Nadja Auermann in a VOGUE cover interview: "I like myself better today"

Nadja Auermann in a cover interview for the May 2025 issue of VOGUE: "Why should I try to look like I did when I was 19?"

She dances – or rather, she prances. And of course it looks elegant, because anyone who moves with 112 centimetre long legs (which even have an entry in the Guinness Book of Records) simply radiates something impressive. During the shoot, a playlist of Diana Ross songs is playing. And Nadja Auermann is standing on set, gently swaying along. When asked how it would feel for her to be in front of the camera in London today, she answers with a relaxed shrug: “Oh, the same as always.” But unlike in the past, photo shoots are no longer a daily routine in Auermann’s life. She has withdrawn from the fashion world over the past few decades. The 54-year-old now lives in Dresden with her husband and her two youngest daughters (born in 2010 and 2013).

She casts a critical glance over the photographer's shoulder at a few pictures; Madonna 's "Open Your Heart" plays from the speaker. Auermann begins to quietly sing along. When she notices that she is infecting the team with her good mood, her ice-blue eyes begin to shine - and she dares to raise her voice a little. The mood is excellent; during the lunch break, the supermodel sits with the crew and shows photos of her poodle and her cats. The catering service serves up tofu curry with rice, and when the topic of Ozempic comes up, Nadja Auermann leaves no doubt about how little she thinks of it. Then it's off to the makeup room for a touch-up - where we have arranged to interview her between the powder puff and the hairdryer.

VOGUE: Your "comeback" cover at Vogue is our May issue, which explores the essence of beauty across the board. Where do you discover beauty?

Nadja Auermann: For example, in the music that's playing right now (in the background, "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge is playing quietly, editor's note) . For me, beauty is everywhere. Whether I see the magnolias and cherry blossoms outside, sunshine, sunsets, cloud formations. Beauty makes me happy. If you focus on beauty, then you generally go through life happier, that's how I feel.

Has there been an experience recently that you found particularly enjoyable?

I was baptized in 2020. I've always been very religious. However, I grew up in a family that actually rejected religion. But I've always believed in God. For me, beauty is something divine. It's the manifestation of love.

Let me do the math…so you were 49 when you were baptized?

Yes, exactly. One of my daughters had expressed a wish to be baptized. She was eight years old at the time. My husband is Catholic. I had Protestant religious education at school. And I couldn't get along with the Catholic Church at all, not least because of all the scandals. So I said to her: Let's start by going to church together on Sundays and then we'll see if it's really something for you. And when we were at the service, I had the feeling the priest was really only talking to me. The entire sermon, all the content, the hymns, everything fit my life situation and my feelings so well that I suddenly started to cry. I sat there like a baby. That's how it was for me almost every Sunday. I realized for myself: Going to church is likea kind of meditation for me. And there's something incredibly beautiful about this spiritual aspect. Above all, because it's been celebrated more or less this way for over 2,000 years, I believe it has a timeless right to exist. This convinced me to get baptized myself.

Speaking of creation and beauty: You had your breakthrough as a model in 1991, when most of the other iconic 1990s supermodels were already at the peak of their careers. Was it easy to integrate afterward?

Claudia (Schiffer, editor's note) was really nice and immediately approached me: "Oh, how nice, a German I can talk to here now." In general, the others were always very friendly. There were around 20, maybe 30 people that I met again and again at the shows and photo shoots.

There was no competition?

No. At least, I didn't feel that way. Everyone knew who they were; we were very confident. And why should another person be seen as competition? Well, maybe in a way... Oh, to be honest, I never really thought about it. In any case, I was surprised at how quickly I became successful. I actually only took the job because I wanted to learn French better and live abroad again—and I didn't know what to study. When a scout approached me and wanted to bring me to Paris, it just seemed like a good fit.

Was there some kind of recipe for success?

