Things you have to read || ♥♥♥ Elsa Sylvan interview "I'm free like a bird"

Elsa is from Stockholm and as a kid she used to spend many nights in a tent in contact with nature and the silence of Nordic woods. Now that she is a model and travels from one big metropolis to the next, she misses that relaxing feeling.

And, although living in New York can’t really be seen as a negative aspect of one’s career, there are times when “life in a big city can truly be an extreme experience”. For Elsa, the Big Apple is also a place where she can enjoy brief daily adventures that awaken the explorer that is in her. It’s therefore no coincidence that it is in New York where she pictures her future or at least setting up a place to call home.

She was scouted at the age of 18 in a big theme park in Stockholm called Grona Lund. The following year, at only 19, she walked her first runway in Paris for a fashion giant, Givenchy. Given the promising start, her career couldn’t but be destined to a glorious future.

Perfect features, sculpted cheekbones and almost painted-like eyebrows, she has a sweet and very feminine attitude which makes her look almost like a child.

Extremely versatile on the catwalk, she can be a sophisticated lady, a rebellious punk or an icy cyborg which makes her a very sought-after model by the most diverse designers. She enjoys being a model and takes the best of what this job has to offer without deceiving herself into believing that she will be able to model forever although she is still very young. That’s why she is not putting all her eggs in one basket and continues being interested and involved in politics and international business.

When she grows up, she would love to work in education. Although, given the chance, she would very happily be a farmer with a farmhouse and lots of animals. “My aunt used to have a farm and when I was a kid I used to visit her every week. I think how amazing it would be to have a few cows, plenty of dogs and cats, some horses to ride but most of all many puppies all around the house.”

She loves Asia and would like to travel through India by bike or meander around China. At the end of the way, be it in New York or in Paris, she is always riding a bike. “The bike makes me feel free as a bird; the fresh air on my face is enough to give me happiness”. Besides, like a true tomboy, she can ply football incredibly well.

She has been gracing the advertising campaigns of D&G, Balenciaga, Benetton and Sportmax and walked the runway for the likes of Chanel, Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Nina Ricci, Proenza Schouler, Zac Posen as well as Valentino, Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood, Chloé, Giambattista Valli, DSquared, Roberto Cavalli, Armani Privé and Erdem.

Needless to say, she has appeared on many prestigious magazines’ covers including Elle, Muse, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire Italia, Numéro, French Revenue de Modes and V as well featuring on editorials for Harper’s Bazaar and W. She has been photographed by Steven Meisel, Patrick Demarchelier, Craig McDean, Claudia Knoepfel and Stephane Gallois.

Considered one of the most sought-after models, in the fashion business she is nicknamed Adina thanks to her resemblance to model Adina Fohlin.