VANILLE LECLERC

Singer and songwriter.

THE BEAUTY TALK

DO YOU THINK A WOMAN CAN BE ANYTHING?
Yes. Why not?

I DON’T KNOW… DO YOU FEEL YOU CAN GENUINELY BE WHAT EVER YOU WANT NOWADAYS? EVERYONE SAYS IT IS MORE DIFFICULT FOR A WOMAN…
Yes it is but it is also less difficult than before, I think. Our mothers fought for us. Of course you always have to keep in mind that we live in a patriarchal world but if you want something very hard you can do it and you will do it.

DO YOU THINK BEING A WOMAN IS A POWER?
Yes, we give life. Everyone of us is coming from a woman’s body.

WHAT IS YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO CONTINUE OUR MOTHERS’ FIGHT?
Women solidarity is the key. Sometimes we are disappointed because of women’s insecurities in this patriarchal world. They are mean to each other and competitive. For me this is the wrongest way to go. We have to cultivate sorority. It is not about hating men. We love men, we live with men but we need more love between women. This is feminism to me.

YOU HAVE A VERY STRONG SENSE OF FAMILY AND YOU WERE ALWAYS VERY CLOSE TO YOUR MOTHER AND AUNTS. I GUESS THIS BUILT YOUR STRONG APPROACH OF FEMINISM.
For sure, I have a very loving family and on my mother’s side, we are only women. I grew up surrounded by women always pushing me to go forward. Only when I entered my teen years, I had a lot of deceptions.

YOU THOUGHT THAT SOLIDARITY WAS THE NORM?
I thought it was. My girlfriends were like sisters to me. But I realized that it is not the case for everyone. Sometimes, for a guy they don’t even care about, they can let you down.

ENTERING IN THE REAL WORLD WAS PROBABLY A BIG DECEPTION…
Yes. When I see a woman that feels in competition with me, it makes me very sad. Love men, but love women even more!

AMEN!
hahaha.

WHAT PART OF YOU FEMININITY DO YOU FEEL EMPOWERING?
I think women are more sensitive and this sensitivity is a power. In my case it gives me empathy, which I feel is very empowering. When I have a doubt or a problem with someone, having empathy gives you the capacity to understand the other’s point of view, putting yourself in his shoes. If not, you are stuck with your own way of thinking, your ego and you don’t move forward.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT YOU AND YOUR NATURAL STYLE. WHAT IS YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE?
My beauty routine is to wash my face and to apply some moisturizer (laughs). I like natural and organic products. I try to support, as much as I can, small conscious businesses.

IS IT MORE ABOUT BEING ECOLOGICAL OR ABOUT SELF-CARE?
As I said, everything is linked. If you put natural products on your skin of course it will be better than the ones full of chemicals. Also I walk at least one hour per day. I have a wolf dog. He likes to run a lot so I take him everyday for a walk in the woods. And Paris is not so big, so I try to do everything walking. Also I eat a lot but healthy.

DO YOU COOK?
Yes!

WHAT’S YOUR SIGNATURE DISH?
Ginger rice! I add some vegetables.

ARE YOU VEGETARIAN?
Since two weeks (laughs)!

WHAT MADE YOU TAKE THAT DECISION?
It is the only thing I can do to fight the capitalism that is destroying our planet. I am very scared about this. I see the oceans dying, the Rain Forest dying, the planet dying. Last summer I travelled to the mountains and I saw a glacier melting. Changing my way of consuming is the only thing I can control.

IT’S ONLY BEEN TWO WEEKS BUT CAN YOU ALREADY FEEL A DIFFERENCE ON YOUR SKIN, ON YOUR BODY, YOUR ENERGY?
I feel my digestion is much better.

GROWING UP AS A WOMAN, DID THE WAY YOU LOOK AT YOUR SELF EVOLVE?
Yes, I think this is linked to the mind and to knowing yourself better, knowing your dreams, knowing what you want to do in life. When you feel better in your head, you feel better in your skin and you feel better physically. The more we grow up, the more you start knowing yourself, knowing your flaws and accepting them. And I guess you express it on your face.

DO YOU LOVE YOURSELF?
Yes. Of course I am like every other normal human being, I have doubts but I can say that I am comfortable with myself, in my head and with my body. I feel balanced.

 DID YOU FEEL ANY PRESSURE ABOUT HAVING TO FOLLOW BEAUTY STANDARDS AS AN ARTIST?
Of course, I felt pressure. When you are making music in a studio, it is just about pleasure and creation. You don’t think about how you are going to present yourself to the public. But when you are confronted with choosing pictures and all this promotional stuff it is an other story.

YOU TOLD US YOU GREW UP IN A STRONG WOMEN ENVIRONMENT. IS THERE ANY BEAUTY SECRET YOU INHERITED FROM THEM?
Yes, the cheerfulness! It is essential to be beautiful. My grandmother always told me :  “Honey, the most important thing in life is to be cheerful!".

THANK YOU VANILLE X 

CHECK OUT VANILLE’S INSPIRATION TALK HERE AND CITY TALK HERE.
FOLLOW VANILLE HERE.

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ITW & CREATIVE DIRECTION: LISA DEBATTY
PHOTOGRAPHER: ALEXANDRE FURCOLIN
STYLING: LISA DEBATTY
PRODUCTION: OUI SIMONE