers. It is fun all the same. “
She also loves a bit of an omnibus on a Sunday no matter what the programme is. “I just relish staying indoors I love being at home. It’s an exotic scene sometimes just being able to do nothing at all and I really appreciate it when those days come along,” she says.
Erin O’Connor is launching new Fairy Clean & Care with a touch of Olay softness, giving your hands an everyday beauty treat.
Haleema Shabir
She’s one of the most recognised supermodels in the world and has modelled on the catwalk for the likes of Prada, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and many more top designers. Erin O’Connor talks fairy liquid, friends and fashion to Haleema Shabir.
The British supermodel has a refreshingly down-to-earth attitude with the combination of glamour, sophistication and intelligence.
The latest campaign Erin is involved in is new Fairy’s Clean & Care. It still got great dish cleaning quality but is coupled with P&G’s skincare expertise to bring you a touch of Olay softness.
Scientists and experts from Olay and Fairy have worked together on this major product upgrade to provide a daily solution that is proven to make hands feel noticeably softer and smoother.
Erin describes the collaboration between Fairy and Olay as really cool and has fond childhood memories of having a wash in the sink with her siblings and Fairy Liquid: “Of course we went mad for the bubbles and again there’s that lovely memory for me with skincare, being 14 being sent to the family in Ireland over summer and my first skincare purchase was Olay. So it’s a bit sentimental really, it’s a bit convenient isn’t it, the two coming together.”
The 32-year-old who has been modelling for 15 years now says how it was nice to get involved in something which concentrates on the home. She said: “You know for me home is bliss because I’m lucky enough to travel all over the place, but actually staying at home is exotic and it’s really rather nice and I wouldn’t claim to be the best homemaker in the world but I buy into the idea of having a place for me of real importance.”
She goes on to reveal that one of her ultimate heroines is Dot Cotton form Eastenders: “She always keeps a clean and tidy home.”
She says how she is obsessed with Mrs Dorothy Branning and how she is her fashion icon inspiration: “The woman has been dressing the same way for 40 years she’s always well presented it’s that kind of keeping up appearances era isn’t it.”
But when it comes to true bold British fashion her icon is Dame Westwood: “She’s tactile you know, she knows how to dress women but she’s also an icon in her own right. And what I love about her is just that she kind of just reinvents traditional clothing and makes it sexy.”
We could have lost Erin to a classroom of children if she didn’t get spotted by a fashion scout on her school trip. The model was planning on a career in teaching but fate has other plans for her: “I wanted to be all sorts of things when I was little I wanted to be a musical conductor to a nun to a ballet dancer I think that’s what’s lovely about being a child you think everything is possible. And then I ended up being a fashion model which I’m very happy about.”
Her school years were all about drama, music and literature, she said: “It’s quite nice because I get to use some of those now to show off on stage or on a photographic set they’ve kind of come in handy, it’s really all about the arts for me.“
When asked if she likes acting as well as modelling and if she would ever act in a movie she said: “Wellllll I wouldn’t say that I’m an actress no, but I do think that there’s an element of performance which I like. I think we’re a bit different, models from actors.
“During Couture and working in Paris you don’t necessary get any direction. So it’s all spontaneous but I love the adrenaline of the performance not knowing quite what you’re going to do once you get out there. Like to me that’s a thrill that I never tire of.
"I think there’s only one room for one narcissistic career of a lifetime and modelling choose me I don’t know that I’m ready to tread the boards yet in theatres.”