In The File: Erin O’Connor

They say never meet your heroes. Well, in this case, it couldn’t be less true. There are few brave enough to stand up to the system, to actively use their footsteps to challenge the model as we know it. Erin O’Connor is that woman. 

I remember being a young model and meeting Erin in London in 2009, when she was at the top of the game – gracing the best shows and magazines, and playing muse to the fashion greats, including Galliano, Gaultier, and McQueen. There was something different about Erin; a level of integrity and awareness that you don’t often see positioned as the face of fashion.

On our shoot here at Claridges, she shared how her deep sense of self-worth was confirmed when she was faced with the outrageous behaviours of the industry. Being asked to change her looks to fit in was never an option for Erin, and empowered her in a way that would lead the trajectory of the rest of her life. She claims, “It was brilliant because it was an absolutely defiant flat no, how dare you?” and an absolute yes to backing herself, having no interest in prototyping another mirage of female idealism.

In 2009, when the modelling industry was very much in its pre ‘Me Too’ stage, when few dared to speak up, Erin helped set up the Model Sanctuary.
This was a space for models to hang out, free of imposition, and seek support on all things – including counselling, taxes, and financial advice.

Of course, like anyone moving against the system, Erin faced backlash and even criticism. It was the classic: stand up for truth and risk being targeted; keep quiet and play the game, and you’ll be left alone. In my opinion, her footsteps helped pave the way for movements to come years later, and allowed space for the voices of today that challenge barbaric and imploding systems.

The beauty of Erin is grounded in how much she actually cares. Yes, she is absolutely stunning – a timeless, graceful and statuesque beauty that withstands the ages – but the fire in her heart to stand up for others, and to stand her ground, has made her not only a supermodel, or an MBE-awarded British icon, but one of fashion’s greatest role models in an industry that constantly hides what true beauty is.

And at close to 50 years old, and 30 years as a model this year, it’s beyond beautiful to see her still holding court.

A true supermodel in every way.

Beauty is without compromise. And often that means to grow your own conviction, and not allow anybody to impose limitations on you before you’ve worked out what your own boundaries and limits are. And it’s hard because you’ll be tested, you’ll be in chameleon mode – but if you stick by you, and don’t seek approval and external validation the whole time, you’ll start to feel your worth, and that’s an exciting thing. 

Beauty starts to emerge when you have a sense of who you are.

I remember being at shows saying, ‘Sorry, could you mind if I just have some coverage here?’ And they were really cross because I’d asked. I dared to raise my voice and say, ‘Do you mind if I just go dress here where I can’t be seen?’ And it was a test, you know – because what’s worse? Pissing someone off and offending them, or knowing, consciously knowing, that you didn’t defend yourself. Self-respect is one of the most beautiful things you can develop in life.

And actually, you find out what self-respect really means often when you’re thrown into the most challenging and brutal of scenarios. If something is not provided for you as a basic human right, and if your dignity is at all compromised, or you have that gut feeling… have your say. No job, client, brand, or designer is important enough to take you away from yourself because that’s who you have at the end of the day. You always have that person. It’s better to be friends with them and be at peace. 

My mum wasn’t a makeup person. So I hadn’t really got any concept of it.

I had the experience of being on the receiving end of not being accepted by my peers. The follow-on from that would have been boys in general, because when I was growing up, it was about people who could afford to wear a Wonderbra who had boobs. And they could also afford to have a perm. So, in I walked into secondary school with really long hair, being stick thin and still actually quite short. I wasn’t really the aesthetic ideal. It was all a bit like Neighbours and Home and Away, you know?

Kate (Moss) came in in the 90s, and that’s why we all plucked our eyebrows off. She had the burgundy Gazelles, the baby doll dress, and there’s that really famous picture of her. I swear to God, I would say that over half of the girls in sixth form had the same pair of burgundy Gazelles because of Kate. I mean, she changed the course of beauty, actually, not just fashion as a trend. She introduced the concept of how women could look, without being overly fetishised.

