Petra van Bremen about hair, age and the modeling business at 65

You would immediately want to buy everything she wears from this woman. Not only because she has unbeatably good taste, but also because everything about her exudes dignity, pride and grace. Talking to her is like talking to a friend: Petra van Bremen has tips and advice that are doable. Be it sport, nutrition, friendship or partnership. And of course fashion – high and for home use. The Dutch accent does the rest to make you want to listen to her for hours. She maintains her Instagram account herself, which is why it quickly becomes a family affair there too. She has written a book called “Your best time is now” and you immediately accept that because she doesn't preach from above, the book is extremely realistic: Yes, she eats potatoes, but not before a shoot; yes, she does exercise, but not all the time, but regularly; Yes, she also drinks a glass of champagne every now and then, because giving up everything is not a solution. She also has a dog – she has to go out with him, whatever the weather. She recently did a shoot for Vogue and she says: “Can you believe that? I'm 65 years old and in “Vogue”! This is proof that age is just a number when you pursue your dreams!” She talks to ntv.de about hair, posture and elation.

ntv.de: What is the most precious thing in your life?

Petra van Bremen: My time. I really try to handle this carefully and carefully, I think carefully about what I use my time for and who I spend time with.

I became aware of you during the last Fashion Week, where you walked for Marcel Ostertag, for example…

Yes, this is one of the designers who wants his customers to be able to identify with the model presenting his collection. He chooses identities without looking at age.

On your Instagram channel you embrace your gray/white hair and the fact that you're 65.

At some point I had to accept my gray hair – all the dyeing left its mark and my scalp was rotten and irritated. And then there were the hormonal changes caused by menopause, which caused my hair to become thinner. I didn't want that anymore and let the gray hair grow. But my problem was that on the first try my hair wasn't a nice gray at all. It made me look older. And then I made a second attempt – Corona came, and I was lucky: my hair became beautifully white. Nobody went out at the time, especially not to the hairdresser, which played into my hands.

Botox and Co – what is your opinion?

I'm not against it. Everyone should decide that for themselves. I decided for myself that I don't need it. And that's okay. To be honest, it's not always easy to accept age.

It's not just a question of appearance, it's also a question of health…

Oh yes! It is a combination of diet and a regular fitness program. I do it because it doesn't happen to me on its own either. Sometimes I have to overcome myself.

Do you ever stand in front of your closet and think: I have nothing to wear?

Yes, sometimes I think I have nothing, but of course that's not true and I know that for sure. But clothes also mean something to me. Clothing is a language with which you can express yourself. I'm often full of anticipation when I know that something special is coming up. I'm always pretty sure what I want to wear. And I've had enough (laughs).

Is your closet tidy? By colors or seasons?

I try to swap winter and summer in the closet, but that doesn't always work, especially when you travel in between. Which is often the case because of my job. It all happens so quickly, I just had the feeling that I didn't have to put on any socks and boom, it's almost Christmas again (laughs).

Are you well sorted?

That depends on what you mean by that (laughs). I have clothes for every occasion, every theme. In this respect I am well sorted. But it's not clear because unfortunately I can't throw anything away.

For me, my daughters do it; I never really have a closet that's too full…

That's ideal, I have two stepsons and a grandson, so they're all boys, no one is interested in my clothes (laughs).

Your book – you were talked into it a bit, right?

Yes, it wasn't that I woke up and thought, I absolutely have to write a book! But others thought it was a great idea. It started with social media and got really interesting when I turned 60. I was often asked, how do you do this, what do you think about this, what should I do, what should I wear, what do you advise me? The questions kept increasing. And since I answer all of these questions and emails personally, at some point I thought maybe I should write it down so that you can read it at any time.

Was your 60th birthday a turning point? Accept or repress? Celebrate or travel? Laugh or complain about it?

(laughs) I celebrated my 60th birthday big. It wasn't actually age per se. I always enjoyed celebrating my birthday. And I've never had any problems with getting older. But at 60 I already had a thoughtful phase: What do I want now? What else do I want to do? How long will I be fine? Will I stay healthy and can I travel? What will I experience next with my husband and how do we want to arrange this really foreseeable phase? I was actually in a different state than usual. But it wasn't like: Oh Jesus, I'm turning 60, so that's a bummer. My thoughts were more triggered by my mother's dementia because I just had to ask myself: Will this happen to me too? And how many good years do I have left?

