Paloma Elsesser Is Still Trying to Find Her Purpose

In lieu of a New Years Resolution, Paloma Elsesser has her word of the year: joy. Following the chaos of a year that robbed us of that very emotion and then some, the IMG model says she has been prioritizing her happiness. Right now, as we chat over the phone, that happiness looks a lot like a bagel with scallion cream cheese and a bottle of orange juice. “I’m starving. I’m so sorry,” she apologizes in between placing her order from her car. Joy also looks like spending time laughing with her loved ones, or her newest investment—a house she and her boyfriend recently purchased upstate to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. What she craves now is peace, quiet, and stillness. “Having that kind of reprieve has been really essential. I like having a little anonymity and privacy,” she says. Coming up for air after an isolating and painful 2020, Elsesser needed a change from an “energy depriving” city like New York. “I find myself more drawn to having closer proximity to nature or a community that feels a little bit more restorative for me. Peace and quiet.” Elsesser may be craving peace and quiet, but her debut in the industry was anything but. The superstar model has lived in the Big City for the past 10 years of her life and has walked in shows in just about every other major city there is. She made history in Milan as one of the first-ever plus-sized models to walk in a Fendi show. She walked for Lanvin and Alexander McQueen in Paris. She also appeared in New York for Eckhaus Latta and Savage X Fenty. When she’s not gracing runways, Elsesser can be found front and center in campaigns for the likes of Salvatore Ferragamo, Nike, Glossier, Fenty Beauty, Ugg, and more. Then there’s her latest trick: starring in a new campaign for Coach’s collaboration with fellow iconic brand Champion. Below, Elsesser on her new Coach campaign, walking in her purpose, and meditating. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up? This sounds really, really corny, but in the last year, I’ve definitely implemented a meditation practice. For the most part, nine times out of 10, I meditate when I wake up. It’s still an insane thing to me because I used to wake up and reach for my phone. Now, I do a guided meditation that’s a little over 12 minutes before I interact with the world. I’m feeling a little numbed out, honestly. But my new approach to every day is just staying in the moment and finding joy because we’re bombarded with news all…

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Source: elle.com