LARUICCI X PHOTOBOOK MAGAZINE
Carol Alt
Carol Alt has had quite the career. Whether you know her as a supermodel or the author of your favorite raw cookbook, she’s just about done it all. Alt broke into the modeling industry in 1979, landing the cover of Harper’s Bazaar magazine, later continuing to grace the covers of Vogue, Mademoiselle, Elle, and more. Her acting career began in ‘Sweet Charity’, choreographed by the iconic Bob Fosse, and since then she’s been in over 60 movies and television shows. Alt has had her own talk show, she’s written numerous books on raw food and modeling, and she owns a Stanley Cup winning sports team– need we go on? Regardless of what project she’s taking on, Alt approaches everything with such warmth and positivity, it’s no wonder that her career has had such longevity. We’re not sure how she manages to do it all, but we can’t wait to see what she does next!
You follow a raw food diet, what made you want to do that initially, and are there any new reasons that you’ve continued to stick with it?
I started a raw diet out of vanity. I needed an edge to help me compete with the younger girls coming up. When I understood what the right diet was and how the body worked, I knew there was no other option to try to keep me young. And that’s also why I stay with it. Because I see the results.
There are people who might be interested in a raw food diet, but feel like it isn’t doable for them 24/7. However, you yourself have said that you don’t have to eat a raw food diet all the time to reap the benefits. What’s an easy way that people can dip their toes into this lifestyle without it feeling too overwhelming?
Oh, you don’t have to eat a raw food diet 24/7. My doctor once told me if you could eat 75 -95% raw, you could cure yourself of almost anything. And since eating raw saved my life, I would think that he’s right, I don’t think you can just dip your toes into a lifestyle. You won’t get a result that way. And when people don’t get a result, then they don’t want to do it! I think you have to educate yourself. I think you have to learn what things are cooked; what things are raw and what things are secretly cooked that you think are raw. And then you look at the things you like to eat and you find a raw cousin. Because there are raw cousins to everything.
What’s your current favorite raw recipe? Give us a sweet and savory one!
I have so many favorite raw recipes. I’ve got a really great coleslaw recipe in my book Eating in the Raw. And right now every morning, I start my day with a RAW muffin. In fact, I end my day with a RAW muffin as well! They’re so good.
Throughout all that you do, you still find time for charity work, specifically in relation to children and animals. Why do those two causes speak to you?
Children and animal charities speak to me because I feel that we have to champion those who are weaker than we are. Those who have no choice but to follow. Because sometimes they are in the hands of the wrong people and they have no choice but to be there. When you look at children and animals, they are so innocent. You really need to step up and protect them.
At the age of 18, you decided to give modeling a try and have been a part of the fashion industry ever since. As you see trends come and go, and come back again, what’s one trend that you’ve loved seeing back in popularity?
I’ve not only seen trends come and go, I’ve seen a complete overhaul of the fashion industry. The whole industry has completely changed with Instagram. But the trends that I do like to see are here and gone before I even realize I like seeing them. I was going to say bell bottoms but they’re already out.
Speaking of fashion and modeling, things have definitely changed a lot since you first started your career. What’s a positive change that you’ve noticed in the modeling industry throughout recent years?
The positive changes that I’ve seen when I talk about the industry completely changing is that we are more inclusive. My sister was the first large size model, and she was unique. Now there are many. The industry has also opened its arms and mind to women of color and different ethnicities. I think we more represent a cross-section of women today than we ever have. When I was coming up I had brown hair and they told me I would never be on a cover of a magazine. So this inclusivity has also worked for me!
What’s some underrated advice that you would give to someone who is thinking about becoming a model?
And what I have found today is that most agents won’t even give a girl a look unless she’s got 50 to 100,000 followers on Instagram. So my advice would be to build up your Instagram following. Find your own “hook”.
We see fashion brands becoming more and more inclusive in a variety of different ways. Brands from Collina Strada to Miu Miu have been including older models on the runway– why do you think it’s important to see more mature women represented in these spaces?
I think any brand that is not catering to older women are missing out on the biggest portion of the population who have disposable income. We’re not young and saving our money for rent and food. We’ve saved our money and now we’re older and free to spend it. I don’t know why they’re not catering more to the older population.
Today we see a lot of conflicting marketing thrown at older and younger women alike, whether it be ways to dress your age or how to look younger. What’s some advice you’d give to women when it comes to living in the moment and embracing each year as it comes?
It’s hard to give anybody advice on embracing your older self because marketing, the male population, movies, television series. Are all showing 70 year old men with 30 year old women. So it’s hard to feel good about yourself when they are showing this disparity in age as being sexy. Frankly, I think it looks ridiculous to see an old man with a young woman. You know why he’s there and you know why she’s there and neither are there for love or companionship.
Throughout your career you’ve worked with many photographers. What made working with Mike Ruiz on your PhotoBook photoshoot special?
I had such a blast with Mike Riuz , he was non-judgmental. He made me feel beautiful. We had fun, we worked quickly, (which is always a plus when you’re getting older... )I felt like I had known him forever.
Laruicci Venus Dream Earrings from FW23 jewelry collection
You were the first to produce a line of super model posters! If you were going to put a poster of someone on your wall today, who would it be?
When I created my posters, everybody told me it was a big mistake. Now of course everybody who is anybody has a poster! And I’m flattered by that. The same happened with my calendars and a little bit less with exercise videos because that was more of a monetary commitment. The thing is, I’ve never followed anybody. I’ve always created my own road and gone my own way. So I would never put anybody on my wall, I mean, except, of course, Jesus; he was unique, clever, loving, patient and open, and a great example for us all to follow. Regardless of whether or not you believe in him, he never made a misstep. If we all followed someone like that, this would be a better world.
Your career spans many industries and endeavors. What’s something you’d still love to do that you haven’t yet?
Well, I have hosted television shows and I have done 60 films and I’ve done television series and I hosted a talk show and I have modeled and created my own line of skincare and posters and calendars and videos and I am an owner of a Stanley Cup winning sports team. I personally can’t think of anything, but if I do, I will contact you and let you know.!
Source: https://www.photobookmagazine.com/features/carol-alt
Credits:
Talent: Carol Alt
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer + Producer: Mike Ruiz
Fashion Stylist: Alison Hernon at Exclusive Artists
Hair: Corey Tuttle for Exclusive Artists using Oribe Haircare
Makeup: Sandy Linter
Fashion Market Assistant: Skylar Elizabeth
Fashion Stylist Interns: Hanna Flores & Cole Sudduth
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview Questions by Caroline Nycek, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Location: Love Studios NYC