From corporate to couture: My journey back to fashion

One thing I’ve learned in recent years is the importance of trusting your instincts. Life is too short to avoid bold decisions when change is necessary, and it’s important not to take yourself too seriously. When we stop and reflect, it becomes clear that everything in life has its time. It's okay to break from your usual patterns and explore something new. Even if it doesn’t work out, there’s always something valuable to learn. If you never try, you’ll never know.

Last year, I found myself at a crossroads and chose to take action. After becoming a mother to two young boys – now four and two – and working for many years at a leading Norwegian media and tech company, I knew I needed change.

In 2005, at the age of 14, I was scouted to model while at IKEA. In the middle of an argument with my mother, photographer Peter Farago approached me, and that moment completely changed my life. My modelling career took off quickly, sending me around the world for shoots with magazines like Vogue Italia and Numéro, and campaigns for brands like Swarovski and Escada. However, despite enjoying the creativity and encountering interesting people, I wasn’t ready for the fashion industry at such a young age. I longed for a more “normal” teenage life and to focus on my studies. After a few years, I paused my modelling career and immersed myself in academics. Five years of university led me to corporate life, where I worked my way up through management and director roles in business and technology. Although my career advanced, I began to feel stuck in a repetitive cycle.

Becoming a mother helped me grow, but I realised something was missing in my life. I had neglected my creative side – something I had loved as a teenager, with pursuits like painting. Over the past three years, I watched my fiancé build his own fashion brand in golf apparel and began questioning how I had strayed from fashion.

I longed for creativity and needed to break free from my current path. So, with a fresh perspective, I returned to modelling, this time bringing more life experience with me. It’s been incredibly rewarding.

The fashion industry has evolved since my early days, particularly with its focus on diversity and the influence of social media. But at its core, artistry and creativity remain, and I’m still passionate about it. My debut in Vogue Scandinavia with the Hollywood glam story encapsulates everything I love about modelling and my return to the industry. It was a dream shoot in many ways.

Being featured in the Scandinavian edition of Vogue is especially meaningful to me as a Swedish native and long-time fan of the magazine. I was thrilled by the Hollywood glam theme, and shooting at Lejondals Castle was unforgettable.

The team was incredible, and the shoot flowed with effortless teamwork and joy. Between shots, I shared laughs with fashion director Robert Rydberg about memories from my early modelling days, all while embodying the glamorous diva in stunning creations from Valentino to Viktoria Chan. I felt so empowered that I barely noticed the freezing temperatures as we shot outdoors in delicate fabrics. Every moment of the production was pure joy, and I was ecstatic to see the results of the 18-page editorial. To me, this story symbolises independence, timeless glam, and transformation.

I see my own transformation reflected in the empowered diva I became in those images, much like my personal journey back to my roots in fashion. I’m excited to continue my modelling career, collaborate with inspiring people, and eagerly anticipate what the future holds. If you never try, you’ll never know.

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