Yeah, I’ve always sort of slightly felt challenged by that word. And I so get it, and I was so grateful for it because it was definitely the beginning and the overall trajectory of the first half of my career. But on the other hand, I think sometimes it can often be a bit of a misfire, because people don’t know how to express someone’s appeal that isn’t overtly feminine.

Not that I have this unbridled desire to look younger, but you do feel the pressure of the expectation of people thinking that i’m going to rock up looking like I did when I was younger – and that could be from 1996, to 2011, to 2025. There’s still this expectation that I’m this very clear, malleable canvas.

I actually don’t feel the pressure when I walk into the room because I’m prepared.

Hugely. When I was in my 20s, I looked in my 20s, and now I’m in my 40s. I look like I’m in my 40s. The obsession is not with being younger, it’s just looking really present and vital and alive. So that, in the end, is all about health and wellbeing, isn’t it? I was a bit of a spotty Herbert in my 20s; I got really bad acne to the point where it was a hormonal imbalance. To the point where we had to send messages ahead to clients, and I carried around this spray paint machine to have my face put on.

One of the things about having bad acne is that it’s really painful. It’s physically painful as well as quite emotionally distressing, because as soon as any type of cover came off, you had these angry, deep red marks on your face. Of course, I didn’t know where I had come from. I didn’t really suffer as a teen. And then boom, right at the height of my career, I was confronted with this obvious flaw, perceived in abundance. So it’s hard to kind of separate yourself from that, and it’s actually really exposing. I still have the little warrior marks. You can see them in sunlight. And I don’t want to get rid of them, I don’t know why, it’s kind of a triumph. I got over it. My body moved on and got over it too.

Don’t let anybody impose on you, on your boundaries. The most precious thing you have is you, and if you don’t come back to yourself, then there’s nobody there. Sometimes the most challenging relationship is with yourself. That’s why we seek other people around us the whole time. But always stick with who you are.

And save you money. Do your taxes. And don’t sleep in. And don’t be late – I was 15 minutes late today, and I got really stressed. I’m old school, I was hyperventilating.

It’s an industry where people are fixated on their opinion-not only being right but a reality. It’s really quite something.

I think I understood that early on because I was quite good at reading the room. I wouldn’t say it was a skill; I’d say it was survival. I was a very shy, introverted person. But their idea of you is entirely their own. Then you’re met with the challenge of trying to marry off model expectation, however they interpret it. 

When I went to America, there were conversations around the potential of my own appearance. And that would sound and look like somebody saying to me, ‘Have you ever thought about getting your nose done? Have you ever thought about getting your breasts done a little bit?’ And it was brilliant because it was an absolutely defiant flat, no. How dare you? 

These were the ages. And of course, it gave me some extra work to do to get on the right side of myself. Yes, it’s not that I disagreed entirely, and I had really struggled with the concept of some things growing out of control – the abundance of this nose, which just kept giving, and my feet, I was a walking right angle at one point. And then the things that are meant to emerge and grow and should signify womanhood were not there. But there’s always a reason, so I trust in that. I’ve always felt really feminine. I have no issue with that. I always say, well, my cleavage is my back – it’s the most feminine part of me. My neck, let me stretch it out and show you how there are no limitations on me.

It’s not really about the outward; I’ve always had this very innate instinct, and maybe I wouldn’t have had the voice that I have if I hadn’t been challenged. Maybe it was that moment of going – maybe I didn’t get it right then, or the other person didn’t get it right for me – but now having had the experience, let’s level this up and make it right.

It doesn’t matter what you do or who you are as a woman, I think anything where you’ve had this feeling of judgement, whether it’s self-imposed or otherwise, it’s very difficult to self-advocate unless you’ve had the inspiration and the people around you to help reinforce it and to let you know that it’s important, it’s vital. 

Definitely, it’s exciting to have a rebirth close to 50 years of age and 30 years of modelling this year. I think, when you finally find that peace, it’s a kind of spiritual and mental reset, and it’s so enormously humbling when you do find that peace.  It sort of radiates that ‘not giving a Schnitzel’ with love and respect and generosity all around, but also realising you can’t love everybody, and equally, they have every right not to love you back. And so what it does is instead of fearing rejection, which is a massive thing for models. You start to be so immersed in being grateful for the people, where you genuinely feel their love, and you’re the recipient of that.