I think I knew who I was and what I wanted - I was already 19 when I started modeling. I had clear goals: I really liked Peter Lindbergh , Richard Avedon, Steven Meisel , Paolo Roversi and Ellen von Unwerth, for example. And of course Helmut Newton - I really wanted to work with him, which worked out pretty quickly. And I knew that my physiognomy probably suited me better to VOGUE than to other magazines. Of course, I would always have liked to be the swimwear woman, but that wasn't really the right fit for me. It's good to know who you are and where you fit in, I think that helps you get ahead. What I find funny is that many of the pictures I was able to take with incredibly great photographers are now being re-staged.

How does that feel for you?

This kind of homage is very flattering and also shows that those pictures influenced people. People had them on their walls. Back then, you had a kind of personal connection to the models of that time. Of course, that's more difficult today, with the flood of information and images. I recently heard that people don't print photos anymore. And then I realized that I haven't done that for a long time either and only have everything on my phone.

How many photos are on it?

That must be about 42,000. Every time you sync, the old ones come back. I always try to delete a few because I don't have any more storage—no matter how much extra storage I buy. (laughs) And it's really handy, too: You can easily search for years, events, locations, and so on on your phone.

Are your old model photos on there too?

No, just private photos.

Do you have a personal archive for your work at home?

I had that for a long time. But now I've been renting a storage unit for years. I haven't looked inside in ages. I hope everything's still okay there. (laughs) So you see, I live in the here and now. I don't really care about my past.

Which of your works are you particularly proud of?

I have to admit, I always find it difficult to answer that question. Every photographer has their own perspective on you; that's the exciting thing about being a model: you get to see yourself in completely different ways through the eyes of great photographers, and in turn, you get to see yourself in completely different ways. If I had to name an example, it would be Helmut Newton . I had only been in Paris for a month when I shot my first campaign for Yves Saint Laurent with him. It wasn't until later that I realized he hadn't booked me just because of my looks, but because we got along well in other ways too. He also lived in Berlin (Auermann's birthplace, editor's note) until he was 23; we had a similar sense of humor, a similar way of speaking, a similar view of the world. A lot of his work is considered sexist today. For me, Helmut actually pointed this out in a humorous way.

Does the current great interest in the fashion of the nineties, in the supermodels of that era – and thus also in you as a person – put pressure on you?

I feel like my interest never really went away. When I started, I didn't expect to be associated with this profession for the rest of my life – and to carry this fame with me for so long. Up until then, there had only been a few women who had done it longer. Jerry Hall, Veruschka , and Twiggy, for example. I found the idea of ​​it being a career that might only last five or seven years quite attractive. That's why I worked like a workaholic – without regard for my health or soul. Back in the 1990s, nobody thought about work-life balance. We had August off because it was summer holiday in France and Italy, and at Christmas – but apart from that, I just worked all the time. There were no weekends. At 26, I felt I might as well stop working. I had a kind of burnout.

People always wonder what's so exhausting about being a model. What drained you?

Primarily, the constant on-the-go. I think for many people who tend to be workaholics, their job is also their passion. And then there's a tendency to perhaps pay a little too little attention to things like whether they're flying too much or eating enough and regularly. The body simply needs breaks, and I wasn't really paying attention to that.

How did this become noticeable?

I was suddenly constantly sick. I still remember a job I had in New York. I was flown in, stayed in an expensive hotel, and then I got a 40-degree fever and couldn't come to the set. The agency and the client wanted me to boost myself with medication. That often worked in the past, but in this case, it just didn't work. Or the time I couldn't appear on "Wetten, dass..?" because I had a bladder and kidney infection and had to cancel the day before. There, too, they told me to just take something, then I could probably sit on the couch. Things like that started happening a lot at that point. Then I had my first child – and after that, I continued working, but at a completely different pace.

Do you feel that anything has changed since then?

I certainly hope so. Concerts, for example, are canceled more often these days. I think artists used to just get high on drugs and still perform. But that only works up to a certain point.

Do you feel an expectation that you have to look the same today as you did before?