I understand that, the question of how much time you have left is really big…

But you shouldn't forget to take a look back, draw conclusions, learn from the past and be grateful. Some don't even live to be 60.

You write very personally…

Yes, I want to reach people and motivate them, that's why I'm as authentic as possible. There must be a lot of Petra in there. And it's not always perfect for me, even if it looks that way from the outside. I also have phases that aren't great emotionally! I don't get quite as personal on Instagram as I do in my book. Everything is shorter and crisper there, but an exchange also takes place there. Some wrote to me after reading my book that they had experienced something similar. You finally had the courage to go to therapy after a breakup. That makes me so happy, that's what I wanted to achieve – that people feel heard and seen. And when others say: “My God, what is she writing?” – that doesn’t interest me.

By the way, I also think your book is good for younger women…

I'm glad to hear that, why do you think that?

Because sometimes I would have liked to know how to die and how it works, how it goes, how it turns out, and you don't necessarily want that advice from your mother. But from a slightly older friend.

I hadn't even thought about it, but of course it would be great if younger women were also interested in it.

Then she could make better use of her time. And women could stop thinking that they have to look like they're 20 when they're 50 and look like they're 30 when they're 60. That's really annoying.

I couldn't have said that more beautifully (laughs).

Why do you think Heidi Klum is receiving so much hostility for her lingerie shoot with her daughter? Your career also started with a lingerie shoot…

Yes. The main thing is that it's aesthetic – regardless of whether it's a 50-year-old or a mother standing in front of the camera with her daughter. When it comes to Heidi and Leni, I don't understand why they are so hostile, those are great photos. If I had a daughter, I would also ask her to come in front of the camera. If she likes. That appeals to all generations. People probably always need something to complain about.

Have you had negative experiences?

Nope! Not really, not even on social media…. I think I have incredibly loyal followers, it's a real community. I feel more excluded when I meet women in a room: There are two options – either they accept you into their group, or you are ignored. I love it when people talk to me. I love interviews, I love being on the red carpet, everyone can take a selfie with me, I'm so happy to learn something from others.

Some may pull away because they are insecure and because you are a really tall woman.

(laughs) I've always been like that. So, everyone: talk to me!

You have a special charisma on the catwalk – always a little smile. It seems as if there is no other way.

Yes, I'm very happy about that too. I really enjoy doing it and I just feel good.

You write in your book that women have no expiration date. A steep thesis, because so far very few people have understood it that way. What do we want to do to make it finally clear?

First of all, take women away from the belief that they have an expiration date. You have to believe in yourself. If they don't, they expire. Women have a right to exist at any age, but as long as women believe that they no longer belong in society after they turn 40, 50 or 60, women will think: Well, that's it. Such thoughts plunge women into self-doubt from which they sometimes cannot escape.

But there has to be more involved than just the women themselves…

Yes, there is still a lot to do. Getting older has a bad image, everyone wants to get older, but no one wants to look old. As long as presenters are replaced because they are too old, as long as only girls in size 32 walk the catwalk, as long as advertising is not aimed at older people, as long as creams still say: “Anti-aging – against aging!”, we have nothing understood, because who is anti-aging? Nobody, all of us. It's about feeling comfortable in old age, but not anti!

How far are we with the topic of diversity?

As long as that only means that a best-ager or a curvy model walks in a fashion show, as long as we are still very far from diversity (laughs). That's pure PR.

Sex, pension provision, female entrepreneur topics, nutrition, sport, beauty – quite a lot in one book. But it's so pleasantly written that it's a wonderful read.

Oh, thank you, I hope my friends who were worried that what I wrote down everyone already knows are reading this now (laughs).

Sabine Oelmann spoke to Petra van Bremen

Petra van Bremen supports the Ronald McDonald Foundation and the DKMS – two organizations that mean a lot to her personally.