But the great joy of agonising less over what people think of you is the ultimate luxury. 

Cleanser is really, really important. To achieve beautiful, glowing skin, you really have to cleanse properly and exfoliate. And the one for me is Noble Panacea two-step balm and exfoliater. I’m of a certain age where I can afford to really put something quite rich on my face, so balm works for me. The second part is the exfoliation. I love travelling with this, it’s just pretty handy. You can just take a few at a time. 

So next, Barbara Sturm Hyluronic Serum. This is the holy grail of serum. The texture gives your skin a glow. But also, you know, it’s doing a lot of hard work in a very gentle way. It’s perfect for getting the balance – not too strong, and not too thick in consistency. 

I’ve been a fan of Dermalogica for years. This is the serum I would take if I were on a plane. It’s nice and plumping, but without being too heavy. 

I love the Augustinus Bader Rich Cream. This is very beautiful. I wear this in the morning, and just let it really sink in and just luxuriate. And I never just do my face – it’s neck, shoulders, décolletage. I like to do it everywhere; I like to feel very hydrated. It’s my new beauty favourite.

The one thing I would say most humbly about perimenopause is the sheer dehydration you can feel. Things like The Mist by Augustinus Bader are Goldust. I don’t just wear it as part of my routine; it will go in my carry-on for any and every flight, no matter how short the flight is. Their Geranium Rose body oil is my absolute favourite. I like to put it everywhere. I like to feel very hydrated, and this smells so divine. You can’t really underestimate the scent of a good beauty product, and it’s rose. You smell good, and you glow. 

Oh, and SPF from Emma Lewisham. It’s so good, so clever. And you really don’t need a lot. In fact, it’s better if you don’t use a lot.

I would I’d say I’ve got better skin now than I did when I was probably in my twenties. Only because I’m aware of things like pores and skin tone. Actually, that’s the joy when you get the balance right with concealer and makeup, seeing pores and freckles, and seeing individual hairs in your brows. That’s my idea of beauty now. That’s my idea of glowing. 

My absolute favourite thing in the world is Revitalash eyelash and eyebrow serum. Was I sceptical? Absolutely 100% and after about five days, I thought, Oh gosh, that’s nice. I don’t have to curl my lashes today. They look quite abundant and ready to. And I went on a school run, and one of the mums said to me, Oh my god, excuse me, I’m just going to faint out of the way here because of the length and weight of your eyelashes. And I realised it works. You only need to look at a teeny tiny miniature-sized hobbit wand, and that’s the whole point.

I’m not short of eyebrows, so that’s a big one for me. This Suqqo eyebrow pencil is the magic wand for my face, with a little brush at the end. I prefer to have softer brows, and for me that means brushing them up and letting them be free. Anything that starts to look too heavy with pencil is actually going to make me look harder, so I’m more of a brush them up, keep them up girl. The actual colour itself is quite dark, and I like that too, as it just gives the right amount of drama.

I love Victoria Beckham’s makeup. She sent me a load of makeup a long time ago, and I just love it. For me, it’s not just about work, and it’s not just about all the crazy creations; sometimes, you want to look like yourself, but the most healthy, vital version of you. She’s got all of these really, really amazing products. She does a lovely, almost neutral colour, pink lip liner that goes with any kind of shade. It kind of disappears, but you have the illusion of a more shapely lip -I’m not saying bigger; I don’t want bigger – but more defined.

The Victoria Beckham with Augustina Bader collection is really beautiful, the cream is like an illuminator and is really beautiful under concealer. You don’t even need any foundation. 

I do do a little blusher. This Refi Blusher has got a kind of peachy vibe, so it’s not like that blue pink that can get a little cold or a little dramatic looking. It’s a full face of makeup in one product. I love the creaminess, especially in summer when it’s hot, you just kind of blend it in.