For a long time, I felt like I had to look like I did in the 90s. But eventually, I started having health problems. I have Hashimoto's (an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the thyroid, editor's note) . Now, menopause is on the rise. Three or four years ago, it was COVID-19. This period meant that I couldn't exercise as much – and I gained weight. When I look at photos of myself today from 2019, when I got married and wanted to lose weight again, I personally think I was too thin. I like myself better now, at what I consider to be a "normal" weight.

You were on a diet because of your wedding?

Yes. I had a real princess dress for my wedding. My children had so wanted me to wear it. And somehow I felt like I needed to do a lot of exercise for it. I also completely gave up sugar and mostly carbohydrates. Even though I used to eat a lot of pasta and bread, I stuck with it for almost two years – it went surprisingly well. I had been a vegetarian for a long time – and I still mostly do – and I actually thought that a low-carb diet without meat was almost impossible and actually unhealthy. So I ate a lot of eggs. Until something clicked, and I suddenly felt sick at the sight of eggs. Then it all changed, and I started eating only carbohydrates, which, of course, isn't healthy either. (laughs)

Was this behavior—thinking you had to lose weight for the wedding—perhaps internalized? Did you feel pressure to lose weight at the beginning of your career?

I've been underweight my entire life. Whenever I went for a checkup, they always said: We need to check your iron levels, you need to gain ten, ideally twenty kilos. Of course, that casts a certain shadow on the entire industry: When you consider that someone who was actually far too thin—and was always teased for it at school, by the way—suddenly finds her "family" in the fashion world with all the tall, thin women. Back then, I felt like I was from another planet—and had finally reunited with the other members of my extraterrestrial species. And yet, when I started, I was advised to lose a little weight. I was 19, still had a bit of baby fat on my face, and my measurements weren't the sought-after 90-60-90, but 92-62-92—which, I don't think, matters so much now. Everyone booked me, and yet the agencies said I could still improve. So I started exercising more. At some point, I was on a shoot for American Vogue with Grace Coddington, whom I admire greatly, and she told me, "Nadja, don't let anyone tell you what to do. Please be careful. Don't get too thin." Stay the way you are – it was good to hear that.

The fact that the industry worked this way – and certainly still works this way in some cases – says a lot about what this focus on figure has done to women in general.

I think it's particularly difficult for those who spend a lot of time on Instagram or other social platforms to recognize what's actually good for them. All these filters and all these digital optimization options make everyone look perfect, but also the same – that's how I feel. It's easy to get a false impression of reality on Instagram. I'm much more critical of that than we used to. We might have airbrushed out a pimple. But otherwise, the photos were a reflection of reality. Bodies weren't made thinner or legs made longer. And these days, people can artificially "optimize" themselves to such an extent that they're actually no longer happy with themselves in real life. That's probably one of the reasons why beautiful young women are having surgeries.

Do you remember a moment when your body was negatively judged?

I still remember a fitting for a Chanel show. Because I have such a short torso and broad chest compared to my long limbs, the two-piece suits in particular often had to be altered for me. A seamstress once asked me if I was a swimmer. I thanked her because I thought it was a compliment – ​​from her reaction, I realized it was actually a diss. (laughs) But for Karl (Lagerfeld, editor's note), that wasn't an issue.

And now that you weigh more, how do you feel?

I'm okay the way I am; I feel beautiful. For example, I have a rounder butt. And being a little curvy is fine, too. Everything in its own time. Why should I try to look like I did when I was 19?

Does social change also help you accept yourself as you are? Women over 50 are much more frequently seen in fashion—whether on the runway or in campaigns—than they used to be.

You're right. However, even in the 1990s, there were a few designers who had a diverse cast. Helmut Lang, for example, was ahead of his time. He always had different types of women on the catwalk. I think it was because he simply found women, even older ones, interesting. And as soon as he connected with someone, he found them beautiful and liked to have them as a model in his show. Thierry Mugler, for example, occasionally featured beautiful style icons. Actress Tippi Hedren, who became famous for her role in "The Birds," or Carmen Dell'Orefice. And Jean Paul Gaultier also often had different types of women on the catwalk—including in terms of age.

