Anneliese Seubert (b. 1973), fashion model, grew up in Cooma, New South Wales, her family having migrated from Germany when she was nine. She began modelling while a boarder at Canberra Girls' Grammar School and was 'discovered' after becoming a finalist in the Dolly Covergirl competition in 1989. In 1990, aged seventeen, she won the Ford Models Supermodel of the World competition, but signed with the Paris-based agency Karin instead of the New York-based Ford. Over the next two decades Seubert lived in Paris and then New York, walking the runway for almost all the major international design houses, including Dior, Hermes, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci and Versace. She appeared in editorials for magazines such as Vogue, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar and Elle; posed for leading fashion photographers such as Mario Testino and Lillian Bassman; and represented Covergirl, Guerlain Perfumes, Hermes and Pantene. Now living in Canberra with her partner and two daughters, Seubert takes on occasional modelling jobs, including a Country Road campaign and fashion shoots for the Australian Women's Weekly.
Ingvar Kenne took this photograph during one of Seubert's regular trips home from Paris. She was surprised to find that there was no hairdresser or makeup artist for the shoot, as she recalled: 'I'm like, "Oh my god." Worst nightmare. My hair is hard to do for a hairdresser at the best of times, so I was a little bit in shock. But I mean, the photos were beautiful, and it was quite an interesting shoot because it was full sunlight.'
Gift of the artist 2017. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Ingvar Kenne
Ingvar Kenne (15 portraits)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Anneliese Seubert describes the evolution of her modelling career, from Canberra schoolgirl to international supermodel.
April Thompson explores an exhibition of Ingvar Kenne’s global portrait project.
