After gracing more than 500 magazine covers, Victoria ventured into acting, TV hosting and fashion design globally and notably in the U.S., France, Italy, and Sweden. She has also released an album (which went gold in Scandinavian countries), and had her very own reality show on E! Entertainment Television.
Surely, I have missed a couple of achievements here and there. But what I didn’t want to miss is getting to know the real Victoria Silvstedt.
From Monaco, her new home, I chatted with Victoria about her career and lifestyle.
With all the super stardom you have achieved over the years, how were you able to stay grounded?
Growing up I was very far from who I am today. I grew up in a small village in Sweden, a calm environment where everyone was friendly and treated each other equally. Believe it or not, I was a tomboy and passed my free time at my grandmother’s farm with horses. Afterwards, I started competing in ski competitions which allowed me to develop a thick skin and handle stressful situations. All in all, I think that was the main reason I have stayed humble throughout my life.
Ever since the beginning of your rise to fame, who was your support system?
Definitely my mother! I need to call her on a daily basis. She was the one who pushed me to do what I really wanted, knowing that my father wanted me to be an athlete. She enrolled me in the Miss Sweden pageant at the age of 16 and helped me launch my career.
How were you able to shift your image from a supermodel to a woman of different jobs?
In the beginning, I did everything to become a successful model. I focused on loosing a lot of weight since I was quite muscular, and then moved to Paris as a struggling model. There I signed with a modeling agency and participated in famous fashion shows.
Yet my career truly took off when I moved to Los Angeles at the age of 22, where I signed a contract with Elite Model Management and became the face of Guess Jeans. But I have to admit that modeling was not fulfilling, it’s entertaining but I always wanted more. And that’s why I took on jobs that were different and more exciting.
Obviously you are the queen of multitasking (acting, singing, TV hosting, etc.) But out of all, what is your favorite profession?
Well, let me just say that is singing is quite fun, but I am definitely not a singer. It was an offer from EMI Records and an opportunity I couldn’t say no to. Shooting movies both in the United Sates and Italy was an adventure as I spent weeks and months on movie sets.
My E! reality show was fun because the cameras were following me as I lived my daily life. But for me, the action is all in television, and I live for action. Hosting shows on Swedish, French and Italian TV is something I enjoy and is very fulfilling.
Going back to your glowing career, what would be your proudest achievement?
My career followed the snowball effect. I never really like to plan the next step and I just let life present its opportunities. Something I am proud of is my ability to learn languages quickly. Besides Scandinavian languages and English, I was able to learn French and Italian easily. This adds credibility to my work with my audience and fans. I also think they like my exotic accent.
What are your fashion rules and guidelines?
I don’t really apply a general rule. I love to mix and match. For instance, you could see me wearing a Zara skinny jeans with a Balmain jacket and an Hermès bag. Of course, because I live in Monaco, I have to be always dressed up. Also, I do follow a lot of Instagram bloggers to catch up on the latest trends.
How is your diet and beauty regimen like?
First of all I love to eat. I am not your green juices 24/7 kind of girl. I must have a desert everyday and especially chocolate. And what is a night like without a glass of wine? However, I try to avoid eating carbs and especially before a photo-shoot. I also try to limit my amount of red meat intake. I guess you can describe my diet as a Mediterranean, wholesome and vegetable-based diet.
As for my physique, I try to take a lot of vitamins for my hair and skin. And I love working out outdoors like doing some yoga and pilates every now and then. I prefer to go running outside rather than to workout at the gym.
Make sure to follow Victoria's fabulous life here.