So you think that the industry hasn't developed that much in this regard?

I do have the feeling that there are more and more best agers – or whatever they're called these days. But I do wonder whether these best agers are only so successful because they've aged the best – and still have model figures. Which I don't think is a good thing anymore. I always think: leave us old people alone! At some point you just want to get away from these ideals. At the latest when you start to have health problems or go through menopause. Your metabolism changes – and then you gain weight. On top of that you slowly become unvain. I mean, I haven't managed to be completely unvain yet. I hope that will happen soon. (laughs) But you definitely accept yourself more for who you are.

So does good-looking best-ager models actually increase the pressure to conform to an ideal even after the age of 50?

Of course. Now, when that age comes into focus, and you think, "Oh, look, she looks like this, why don't you look like that?" I don't like that. I don't really want to be part of it anymore. I just want to accept myself as I am. Certainly not easy for someone who's worked in this industry for so long...

Absolutely. I think it's probably not just models who are affected. Actresses and musicians too. All women in the public eye probably feel this internal pressure to continue conforming to a norm that's perceived as beautiful.

What helps you free yourself from this pressure?

Well, I don't think you can completely free yourself from it. It definitely helps to have people around you who love you the way you are – or even tell you: "Honestly, you look more beautiful now than you did before." I'm thinking of Kate Winslet right now. I think she's always been an impressive and beautiful woman, and I think she looks even better today than she did before. And I think – it's actually sad to have to say – that she's also very brave because she deals with this topic openly and honestly. She's a role model for me; I want to be more open, too.

The key question is what really lies behind these idealized ideas of beauty.

Basically a kind of oppression. Especially of women. I think it's affecting men more and more now too. In the past, men were completely out of the game. Maybe at a certain age it was all about having a lot of muscles. But otherwise it was always said: they don't get old, they just mature. And women were weeded out. And if we're honest, even today there aren't a ton of films that feature lots of older women. There are a handful of actresses who appear again and again: Meryl Streep and Diane Keaton, for example. Both beautiful women. But there are rarely women who are older and look more average. Because the scripts don't allow for that.

But that's why it's so important that we no longer just depict a young, idealized form of beauty, but also women whose bodies have changed over time. Sure, these may be baby steps— but at least they're steps in the right direction.

That's a nice thought. What I also notice as positive is that the taboo surrounding menopause has been lifted. What I find problematic, however, is that people keep talking about what they can do to look the way they used to. I'm trying to do more exercise again now, but only to be healthy. I never had to stretch before; I was just stretched out. But the older I get, the more I notice that I'm suddenly becoming stiff and that I have to deal with it. The fact that illnesses are now entering my life and changing my everyday life is something I didn't expect – I mean, what a difference it makes. That's why I'm working on staying strong. Health is much more important to me than whether my weight is okay.

What do you do for your health?

I really should lift more weights, so I should do strength training . Right now, I'm doing a lot of stretching exercises for my back to keep my posture good. Things aren't getting better. I'm only 54, but I realize that I have to do something now to ensure I can age with a certain quality of life.

What else do you do to stay healthy for as long as possible?

Exercise and nutrition are the most important topics for me. Sleep, perhaps. I now have an Apple Watch because I wanted to monitor how I sleep. However, I'm considering giving it up again. Sometimes I find it uncomfortable to wear it to bed. But it's interesting to see how often you're interrupted, how deeply you sleep, and how your sleep phases unfold, so I can perhaps address these issues and optimize the whole thing. I actually sleep quite well, even though I have blue light in my bedroom.

The latest studies now show that blue light is not as bad as previously thought…

Luckily. We even have a TV in the bedroom. I know you're not supposed to watch TV in bed, but we love it, and it's so cozy. I regularly fall asleep while watching it. For me, it's like someone is telling me a story. There are so many dos and don'ts. Perhaps one advantage of getting older is that you realize that not all dos and don'ts are really right for you personally. It's certainly good to try things out—but in the end, you have to find your own way to live a good life.

