Santé Profile Series: Kate Bell

We recently sat down with model, yogi and writer Kate Bell. Kate gave us the inside scoop on her beauty, health and wellness philosophies and what makes her feel confident! 

Thank you so much for sitting down with us Kate. As a mature model and a woman over 50, you truly are a source of inspiration for women of all ages! What has been the most rewarding part of your modelling journey so far?

Thank you for having me, and thank you for your kind words. The most rewarding part of my 37-year modelling journey is seeing how far I’ve come in terms of self-connection and self-confidence. Modelling is a brutal process of self-acceptance. At this point the industry is fast-changing to become an inclusive and diverse environment in regards to shape, age and whatever is unique about a person. I’m so blessed to be experiencing this change.

We all know that the most beautiful thing a woman can wear is confidence. What makes you feel confident?

I’m 100% in agreement with this. It’s a lesson that’s learned over time, earned by pushing past nervousness and fear and doing what your heart desires. I feel supremely confident right after doing yoga. It’s a powerful mix of feeling vulnerable and very real, combined with a deep faith that everything is as it should be.

Yoga is big part of your lifestyle and routine. Can you share with us why it is so important to you?

Yoga is my anchor in life, (apart from my beautiful partner who is my rock). The entire eight branched tree of yoga, asana, breathing, philosophy being some, provide me with life guidance. Through the practices my feelings of interconnectedness with all that is, deepens.

At the age of 55, what is your beauty philosophy?

My beauty philosophy is ’If it works, I’ll do it!’. Pretty much; I hold the opinion that everyone needs to feel free to make whatever choices they want in regards to self-presentation. Beauty is believing in yourself and starring in your own movie.

Coco Chanel once said 'Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.”  Would you agree with this and why?

I absolutely agree with fabulous Coco! We are all such interestingly unique creatures. Express yourself, enjoy your life.

The best piece of beauty advice your mother gave you?

To all the wonderful parents out there, I don’t know how you do it. I’m in awe of you and I am proud of you. But it’s not been my journey. This has lead to me having a lot more time than perhaps others have, to do the many things that make me look and feel good. In my early 30s I was lamenting feeling weird over the fact that I didn’t want kids. My mother said in her matter-of-fact way said, “Well just don’t have them then”.

You once said, ‘your health is your wealth’! What did you mean by this?

This is one of my precepts for life; Without our health we have less of ourselves to give those around us. Without our health we are not as able to live out our fullest life. Clarity of mind and cleanliness of body, lead to greater connection to whatever you want to call God. (Big stuff, but that’s just my experience). With a spiritual approach to life, magic happens all the time.

You have been part of the ENJO family for many years now. Why do you use our chemical-free ENJO products in your home?

I love ENJO products because they work, and I applaud the ENJO company’s ‘towards zero footprint aim’. Visionary founder Barb de Corti is changing our future; The less chemicals on our bodies, in our earth and sea, the better. I am privileged to be part of this wonderful company’s journey.

And you are a lover of Santé by ENJO skincare! Why did you make the shift to Santé and to more mindful and ethical beauty practices?

I do love Sante by ENJO. It works. The results include my skin being smooth and clean, but also my conscience; My personal integrity feels better supporting a company that strives to create a kinder, fairer way of doing business.

 What is coming next in the world of Kate Bell?

I’m a Leo and a Monkey in Chinese star signs, so I have grand plans and loads of them all at once! I hope to focus and finish an extremely exciting secret creative project in the not-to-distant future. Some OS stays are in the pipeline which is always exciting, and “Every day, in every way, I become more of the amazing person that I am” (One of my favourite affirmations). Please do it whenever you remember. (That’s the yoga teacher in me).