Amalie Gassmann, Model

Amalie Gassman is one of the coolest girls we know. The Paris-based model is smart, funny and boasts a wardrobe that most would kill for. In must be in her genes (mum is Gay Gassmann, Contributing Art Editor for The New York Times Style Magazine). The American/ Japanese/ German beauty recently made her debut at the RTW shows walking for Sonia Rykiel and has also just shot beauty campaigns for the likes of Dior and YSL, so is well versed in the subtle arts of maquillage.

We had the pleasure of meeting Amalie on her first trip to Australia during her gap year, where she revealed an encyclopaedic knowledge of cult makeup products, a very European approach to skincare and a penchant for nail art. Meet your new girl crush.

“I experimented with makeup a lot when I was in high school.

I really started getting into it when I discovered Vloggers on Youtube. While I have a long beauty routine, I think the way I do my makeup still looks very natural and not too overdone. I could be wearing ten products on my face but you’d never know it. That’s how I’d describe my style too, you might put a lot of effort into it, but ultimately it has to look effortless.

EFFORTLESS IN BEAUTY AND STYLE

AMALIE’S CELINE LUGGAGE TOTE BURSTING WITH HER FAVOURITE BEAUTY DISCOVERIES.

If there was one beauty product I couldn’t live without…

it would have to be my Chanel Cream Compact Foundation. It gives my skin a really nice glow and while it has a fair amount of coverage, it doesn’t feel heavy, like you have a whole layer of foundation on your face. I prep my skin first with Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, then apply my Chanel foundation and Maybelline’s Age Rewind Concealer to cover what are usually huge bags under my eyes. I have YSL’s Touche Éclat for highlighting and I set my base with a Chanel Sheer Pressed Powder, which I also really love. I wear a M.A.C. Cosmetics blush to add that bit of colour and Chanel eyebrow powder to fill in my brows. I usually put something very shiny on my eyes and then mascara, loads of mascara! I finish with a bold red lip.

Girl by Pharrell Williams is my go-to fragrance.

You can get it from Colette in Paris or Meccahere in Australia I think, but mine was actually given to me by the artist, Kaws. He collaborated on the bottle artwork and is a close friend of my mom’s. I visited his studio back in Brooklyn, New York. He is huge in the art world, especially in Asia. The bottle goes with my nails today. Do you like them? I got them done at I Scream Nails in Newtown especially for my birthday last week. I love them!

GIRL BY PHARRELL WILLIAMS IS HER CURRENT FRAGRANCE OBSESSION.

CLARINS IS A SKINCARE STAPLE FOR THE MODEL.

I’ve been taking care of my skin since I was about 11.

I was lucky that I never really had any skin problems growing up. My mom and I both use Clarins. I love their Hydraquench Crème. I discovered Bioderma Crealine Cleanser when I first started modeling because it’s what every makeup artist uses on you when you’re on a shoot. It’s really gentle and very cheap to buy in Paris.

I love shooting beauty campaigns.

I did a bit of work back in Paris for YSL and Dior. I’m lucky that I’ve been able to work with some great makeup artists and it’s wonderful to be around such creative people. I’m obsessed with fashion. I actually got to go to the Spring 2015 Chanel show at Paris Fashion Week with mom. The set was designed to look like the streets of Paris and the theme was women’s liberation. I was so excited to see all the big models – Gigi, Kendall, Cara and Joan Smalls. There was so much energy it was amazing. Mom works in art and fashion so that’s helped a lot in launching my modeling career. I’m very grateful for that.

AMALIE IS GRATEFUL FOR HER MUM’S SUPPORT AND HELP GETTING HER INTO MODELLING.

AMALIE WILL SOON BEGIN STUDYING FILM AND WRITING AT BARD COLLEGE IN NY

Before I started modeling I first had to graduate from high school

Mom has always said that education is more important than being attractive, so I had to finish school and get accepted to college. I’m currently on my gap year but I start at Bard College in upstate New York soon. It’s a liberal arts college where I get to study film and writing, subjects that I’m really interested in. I was born in San Francisco but I grew up in Paris. Mom is half Japanese-American and my dad’s German. I speak German, English and French. I feel like I’m Parisian, which I’m really thankful for because it’s such a cool lifestyle in Paris. I live with Mom and my dog (his name is Coconut) in the 15th arrondissement in two art studios, which have been joined together to make a house. We have a nice garden and a view of the Eiffel tower.”

Interview by Madeleine Boyd; Photography by Titus Pengelly; Hair by Lucy O’Donnell; Makeup by Desiree Wise. Shot on location at Blue Hotel, Sydney. Amalie Gassmann is represented by IMG Models.