Fashion icons ‘grew apart’
LONDON: As fashion icons in the 1970s and 80s, they were so close that they were dubbed the “terrible twins”.
But it seems even a friendship built on such glamorous foundations could not survive a rather more domestic obstacle that will be familiar to many women.
Marie Helvin has admitted she is no longer best friends with Jerry Hall – because she chose to remain childless.
She said the pair have nothing left in common and grew apart after Hall had four children with ex-husband Mick Jagger, adding: “I think a mother needs to be with mothers. I don’t know what they talk about.”
The models first prompted speculation that their relationship was not what it had been when they barely looked at each other at an exclusive dinner in London last month.
Hall, 55, left without even glancing at her former friend. Now, as she approaches her 60th birthday, Helvin has confessed that the friendship has run its course.
She also admitted that Hall persuaded her to briefly consider having children with her ex-husband, photographer David Bailey, but that she decided there was no reason to have a family.
Hawaiian-born Helvin said of her friendship with the Texan model: “She was like a sister to me. And that was partly to do with the fact that she was going out with Mick and I was with Bailey. Bailey and Mick were really good friends, so it all just made sense.”
In an interview, she said she was happy being single, adding: “I would love to fall in love one day, but I wouldn’t want to marry and I wouldn’t want to live with them.”
Apart from Bailey, Helvin’s most high-profile romance was with Mark Shand, a conservationist, writer and brother of the Duchess of Cornwall.
The couple were together for four years, but despite calling him “sweet, generous and so gentle” she turned down his repeated marriage proposals.
Helvin, who once admitted she did not like children, married Bailey when she was 23, but divorced after 10 years.
Helvin, who will turn 60 on August 13, said she maintained her appearance by looking after herself like an athlete and had given up alcohol, exercised regularly and spent a great deal of time looking after her skin. – Daily Mail