26 questions with Rianne Van Rompaey, Vogue Paris cover girl

Rianne Van Rompaey and her fiery red hair electrify our cover this month, seen by Inez and Vinoodh with Venice as an iconic backdrop. One of the fresh new faces taking over the modelling industry, get to know our Dutch first-time cover girl in 26 questions.
What does it feel like to be on the cover of Vogue Paris?
It’s unbelievable – a dream come true.
How did you find working with Inez & Vinoodh?
I love working with them. I always feel more relaxed when I can communicate with the photographers in a language the rest of the team doesn’t necessarily understand, and it adds a certain sense of mystery. Their photoshoots are magical like that. When Inez is on set, you can see that she’s already envisioning the final result and is working towards that goal. Vinoodh is the killer in the shadows, he moves around her without talking, capturing the most surprising angles. Their partnership works perfectly. They’re really beautiful people, inside and out.

What does the magazine represent to you?
It’s the magazine of all magazines. The quality is always very high, it’s very chic whilst also being very modern, and knows how to surprise you every time.
How would you describe Parisian style?
Simple, chic, feminine, boyish. Smiling gives you wrinkles!

Which models did you look up to when you started you career?
Kate Moss. When you look at her photos, you understand that she’s not happy just being a model. She’s a character, she tells a story. There’s so much emotion in her eyes. Kristen McMenamy is exactly the same. She plays with concepts and transforms them into something much bigger.
How would you spend your ideal day when your're not working?
I would sleep, swim, kiss my boyfriend, then we'd go to brunch. I would go to a museum, drink beer with my friends, eat Japanese food, go to the cinema, dance and then go to bed. But that’s a little unrealistic as a work-free day for me. I’d have to have so much energy, no jetlag and my boyfriend and friends right there with me. But I try!

What does your beauty routine look like?
Water, water, water. I exercise, I sleep, I wash my face twice a day. In the morning I apply a toner and day cream, in the evening a vitamin C serum. I also regularly go to my aesthetician for a facial treatment and connective tissue massage which hurts a little, but in a good way and gives immediate results.
What’s your favorite way to stay in shape?
I go kickboxing and go swimming twice a week each, but when I travel a lot and am in a different airplane every day, sleeping is the only way a can stay on form.
What’s your favorite daytime outift?
Jeans, t-shirt, leather jacket and my red Gucci loafers.
And for the evening?
In Amsterdam, we tend to stay quite casual when we go out. Most of the time, I just change my top and add a little eyeshadow. If I have to go somewhere fancier, I wear a mini dress and leather boots.

City or countryside?
I need both. I feed off the energy and movement in a city, but also the calm and beauty of the countryside.
Name three things on your bucket list.
Act in a film, have a child and go skydiving
You are originally from the Netherlands, name three of your favorite places there.
Amsterdam, for its vibrant energy, and its music and art scenes. Wageningen, because that’s where I grew up and it has the best of both small towns and big cities. You can find everything you need there, you feel safe and everything is close by. But it also has a university, which gives the place a more international and diverse feel compared to other cities of the same size. And then Bergen, which is 45 minutes away from Amsterdam and is known as a villages of artists, surrounded by nature, forests, dunes and beautiful beaches. The Bergense School art movement started there.

What relationship do you have with photography?
Photography plays a very important role in my life. It lets me stay in touch with my family and friends when I’m far away. It also helps me remember things that happened in a short space of time, during which my brain didn’t have time to register everything.
Which film has stayed with you?
Michael Haneke’s Funny Games. It’s my favorite film, I’m engrossed from start to finish. Every time I watch it, I hope for a happy ending.
What book do you read before going to bed?
At the moment I’m reading a Dutch book, but next I want to read The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. I saw an interview with her and I’m really intrigued by her ideas, and would really like to learn a bit more about them.
Which three songs do you keep on repeat on your iPhone?
At the moment I’m listening to Pink Flamingos by Gary Blanchard, Jackie Blue by The Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Pergolesi, and Stabat Mater: XII Quando corpus morietur by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi.
Name three instagram accounts everyone should be following.
@randy.cano, an artist who creates incredible animations, @spotlighttime, a platform for young creators, and @gurlstalk, a space for women and girls to talk about problems with mental health, freedom and women’s rights, founded by Adwoa Aboah.
Recommend a good restaurant.
Hakata Senpachi, an incredible Japanese restaurant in Amsterdam. It’s not easy to find because it is so small, but I wish I could eat there every day.

Do you have a secret talent?
I starting boxing a few months ago and I like to think I’m quite good at it. But maybe it’s just built-up aggression finally being released all at once!
What is your guilty pleasure?
A jar of Speculoos and a spoon – need I say more?
What do you collect?
Sometimes I start collecting weird things that I think I might use in an art project someday. At the moment, I’m collecting shopping lists and sheets of used tissue paper.
Which is your favorite season?
Fall. It’s so melancholy. Every year, it reminds me that another year has gone by, and that it’ll never come back.
What gift would you like to give this year?
I like to make my gifts. Whether it’s a slightly weird collage, clay candle holders, letters… things like that.
If you could go back in time and change something what would it be?
Nothing very important. Maybe little things that I said that were uncalled for or hurtful.
Do you have a mantra?
That you can do whatever you dream of. You just need to be determined and not be scared to go all the way. Get up, get out, motivate yourself and be inspired. What are you waiting for?
By Jade Simon, translated by Helena Baron the 03 November 2017