PASTA & POLE DANCING
HELENA CHRISTENSEN, 48
PERSONAL LIFE: Born in Copenhagen, Christensen won the Miss Universe Denmark title in 1986. Has been on the cover of Vogue six times, dated Michael Hutchence, then was with actor Norman Reedus for five years and had a son. She is now dating muscian Paul Banks. She is an acclaimed photographer, as well as a model and businesswoman. SKIN CARE: ‘ My grandmother has the most beautiful, softest skin. And all she ever uses is water, soap and Nivea. I’ve used hundreds of different products, amazing smelling oils, scrubs and serums . . . but every time I visit my grandma, I go back to soap, the water and the Nivea,’ she told Allure magazine. HAIR: Goes to various U.S.-based stylists and recommends two salons based in Copenhagen. ‘ Zenz only use organic hair colour and have their own great line of natural products, including a beautiful oil called Deep Wood No. 99, which I use on my hair and my body.’
EXERCISE: Gets fit with pole dancing. ‘I used to wake up and sprint, which is a great way to spark your metabolism. In my mid- 30s, I started boxing. My newest exercise is pole dancing, and it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. The upper- body strength you need is mind-blowing.’
DIET: All these women admit to highly moderated diets, rather than claiming fast metabolisms .‘ I’m not the kind of person who will limit myself to any kind of food. I could not live without bread and pasta. I eat butter and drink whole milk. And I’m obsessed with Japanese food and Moroccan stews.’ STRANGE AGEING: Says her weirdest beauty habit is ‘using coffee grounds and papaya flesh as exfoliators’.