Also Journal

Five minutes with Stef van der Laan

How long have you been modelling and how did you start?

I started modelling when I was 14. My sister sent in photos of me to an agency in Holland. I was still in high school and finished that first, before starting to work full time aged 17.

What do you love about your job and what are the challenges?

I love the diversity in every job you do, you get to explore a lot of different places and you get to meet a lot of different people. But this can also be difficult at times. If I have an off day, the new people I work with don’t know that I am not normally tired and/or cranky!  When you have an office job you get to know your colleagues and they understand your moods better.

What has been a career highlight for you?

My first big campaign for Givenchy shot by Mert and Marcus was a huge moment of course! But I think the Chanel show in a Scottish Harry Potter castle was almost like a teenage dream come true.

What do you do to relax and what are your interests outside of modelling?

With having a child there isn’t much relaxing really! He is quite an active little runner. But I go to Pilates twice a week and I always do some cardio after. That is more of a necessary evil though.

You became a mother in 2015, has this affected your attitude towards your work as a model? How do you balance the long hours and international travel with parenting?

My son Fos is one and a half now. When we found out that I was pregnant we were living in New York and were like; we’re outta here! We moved back to Holland in December 2014 and bought a house in Utrecht in the center of Holland. It’s so nice after traveling so much and renting apartments in countries that did not feel like home, to finally build a home of my own.

Having a child has changed my view of the job in a positive way. I do not take rejection as personally anymore and I am a lot more at ease with myself at castings and in conversations at work. I have the feeling that I see things in a more relative way. Like, is this really that important right now? There is also just not enough time anymore for me to dwell on insecurities.

I have not been traveling that much, at most I have been gone for 5 days. That was a little difficult to be honest! But I am very lucky to have a mother who adores Fos and where he can always sleep over. Also, my boyfriend is a very sweet and loving father (who always follows the lists I leave!) so I can go away feeling good about that.

What are your aspirations for the future/where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

In 5 years, I would like to have a second baby, but I don’t want to rush that. Like I said Fos is a handful! I think he needs a bit of alone time for a while.

Workwise, I would like to be able to still do some modeling but also maybe have explored some other sides of fashion. I have always loved clothing. Maybe a boutique? I don’t know! 5 years seems far away, but probably will be gone in a snap.