WELCOME TO ANOTHER ISSUE OF 'EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN' WHERE WE BRING YOU CONVERSATIONS WITH EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN AND DELVE INTO PHENOMENAL CAREERS, PERSONAL STYLE, MOMENTS AND EVENTS THAT SHAPE THEIR LIVES, PASSIONS AND SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES AND LESSONS THEY'VE LEARNT.
FOR OUR LATEST ISSUE WE CHAT WITH MAKEUP ARTIST, FASHION STYLIST, DEPORTMENT TRAINER & 'MATURE' MODEL NICOLE PETERSON, WE HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR CONVERSATION AS MUCH AS WE DID.
Nicole Peterson has in her words 'had a very colourful career so far', from working as a Makeup Artist for 25 years, moving into the travel industry, teaching up-and-coming models all the tricks of the trade and also being a model herself. She talks with us candidly about really painful and challenging times in her life, how exercise saved her and how the future looks bright as a 'mature' model.
NP (NICOLE PETERSON) : Thank you so much for having me, I feel extremely honoured to be a part of this. My career thus far has been quite colourful. Leaving school I went onto do a Diploma of Beauty Therapy, and this is where I learnt the skills and became a Makeup Artist( for 25 yrs) . I then went onto being a deportment and grooming trainer and would teach up-and-coming models catwalk, photographic posing, makeup and social etiquette. I then went on to become a fashion stylist, hair and makeup working along side many leading modelling agencies with their models. I was also modelling at the time. At the age of 25 I became a flight attendant. Fast forward to 2024 I’m now back in the modelling industry as a mature model.
LM: You have our gorgeous personalised Etta Basket Clutch, what do you love about it and how does it make your feel when you wear it?
NP: My Etta Clutch is extremely luxe! And I’m totally obsessed with it, THANK YOU! Especially with my initials painting in gold. The clutch is a beautiful statement piece, perfect size with plenty of room to fit my phone, sunglasses, lipstick, powder, Essential oils, mints and my car keys. Now you know what’s in my clutch LOL It feels extremely luxe to hold, the quality is outstanding and I always get so many compliments when I use it. I LOVE IT!
LM: You have your @nicolepetersonlifestyle Instagram account which is how we connected but you've recently started another Account @sun_earth_nature_me tell us about this?
NP: This is a little side project which when I have more time I’ll get around to investing more of my energy into it. I was finding on my lifestyle page I was getting so many questions about what I ate, what products I used on my skin, what exercises I do, which led me starting this new page. So watch this space.
LM: For some readers it might sound a bit woowoo ;) but we both felt like we had an energetic connection, you're a fellow Taurean too, how do you feel about spirituality and tapping into our vibrational energy?
NP: I absolutely love this question! I’m attracted to high vibrational, light, bright energies and you have all of these amazing qualities. It’s strange, I felt it first when I looked at your page, and then once we started chatting it was confirmed. I can pretty much pick up on someone’s energy straight away. You shine so much light with your earthiness, class and grace, and your energy, purpose and products speak of this.
LM: You absolutely radiate great health and vitality, what do you do to stay fit and look after yourself?
NP: Thank you so much for your kind words. Well my health and vitality hasn’t come easy. Having anorexia when I was at school due to bullying, followed by breast implant illness in my mid 30’s and then contracting Ross River virus on my 40th birthday, it’s definitely taken me a long time to get to this place of health and vitality. My daily habits of weight training, trampolining, eating high density nutrient foods, saunas, salted water, limiting my alcohol intake, and loads of morning sunlight have given me the vitality. So thank you for your compliment.
LM: You're a busy person, not only do you model and manage your personal brand but you're also a qualified hair and makeup artist...what works for you to manage stress and your mental health?
NP: I think it’s my daily habits that keep me on the straight and narrow. We get caught up with our work busy life and then we tend to forget about ourselves. I think it’s the exercise that has saved me, and just having that moment to yourself in the morning sun to help recharge the mind and body. I actually lashed out and invested in a Infrared Sauna and that is definitely my therapist LOL
LM: What's been your biggest challenge to date, personally or professionally?
NP: The biggest challenge was getting over the fact that I couldn’t have a baby. After 7 years of trying, 5 of those years to IVF, that was the hardest chapter in my life. Everything I’ve worked for I’ve got, and this was one thing that I couldn’t get. It definitely taught me a lot of life lessons and I look at those darkest moments as blessings now.
LM: What advice would you give to your younger self?
NP: I’ve always been a workaholic, and the advice I would give to my younger self is don’t forget to stop and smell the roses. And another piece of advice is 'what will be, will be' and if it’s not meant to be, that’s ok, just let it go!
LM: Finally what does the future look like for the Nicole Peterson Lifestyle brand?
NP: I have a few plans for this platform but still navigating through it. Apart from my actual modelling work which I can see it only getting better as I age, as there is a huge market out there for older models, I do love the health, the natural living, and motivating women 40 plus to embrace their beauty naturally. So I’m just letting things unfold organically and I’m loving the journey thus far. I have met so many beautiful women along the way on this platform And I’m trusting the process and letting it take me wherever it needs to go.
THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR OUR LATEST EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN, WATCH THIS SPACE FOR OUR NEXT EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN.
MARIKA XX