Wish You Were Here... Victoria Sekrier

Ex-model and stylist Victoria Sekrier whisks us away to Israel for her annual holiday with her mother. Discussing the trials and tribulations of holidaying with a parent, she also shares memories of saving up to buy her first pair of casting heels and why she’s always ‘that guy’ on a flight.

Where are you in these photos and what are you doing?
I’m on holiday in Israel - we visited Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem.

Who did you go with? 
I went with my mama. This is a new tradition that I started three years ago - once a year we go away on holiday together. I wanted to create an adult experience for both of us, set boundaries in some places and find closeness in others. Going on holiday with parents is insufferable at times, but when you make breakthroughs it’s incredibly rewarding.

Where are you originally from and where do you live now?
I’m from Volgograd, Russia and I live in London now.

How would you sum up what you do in a sentence?  
I am a fashion stylist and consultant.

What was your first job? 
Sweeping floors in a hair salon when I was around fifteen. From the money I earned I bought myself high-heeled shoes, as I was beginning my modelling career.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? 
A fashion designer.

What does the word ‘holiday’ mean to you? 
It means rest and joy.

“The way our industry is set up is that if you’re stressed and overworked it means you’re successful. I don’t believe in that. I will take any opportunity I have to do something nice for myself. It’s the most sustainable way to balance work and life in my opinion.”

Most memorable moment of the trip? 
I went to visit Masada, the ruins of King Herod’s palace. It’s on top of a mountain in the middle of the desert next to the Dead Sea. I wept from so much beauty and vast space.

How do you like to dress on holiday? 
I wear mostly dresses; cotton or silk in light colour ways. A lot of white. I would like to wear as little clothes as is socially acceptable, really. 

How do you waste time, when your schedule is clear? 
I really like to indulge myself in some kind of wellness activity - sauna, massage, yoga etc. The way our industry is set up is that if you’re stressed and overworked it means you’re successful. I don’t believe in that. I will take any opportunity I have to do something nice for myself. It’s the most sustainable way to balance work and life in my opinion. 

Who do you most admire? 
I admire people who are not afraid to take risks, free-spirited and free-minded. People who, when knocked down, get up and try again. Such is life!

What’s your karaoke song? 
“I Was Made For Loving You Baby” by KISS or “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie. I’m really terrible at karaoke though. It’s funny at first and then it becomes unbearable for everyone involved.
 
What's the last dream that you remember having? 
I don’t remember dreams entirely but I remember my parents' voices very clearly. Sometimes they speak English in my dreams, even though they don’t speak it in real life. 

Describe yourself in three words... 
Direct, fair and loyal.

“I like to indulge in the traditional cuisine of a place I’m going to. I feel like food is such a big part of culture, and through it you can have a true experience of a place. I don’t eat meat, otherwise I’d try pretty much anything.”

What’s the most surprising thing we’d find if we looked at your phone? 
That I have almost no unread emails or texts at all times. When I look at someone’s phone and they have a thousand unread emails I get a jolt of anxiety for them.

Guilty pleasure/secret vice?
Rewatching ‘Sex and The City’. It’s not relatable to women today, but it’s highly entertaining.

Aeroplane essentials? 
At times I travel on a weekly basis, so I’ve got a whole set up going on - face mist, face oil, sheet masks, eye mask for sleep, ear plugs, compression socks, CBD oil, lavender essential oil. I’m that fucking person with a sheet mask on the airplane.

Holiday meal of choice? 
I like to indulge in the traditional cuisine of a place I’m going to. I feel like food is such a big part of culture, and through it you can have a true experience of a place. I don’t eat meat, otherwise I’d try pretty much anything.

Best trip you ever took? 
I’ve been lucky to travel to some pretty special places for both work and holidays. I’ve been invited to Rio de Janeiro and Kyoto by Louis Vuitton for their cruise shows and those two trips were pretty unforgettable. In Rio we went to see the Christ the Redeemer statue at 7 am before it was open to the public, and in Kyoto during dinner we were entertained by real geishas. That was probably the most special moment of my life so far.

The best advice you've ever been given? 
I’m not sure if I believe in advice. Through self-exploration each individual person discovers what works for them specifically. Can you tell I’m really into therapy?