There's currently a crazy optimization craze in Hollywood thanks to Ozempic. What do you think about that?

We were laughing about it at the fitting earlier when I said, "Sorry, guys, I'm not taking Ozempic." To be honest, I find it sad. You asked about the fashion industry earlier. I have the feeling that not much has changed, especially on the catwalks. I even think that women are thinner today than they used to be. There are perhaps a few token models who stand out a bit. Maybe my memory is deceiving me, but when I think about the nineties, every woman was unique. Whether it was Linda, Helena, who was also rather curvy , Claudia, or Kristen (Evangelista, Christensen, Schiffer, McMenamy, editor's note) – and I could list many more – they were all different, individual personalities. Today I feel like everything is a bit more standardized. There are perhaps a few who are unusual. For example, they have lots of freckles , which I also find beautiful. But how long will this look or this person remain successful?

Tell me.

Nobody knows. Or I don't. Because I'm not really interested in it anymore. (laughs) I just notice it every now and then when I get to choose something for an event and look through the lookbook. I often think to myself: My goodness, it's become rather dramatic, especially with this Ozempic. I get the impression that even healthy, young women are pressured to wear things like that to make themselves look even thinner.

In Germany, it's not quite as prevalent—yet—but I was in Los Angeles a few weeks ago. The entire city was plastered with posters advertising these medications.

Even when I watch the Oscars, I always think to myself: Can't you finally leave us women alone? I don't want us to feel compelled to take potentially harmful medications when we don't need to. Just to conform to an image that, in my opinion, isn't particularly healthy anyway. Fortunately, when I walk down the street here in Dresden, I see few such bodies.

Your eldest daughter has also been modeling for a few years. Was that a problem for you at first because of the pressure in the industry?

I warned them, first of all. Starting out in modeling isn't easy on women's mental health in general. Growing up with someone who's a native of the industry can add additional pressure. For that reason, I want to do everything I can to ensure my children don't think I'm fueling this exaggerated thinness.

Do you enjoy cooking for your family?

It's okay. I'm a person who enjoys cooking. My husband loves to cook, and he's good at it. For me—and that's probably why I used to be thin—I like to eat when there's food, but when I'm busy and alone, I often forget. It was the same back then, when I was rushing from A to B and was stressed. That's why rituals like this—cooking in the evening, for example—are nice for me. I like restoring furniture, and when I'm busy in our workshop, I'm glad my husband has cooked something.

What is there then?

I'm trying to figure out which foods are good for my liver. The medication I take for my Hashimoto's can put a strain on it, so I need lots of fiber and bitter substances . For example, brown bread, broccoli, and arugula salad. But you can also add something tasty to a salad, like Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and nuts. Or mozzarella and tomatoes. As I said, I'm a person who enjoys good food. Instagram doesn't exactly make it any easier; there are lots of great ideas there. But there's also so much contradictory information. I recently read that coffee is bad for the liver. And then shortly after that it's good. How are you supposed to know what's really good for you? Maybe go to the doctor and ask.

Sugar is currently being demonized on social media…

I find that terrible. I've realized: My brain needs sugar. And I think I'm the rule: Every brain needs glucose to function!

Full Credits Photoshoot:

Photo: SCOTT TRINDLE Styling: EDWARD BOWLEG Hair: DAVID HARBOROW Make-up: CRYSTABEL RILEY Manicure: JENNI DRAPER Tailoring: NAFISA TOSH Production: MARIA DOMICAN for North Six Set design: JOSH STOVELL Post-production: IMAGINE Global Creative Director: RAUL MARTINEZ Global Design Director EU: JANNICO MEYER Global Visuals Director EU: JAMIE SPENCE Talent Director: DOMINIK WIMMER Head of Editorial Content: KERSTIN WENG

The new Vogue edition for May 2025 is available in stores from Saturday, April 26th , 2025.

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